Final Flashcards
Res publica
Signifies the Roman Republic as a ‘commonwealth’ or ‘public affair’
Government shared among the citizens
Highlights the collective nature of Roman governance
Citizens had a stake in political decisions
Fasti
Official records and calendars
Recorded religious festivals, important events, and days for legal matters
Helped in organizing and scheduling religious ceremonies and political activities
Gens
Refers to a clan or family group sharing a common name and ancestry
Significant for social, political, and religious reasons
Served as a unit for social identity and support
Patria potestas (paterfamilias)
Authority held by the male head of a Roman family over his household
Includes children, grandchildren, and slaves
Power to make decisions, control property, and enforce discipline
Fasces
Bundle of rods with an axe
Symbolized the power and authority of Roman magistrates
Carried by lictors as a symbol of their authority to punish and execute
Pomerium
Sacred boundary around Rome
Delineated the city’s legal and religious limits
Significant religious and ceremonial importance
Expansion of the pomerium required a religious ritual
Interrex
Appointed to hold temporary authority between consular elections
Ensured continuity in governance during the gap between consuls
Pontifex Maximus
High priest of Roman state religion
Responsible for overseeing religious ceremonies and rituals
Held significant religious authority and political influence
Imagines
Wax masks or busts of ancestors displayed in Roman households
Tribute to the family’s lineage and honoring the ancestors
The more masks you have the more important your family is
Senatus Consultum
Decree issued by the Roman Senate
Carried legal weight
Crucial in shaping Roman law and policy
Example is the SCU giving a magistrate a lot of power in an emergency or crisis
Imperium
Legal authority or command held by a magistrate in ancient Rome
Especially in military matters
Power to enforce orders and make decisions
One important power this authority gave to consuls was to be the supreme commander of the army
Regnum
‘Kingship’ or ‘royal power’
Represented a form of authority the Romans sought to avoid
After Tarquinius and the founding of the republic they didn’t want a king or monarchy
Evocation
Religious ritual used by Romans during war
Called or lured away the gods of an enemy state
Aimed to weaken the enemy’s religious support
Publicani
Tax collectors in the Roman Republic
Responsible for collecting taxes and tolls
Involved in public contracts and sometimes accused of extortion
Publicani would bid for the privilege to collect taxes from a specific region
Novus Homo
‘New man’ who was the first in their family to serve as a Roman consul
Symbolized social mobility and meritocracy in the Republic
One example of a Novus Homo is Gaius Marius who became the first in his family to become consul through his military success and demonstrated a change from a time when the consulship was dominated by the aristocratic class
Assidui
Roman citizens who met certain property requirements
Eligible for military service
Formed the backbone of the Roman legions
Senatus Consultum Ultimum
Decree also known as the ‘ultimate decree of the Senate’
Allowed extreme measures in times of crisis
Granted consuls exceptional powers to safeguard the state
An example of when this was used was during the Catilin conspiracy and was used to execute Catilin immediately without a trial.
Maiestas
Concept encompassing ‘majesty’ or ‘dignity’
Maiestas can also mean treason, or damaging the “dignity” (maiestas) of the Roman people.
Veni, Vedi, Vici
Famous phrase attributed to Julius Caesar
‘I came, I saw, I conquered’
Encapsulates Caesar’s swift and decisive victory over Pontus at the Battle of Zela
Clementia Caesaris
Refers to ‘Caesar’s clemency’
Highlights the virtue of mercy or leniency exhibited by a ruler
Depicts a ruler’s forgiving nature
An example is after Ceasar’s defeat of Pompey and his allies he demonstrated Clementia Caesaris on his enemies by not executing them after his victory.
Dignitas
Represents a person’s reputation, honor, or prestige
Particularly associated with one’s social standing
Reflects the esteem and influence an individual held in Roman society
The best example of dignitas would be Cicero who would use his position of authority and his rhetoric to condemn those who had done wrong like Gaius Verres a corrupt governor
Consuls
Highest elected officials in the Roman Republic
Served as joint heads of state and military commanders
Held imperium
Decisions shaped the course of Roman politics and warfare
Capitoline Hill
This hill was known for housing many temples and where the senate held meetings
This hill represents how intertwined politics and religion were
Palatine Hill
It is considered to be the birthplace of Rome, where Romulus is said to have founded the city.
Location of the imperial palaces
Is a symbol of Rome’s power
Roman Forum
Central hub of political, social, and economic activities in ancient Rome
Served as a marketplace, meeting place, and site for public speeches and elections
It was the focal point of Rome that embodied the politics, religion, and culture of Rome
Senate
Advisory council of the Roman Republic
Composed primarily of aristocrats
Held significant influence in shaping policies and advising consuls
Consuls would bring up the idea of war to the Senate, who would decide whether or not to declare war
Patrician
Aristocratic Class
It was mainly the patricians who held spots in the senate or as consul giving them most of the power in the government
Plebeian
Commoner people
Plebeians started the “Conflict of the Orders” in order to get more representation in the government
Patron
Typically a Patrician
Would act as the mentor to someone of lower class guiding the them in personal and professional growth
Client
Typically someone of lower class standing
Clients owed their loyalty to their patron
Clients would show thanks by voting the way their patron wanted or providing support when needed
