Background Flashcards
Why did romans sacrifice animals?
They thought that it world get the gods on their side?
Who made sacrifices?
Often, all roman citizens would make sacrifices, be it individually or collectively.
Who was Vesta?
The spirit of health.
What reasons might someone have for making a sacrifice?
It might be as a sign of respect at a festival, or a promise/thank you.
Who would be present at all sacrifices?
A haruspex
What would a haruspex do?
They would check that the sacrifice went well, and they would then check the liver for omens.
What was divination?
A process of telling the future made by augurs who looked at the flight of birds.
How were roman roads made?
They made dips at the side to drain water. They then put large stones lower down and gravel on top before allowing it to be compressed.
What were the requirements for a Roman Soldier?
They had to be roman citizens and they had to serve for 25 years. They were highly trained in infantry warfare and often had other skills. A roman legion had 5,000 soldiers in it. They would also have to go through a medical examination.
How were Roman legionaries trained?
They had to regularly march distances of about 22 miles, while carrying all of their equipment. They also did different training in order to keep up their physical fitness. They trained with wooden swords and wicker shields in order to help them in battle. They were taught not to slash with their swords, but rather to stab, as stabbing was much more dangerous.
What work did Legionaries do?
They often did things like roadmaking and building making. They would usually be positioned near a frontier of the empire, but they usually wouldn’t see much fighting.
How were Legionaries paid?
They got 225 to 300 denarii per year. However, much of this was used for paying for the soldier’s equipment.
Who were the auxilaries?
They were soldiers who weren’t citizens of rome. They were paid less, and were generally archers or part of the cavalry. They were rewarded with citizenship.
