Ancient Warfare and Society Flashcards
History
Porus
Porus: An ancient king of the region between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, in present-day Pakistan, who fought against Alexander the Great at the Battle of the Hydaspes River in 326 BCE.
Demetrius I
Demetrius I: A Seleucid king known as Demetrius I Soter, who ruled in the early 2nd century BCE and struggled to retain his power against various internal and external enemies.
Romulus
Romulus: The legendary founder and first king of Rome, along with his twin brother Remus, who were said to be raised by a she-wolf.
Velites
Velites: Light infantry soldiers in the Roman army, typically armed with javelins, who skirmished before the main line of battle.
Aedile
Aedile: A Roman magistrate responsible for public works, games, and the maintenance of public order and grain supply.
Battle of Ipsus
Battle of Ipsus: A decisive battle fought in 301 BCE between the successors of Alexander the Great, where the armies of Seleucus I and Lysimachus defeated Antigonus I, leading to the division of Alexander’s empire.
Roxana
Roxana: A Persian princess and the wife of Alexander the Great, known for bearing him a son, Alexander IV.
Praetor
Praetor: A Roman magistrate responsible for administering justice, with a role similar to that of a judge, and sometimes commanding armies.
Patricians
Patricians: The aristocratic class in ancient Rome, which held most of the political power and land before the rise of the plebeians.
Equites
Equites: A social class in ancient Rome, originally made up of wealthy citizens who could afford to serve in the cavalry, later becoming a political and economic elite.
Battle of the Hydaspes River
Battle of the Hydaspes River: A battle fought in 326 BCE between Alexander the Great and King Porus, in which Alexander secured a victory despite facing war elephants and a strong army.
Antigonids
Antigonids: A dynasty founded by Antigonus I, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, which ruled parts of Macedonia and Greece after Alexander’s death.
Plebeians
Plebeians: The common people of ancient Rome, often contrasted with the patricians, and historically had fewer rights until they gained political power through the struggle of the orders.
Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca: A Carthaginian general during the First Punic War and father of Hannibal, known for his military campaigns in Spain.
Perdiccas
Perdiccas: A general under Alexander the Great and regent of his empire after his death, who attempted to maintain unity among the empire’s fragmented territories.
Censors
Censors: Roman magistrates responsible for conducting the census and overseeing public morality and the regulation of the Senate.
Quaestor
Quaestor: A Roman official responsible for financial and administrative duties, such as managing public funds or overseeing military finances.
Ptolemies
Ptolemies: A Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great until the Roman conquest, founded by Ptolemy I Soter.
Corvus
Corvus: A Roman naval boarding device used during the First Punic War to enable Roman soldiers to board enemy ships, giving them an advantage in naval battles.
Dictator
Dictator: A magistrate in ancient Rome with absolute authority, typically appointed in times of crisis, but limited to a specific term.
Lamian Wa
Lamian War: A conflict (323-322 BCE) between Athens and the Macedonian Empire following Alexander the Great’s death, where Athens attempted to break free from Macedonian control but was ultimately defeated.
Seleucids
Seleucids: A dynasty founded by Seleucus I, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, which ruled over a large portion of his empire, including parts of Asia Minor, Persia, and Mesopotamia.
Comitia Centuriata
Comitia Centuriata: A popular assembly in ancient Rome that was responsible for electing high-ranking officials, such as consuls and praetors, and making decisions on matters of war and peace.
Battle of Lake Trasimene
Battle of Lake Trasimene: A major battle of the Second Punic War (217 BCE) in which Hannibal decisively defeated the Roman army using surprise and ambush tactics.