Ancient Rome

Question 0

Why was the location of Rome advantageous?

Answer 0

1. Strategic location

2. Fertile soil

Question 1

How was Rome founded?

Answer 1

Romulus and Remus, (demigods) wee raised be a she- wolf named Lupa. They built a city on the Tiber river (the city of Rome)

Question 2

Who were the first Romans?

Answer 2

Latins
Greeks
Etruscans

Question 3

Describe the Latins and their contributions to later Rome

Answer 3

Farmers and shepherds came across alps

First Romans; built original Rome

Question 4

Describe the Greeks and their contributions to later Rome

Answer 4

• settlers built 50 colonies on the coast of Sicily and Italy
• sculpture, literature, architecture, agriculture, religion
• colonies brought Greece in contact with Rome
• taught Romans how to grow grapes and olives

Question 5

Etruscans- describe them and their contributions

Answer 5

• native to northern Italy
• skilled metalworkers and architects
• influenced rome’s writing
• influenced the arch

Question 6

What was rome’s religion composed of?

Answer 6

It blended Etruscan and Greek mythology together

Question 7

What was the economy of Rome?

Answer 7

Rich land = good agriculture

Question 8

Define Republic

Answer 8

A form of government in which power is given to the citizens who have the right to vote on their leaders

Question 9

Define patricians

Answer 9

Aristocratic landowners who held most of the power. You became a patrician by birthright

Question 10

What was a Plebians?

Answer 10

Common farmers, artisans and merchants (majority) who had the right to vote but couldn’t hold highest gov’t seats

Question 11

What were tribunes?

Answer 11

• representatives who protected the rights of the Plebians from unfair acts of Patricians (most of the officials)
• senate eventually allowed them and eventually tribunes gained more political power

Question 12

What were the 12 tables?

Answer 12

Plebians forced the creation of a law code because it was up for interpretation

• in 451 bc they were written down and hung in the Forum
• written on 12 tablets
• established standards for roman law

Question 13

What did the 12 tables say?

Answer 13

All free citizens ( patricians and Plebians) had a right to the protection of the law

Question 14

How did Rome achieve a balanced gov’t?

Answer 14

Took the best parts of a monarchy, aristocracy and democracy

Question 15

What were consuls?

Answer 15

• commanded army and directed gov’t
• power was limited
• 1 year term (couldn’t be reelected within 10 years)
• there were 2 consuls
• they could veto each other

Question 16

What was the senate?

Answer 16

• aristocratic branch
• had legislative and administrative power
• 300 members (Plebians were later allowed in)
• membership for life

Question 17

What were the assemblies?

Answer 17

• centuriate assembly

- tribal assembly

Question 18

What was the centuriate assembly?

Answer 18

All citizen- soldiers were members

- this patrician controlled assembly appointed consuls and made laws

Question 19

What was the tribal assembly?

Answer 19

Composed of Plebians

• elected tribunes and made laws for the common people
• later made laws for the Republic

Question 20

What was the purpose of a dictator in Rome?

Answer 20

In time of crisis, the republic could appoint a tyrant to rule with complete power one army and laws for 6 months.
- chosen by the consuls and elected by the senate

Question 21

Who was required to serve in the military?

Answer 21

All land owning male citizens

Question 22

What was a legion?

Answer 22

A large military unit

Question 23

Who were the Gauls?

Answer 23

Rome was growing steadily and soon dominated central Italy. The Gauls who are Celtic people crushed them and sacked Rome but the Romans rebuilt and reestablished control.

Question 24

Who were citizens?

Answer 24

Latins: on the Tiber river (in and around Rome) were full citizens

Distant Territories: citizens, couldn’t vote

Conquered Groups: allies of Rome, had to send troops to the army and weren’t allowed to make other allies.

Question 25

How did rome’s citizenship policy benefit them?

Answer 25

It made peace ( and an incentive for peace) with conquered and spread out people so everyone felt allegiance and ties to Rome

Question 26

How did Rome trade?

Answer 26

By land and sea. They traded wine and olive oil for other goods

Question 27

Why was Carthage a problem?

Answer 27

Carthage interfered with Rome’s access to the Mediterranean

Question 28

Where was Carthage?

Answer 28

North African coast peninsula

Question 29

What were the Punic wars?

Answer 29

Rome and Carthage go to war over Sicily.

Outcome: Carthage is defeated, Rome takes over Sicily, its first province/admin unit-> uneasy peace follows

Question 30

What was the second Punic war?

Answer 30

In 218 BC, Hannibal, a Carthaginian general wanted to avenge Carthage’s defeat

• he traveled all the way around the mountains to try to attack Rome from the north on elephants and surprise them
• his greatest victory was at cannae
• he was stopped from capturing Rome by regrouped allies

Question 31

Who was Scipio and what did he do?

Answer 31

Romans’ general during the Punic wars, planned to attack Carthage.
Defeated Hannibal and his army

Question 32

Who was Cato? (Also describe the 3rd Punic war)

Answer 32

An influential senator, said Carthage must be completely destroyed.
They laid siege, and eventually burned it down sold inhabitants into slavery. (Salted Carthage and made it completely infertile?)