Chapter 7 Flashcards
Who was the greatest Emporer during the time of the Roman Empire?
Constantine.
Why was Constantine famous?
For converting to and making Christianity a state religion.
Why did Constantine’s decision to make Christianity a state religion matter?
1) Elevated it from a pack of acceptable faiths to the faith of the Empire.
2) Christianity became part of the Roman government/state and the state could have influence on Christianity.
What political duo tried to jointly rule Rome after the death of Julius Ceasar?
Marcus Aurelius and Octavian.
Who won the resulting civil war?
Octavian
What title did the Senate grant Octavian?
Augustus
What does the title Augustus mean?
It means “revered” and was usually reserved for the gods.
What political re-organization did Augustus finish?
The transition from Rome as a Republic to Rome as an Empire with an Emporer.
What was Augustus’s primary concern?
To return peace and stability to Rome.
How did Augustus try to achieve his primary goal?
He became a law and order Emporer that avoided political retribution, gave deference to the Senate, and acted like any other Roman patrician.
What was Augustus’s secondary concern?
De-Politicizing the military.
How did Augustus try to achieve his second goal?
He put a stop to all new offensive conquestes, focused on building military forts on the borders of Roman territory, halved the size of the military, paying pensions to former soldiers, and sending active soldiers to the distant frontiers.
What was Augustus’s third concern?
The just administration of distant foreign provinces.
How did Augustus try to achieve his third goal?
Appointed governors to rule those provinces and paid them large sums to avoid temptations of corruption and malfeasance. Ordered censuses to be taken to make taxation more equitable. He expanded the postal service, built roads, waged war against invaders.
What was the result of Augustus achieving his third goal?
The people in the provinces worshipped him as a god. The cult of the Emporer developed.
What was Augustus’s fourth concern?
A recovery of ancient Roman virtues.
How did Augustus try to achieve his fourth goal?
He instituted stricter laws in regards to personal morality, adultery, and divorce. He outlawed political bribery and corruption. He gave land grants that created more small farmers. He encourgaed poets to praise good conduct.
Which goal was Augustus least successful in achieving?
Recovering ancient Roman virtues.
What was Augustus’s biggest failing?
Not establishing a clearer choice of Emporer succession.
What process did Augustus informally create?
One where the Emporer would chose his replacement and the Senate would respect his choice.
What was the greatest factor in the fall of the Roman Empire?
The lack of a clear succession of Emporer.
What was the total population of the Roman Empire?
50 to 70 Million people.
What were the three distinct cultural groups in the Empire?
1) Near East Egyptians, Jews, and Syrians - Mixture of Eastern and Hellenistic Worldview
2) Greece, Southern Italy, and Asia Minor - Predominately Greek Culture
3) Italy, North Africa, Spain, Western Europe, and Southern England. - Heavily Romanized
What are the Romance languages?
The European languages that derive from Latin.
How many miles of paved roads did Rome build?
50,000 miles.
How did Rome better administer its empire?
By founding cities with a measure of self-government.
How many people lived in the city of Rome itself?
Around one million people.
What was the most popular form of recreation in Rome?
Watching the chariot races.
How many bathers could the Baths of Diocletian house?
3,000.
What were the large stadiums used to house circus events called?
Colosseums.
Who funded circuses and gladiators and why?
The wealthy patricians to curry favor with the masses and to keep them content and occupied.
Who ruled during the Pax Romana?
Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius, Marcus Aurelius.
What trumped race and ethnicity in the Roman Empire?
Roman citizenship.
How did Romans maintain order in their empire?
By using the Rule of Law.
What was one of Rome’s greatest contributions to western civilization?
That a government should be one of laws.
How were ancient laws expanded?
1) Decrees and interpretations of rulers.
2) Opinions and commentaries of state-sanctioned legal experts.
What did the Romans base the justness of their laws on?
Natural law.
Did the Romans believe there was an absolute standard of right and wrong?
Yes.
How did one discover that absolute standard, according to the Romans?
Through reason.
