Ancient Rome Flashcards
How do we know about the Romans?
Written sources from Pliny the younger. Ruins of buildings (colosseum, pantheon etc.)
Who in ancient Rome were not able to vote ?
The women both Patrician and plebeian
What age were Roman girls usually married by?
14 or 15 (marriages were to benefit the families) the girl had no say
What were woman expected to do?
A wife was expected to run her husband’s home, supervise slaves, bear a son and oversee the rearing of children
Where do slaves come from?
Any prisoners of war, children of slaves, people captured by pirates, parents in dept sometimes sold their own children into slavery
What happened to well educated slaves?
Well educated slaves often Greeks were employed as teachers, secretaries, doctors.
Manumission
Slaves given their freedom after many years of service to their master
Plebeians education
Plebeians were given a basic education (children)
How many stages were in a patrician education?
Three
What was stage one?
Boys (some girls) from age 7–12 attended a ludus
What was stage two?
At 12 boys would attend a grammaticus they learned history grammar, geometry literature and girls of the same age we’re learning how to spin weave and run a household
What was stage three?
At 16, a patrician boy was taught oratory (the art of public speaking) to prepare him for a career in public life
What did the army allow Rome to do?
The army was central to Roman life. It allowed Rome to conquer/control over it it’s vast empire
What is the structure of Roman Legion?
Region made up of 6000 men
Divided into 10 cohorts
Divided into six centuries
What age did the soldiers enlist at and how long did they have to serve for
Soldiers listed at the age of 20 and served for 25 years
What did they receive at the end of their service?
They received a final payment and land
What did soldiers do when not on our campaign?
Soldiers often employed to build public work such as Aqueducts, bridges
What type of belief system did the Ancient Romans follow?
Polythesis
Name two gods worshiped by the Ancient Romans and their associated roles.
Mars (god of war),
Venus (god of love)
What daily ritual did Romans perform at their family shrine?
Every morning they would pray at the family shrine (the larium)
What kinds of offerings would Romans make to their gods, and where?
They would make offerings of money food or animals, for sacrifice at temples
What did the Romans believe happened after a person died, involving the River Styx?
They believed that the dead had to cross the River Styx to enter the underworld.
Why was a coin placed in the mouth of the deceased during Roman funerals?
It was to pay Charon, the ferryman of the dead.
How was a patrician’s body carried through the city during a funeral?
The body was carried on a litter
What role did musicians and professional mourners play in Roman funerals?
They were hired to walk behind the deceased and participate in the funeral procession.
What special events might be organized as part of a Roman funeral?
Funeral games might be organized.
In what year did Jesus die ?
AD 33
How did Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire after Jesus’ death?
Christianity spread as Christians continued to believe in one God and shared their faith.
What major event involving Emperor Constantine occurred in AD 313 regarding Christianity?
Emperor Constantine lifted the ban on Christianity.
What were the Ancient Romans known for in engineering and construction?
They were great engineers and builders who invented concrete.
What architectural features did the Romans use in their buildings?
They used rounded arches and pillars.
Can you name an example of Roman architecture ?
The pantheon
What happened to Christianity when the Roman Empire became Christian?
The Catholic Church became the worlds most powerful religion
What is the notable about Vatican City today?
It is the smallest country in the world and very wealthy
What language did the Roman Empire speak? And how has it influenced modern day languages?
Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, and it has influenced many modern European languages such as French and Spanish. A quarter of English words are directly influenced by it.
What significant calendar did Julius Caesar introduce?
He introduced a new calendar with 365 days divided into 12 months and an extra day every four years
