Creation of Rome Flashcards
Patron/Client Relationship
Complex ties of obligation, such as the patron/client relationship, bound together
individuals of different classes. Clients sought the help and protection of patrons,
men of wealth and influence. A patron provided legal advice and representation,
physical protection, and loans of money in tough times. In turn, the client was expected
to follow his patron into battle, work on his land, and support him in the
political arena. Throngs of clients awaited their patrons in the morning and accompanied
them to the Forum for the day’s business. Especially large retinues brought
great prestige. Middle-class clients of aristocrats might be patrons of poorer men. In
Rome inequality was accepted, institutionalized, and turned into a system of mutual
benefits and obligations.
Story of Romulus and Remus and their parents/grandparents
Rhea Silver was supposed to be a vestal virgin by her father Aeneas (the son of the God of Venus). Got pregnant, claimed she was seduced by Gods. Abandoned her two twin sons Romulus and Remus. The two grow up as feral children (raised by wolves). Found as adults, learn how to speak English. Gods give them mission. Romulus kills Remus, becomes founder and King of Rome)
Romans trait their descent all the way back to Aeneas
Who were the etruscans
Kings of Rome eventually replaced with Etruscan kings. Estrucans didn’t necessarily conquer rome, one person just became king. romans didn’t like etruscans but dealt with it.
The story of the last king of Rome Tarqin “The Proud” (Tarquinius Superbus)
His son raped a noble roman woman named eakresha. Romans rise up in the revolt and anger. Overthrow Tarquin and declare no more kings and install Republic.
Legion and the roman military system
Romans adopted this from etruscans. It is a fighting army of rougly 5,000 infantry men.
They adopted round shield system from Greeks. adopted things like body armor and how to build an army based on the countries around them. Romans citizens owed military services. They had a militia based military, so it wasn’t always soldiers involved.
Roman women rights
rare sources bcus, they played no public role, nearly all info is w/ the upper classes. In early Rome, a woman was like a child in the eyes of the law. She started out under the absolute authority of her paterfamilias. When she married, she came under the jurisdiction of the paterfamilias of her husband’s family. Unable to own property or represent herself legally, she depended on a male guardian to protect her interests.Despite these limitations, Roman women were less constrained than their Greek counterparts. Over time they gained greater personal protection and
economic freedom: some employed a form of marriage that left a woman under the jurisdiction of her father and independent after his death. Th ere are many stories of strong women with great influence on their husbands or sons who helped
shape Roman history.
Numia
Invisible forces the romans believed in
Pax deorum (“peace of the gods”
A covenant between the gods and the roman state. (preformed rituals and sacrifices to please the gods)
Once Rome conquered Italy, how did they treat the conquered?
Unlike the Greeks, who were reluctant to share the privileges of citizenship with
outsiders, the Romans often granted some or all of the political, legal, and economic
privileges of Roman citizenship to conquered populations. They elected the most
influential people in the conquered communities and made Rome’s interests their
interests. Rome demanded soldiers from its Italian subjects, and a seemingly ridiculous
amount of manpower was a key element of its military success. In a number
of crucial wars, Rome was able to endure higher casualties than the enemy and to
prevail by sheer numbers.
First Punic War
Started over the island of Sicily. The island was controlled by Carthage. The citizens didn’t want Carthage so they got the romans to help them and lead a revolt. Romans easily win first war. Peace contract is signed with Carthage.
Second Punic War
Started because Carthage refused to hand over and surrender Hannibal.
Hannibal was a brilliant military strategist, extremely popular. He was in charge of Iberia initially. He continuously beats roman armies in 2nd war with the help of Scipio. Rome had to go to extreme measures to stop him, by cutting off food supply to north Africa so he could starve. Rome also has to develop an extremely massive army in hopes of beating him. Criticism in Rome mounts because they should have no business struggling against him.
Battle of Cannae: Hanniball pulls of incredible victory against the new massive roman army despite being out numbered. Remembered as one of the greatest military defeats of all time
Battle of Zamma: Carthage has success and expands but loses some allies. Hannibals army doesnt’ have the skill to win despite having adavantage in infantry (foot). Romans win in dominant fashion. They have to sign embarrassing peace treaty
latifundia
Broad estates or ranches. When Italian farmers were away from home for military service for long time, investors bought it.
What happened with latifundia & jobs that led to some of the failures of Rome?
They grew other crops and wine, instead of wheat. Rome had to rely heavily on imported material.
Investors of the latifundia used POWs for labor instead of peasants. So people lost jobs. Couldn’t find jobs in the city either. More people died and lived in poverty
How did Garius Marius (“new man”) helped rectify the situation?
accepted into his legions
poor, propertyless men, and promised them farms upon retirement from military
service. Th ese troops became devoted to Marius and helped him get elected to an
unprecedented (and illegal) six consulships.
Other men after him followed in his footsteps (Sulla, Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Octavian) which caused some guys to be more loyal to them than the state. led to a lot of civil wars.
Patricians
Plebians
Patricians - upper class, wealthy
plebians - lower class. workers. common
