Ancient Rome Test Flashcards
The Romans came from who
The Latins, Estruscans, and Sabines
Where did the latins settle
On “seven hills” near the Tiber River called Latium
Estruscans were what
Indo-European and produced powerful kings
Romans overthrew who
Estruscans
What was Rome originally called
Hespersia, and it means “land of the evening sun”
What did Virgil right about who
The Aeneid, it was about Aeneas, he wanders before sett,isn’t in Italy
Who was Romulus and Remus
They were the son of Rhea and Mars, Rhea sent them down the Tiber River in a basket, they were nursed by a she-wolf, raised by a shepherd, and Romulus killed Remus and became the first king
What were the 3 forms of government
Monarchy to a republic to a empire
What were the 2 social classes
Plebeians and patricians, they all were considered citizens, they all could vote, buy land, and they all had rights
What were Patricians
Wealthy aristocratic nobles
What were Plebians
Everyone else
The Republic was what
The citizens chose their leaders based on laws
What were the governing bodies
The senate, the the consuls, the tribal assembly
What was the Senate
It was 300 male senators who represented the Patricians, who made all the laws and had the most power
What was the Consuls
The Consuls were co-rulers, chosen by the assembly, one was in charge of the military and one ruled at home
What was the Tribal Assembly
They were elected by and represented the plebians, called Tribunes, they had the power to choose the Consuls and to veto their actions
In time of war/emergency what did the dictators do
They took over and ruled
What is Roman Law
It’s written on 12 table, law code, applies to all equally, rule of the law, everyone is subject to the law, it was placed in the Forum for all to see
The Roman system of law became what
Standard for the USA and Western Europe
What is SPQR
The official emblem of Rome, it means the Roman Senate and People
The Romans had the same ____ as the Greeks but changed the names of ____
They had the same religion as Greek myth, but they changed they had different names for the gods
What did the romans copy from the Greeks
Art and philosophy
Who is Jupiter
The romans version of Zeus
Who is Mars
The god of war
Who is Roma
The patron god of Rome
What were the religious officials
The Pontifex Maximus and the Vestal Virgins
Who was the Pontifex Maximus
The high priest & Consul
Who were the Vestal Virgins
Protectors of Rome, 6 priestesses of Vesta, keepers of the eternal flame, all under 14?
What did Rome believe would happen if the Eternal Flame went out
Rome would fall
What is the Paterfamilias
The dad was the head of the family, the family was close knit and was extended, they lived in Villas is they were Patricians
Where did Plebians live
In crowded apartment complexes
Rome was ____ by ____
Rome was burned and sacked by the Gauls
What were the results of the Gauls invasion
Rome created the finest army in the ancient world and set out to conquer neighbors
Rome conquered what
The Italian peninsula
What were the romans goals
To civilize the world
Rome’s military success came from what
Their army, one army was meant to protect the city, emperor and senate and one was meant to protect the empire and republic
Who were the Praetorian Guards
They dressed in all black, they were the elite of the army that protected the city
Who were the Legionaries
They wore red, they had shields, spears and short swords, they protected the empire
During the republic what was tha army made of
Plebians volunteers
During the empire the army was made of what
It was the “professional army” that was made of conquered lands men
The Roman army was made up of what
Legions of around 5k men and Centurions who were Roman Officers
Rome’s army was what
The largest and most feared army, they were brutal and killed entire population if you resisted when conquered
Once conquered the territories had to do what
Pay taxes and supply soldiers, in return they were given partial citizenship
Roman settlements were what
Colonia, they were built to defend Rome and later turned into cities and towns
The Romans built roads for what purposes
To connect the Colonia to Rome and to move the army
How many miles of roads did they build
Over 50k miles
What’s the saying about the Roman roads
“All roads lead to Rome”
Carthage was what
The jewel of the Mediterranean, Rome’s biggest enemy, wealthy trading empire, Carthage and Rome competed for trade routes along Med
Punic Wars were what
( Phoenician ) Rome vs Carthage, Rome had land power, and Carthage had naval power
The first war, what happened?
It lasted 20 yrs, Rome wins by capturing a Carthage ship and copying it, boarding bridges, they gain island of Sicily
The second war, what happened
17 yrs, Hannibal attacks ( wants revenge for dad ), creates havoc for 15 yrs, uses elephants for Calvary, called “scourage of war”
Soipio does what
Attacks Carthage with Rome in battle of Zama, Rome wins by blasting trumpets to confuse elephants, Rome gets Spain
The third war, what happens?
Lasted 3 yrs, siege of Carthage, revenge
What was the result of the wars
Rome conquers Mediterranean region, Mediterranean Sea becomes Mare Nostrum ( our sea )
Rome’s conquest causes what kind of problems
Too much cheap grain ( tribute ), puts Roman farmers out of business, too many slaves ( 45% of pop. ), no one could get jobs, unemployment becomes huge issue
The urban poor does what
Pours into Rome to get jobs, they are angry, unemployed, and hungry
Rome does what to satisfy them?
Gives them free bread and circuses= food and “blood sports”, this was their “solution”
The gap between the rich and poor does what
Gets wider and wider
Who leads a big revolt
Spartacus, has army of over 90k slaves
Revolt was crushed by who and what was their punishment
They were crushed by legions and crucified
Most land owned by who
Patricians
Small farmers continue to what
Go out of business
Who was Tiberius and Gauis Gracchus
They were 2 brothers who helped the poor, they wanted a land reform where no one could own more than 500 acres and to divide the rest among the poor, they were murdered
Civil wars what
Break out, Rome is thrown into mass chaos and military leaders come to power
Who was Marius
The first general to create a personal army who was loyal to him, he got army from the Urban poor
Who was Sulla
The first person who came to power using a personal army
