glossary

Question 1

principate

Answer 1

the political system that replaced the roman republic. it had a façade of republicanism, retaining many of the positions and apparatus. however the princeps monopolized power and ruled.

Question 2

princeps

Answer 2

the ‘first citizens’ that Augustus first adopted as a title in 27 BCE. his successors would hold it and amongst other titles and powers denoted the leader of the roman empire.

Question 3

imperator

Answer 3

originally a military title given to the equivalent of a commander. came to be used as a title by emperors

Question 4

pater patriae

Answer 4

father of the country

Question 5

recusatio imperii

Answer 5

the ritual refusal of power by a new emperor

Question 6

magistrate

Answer 6

elected official in the roman government

Question 7

cursus honorum

Answer 7

the ladder of office climbed by senators in their quest fir the consulship. this led through successive magistracies

Question 8

senate

Answer 8

council of nobles forming part of the political institution of rome. advisory body to the magistrates and the emperor. they were mostly former magistrates

Question 9

triumph

Answer 9

a parade organised for a successful military commander, later reserved mainly for the imperial family

Question 10

consul

Answer 10

senior magistrates who were head of government during republic. two elected each year. during principate, more of a stepping stone to commands in provinces/army

Question 11

praetor

Answer 11

second most important office, administrates justice

Question 12

aedile

Answer 12

roman magistrate who maintain city of rome, markets and arranging public festivals and games

Question 13

quaestor

Answer 13

finance

Question 14

pax augusta

Answer 14

augustun peace, the period of time where augustus ruled where there was peace and stability in the empire.

Question 15

auctoritas

Answer 15

a political quality of an individual, similar to authority or influence. having it meant you were able to affect politics/society without holding official office

Question 16

potestas

Answer 16

official political power that an official or magistrate would have as a position in the cursus honorum

Question 17

curia

Answer 17

the name given to the senate house

Question 18

praetorian guard

Answer 18

the emperors body guard. the only troops allowed inside rome and held considerable influence in the succession of some emperors

Question 19

imperium

Answer 19

supreme authority the power to do something or command bestowed on consuls and praetors to reflect their roles and responsibilities. supreme form held by emperor

Question 20

proconsular imperium maius

Answer 20

imperium in the provinces that is greater ‘maius’ than that of anyone else. therefore the emperor was able to overrule any proconsul

Question 21

tribuncician potestas

Answer 21

having the power of a tribune-traditionally those responsible with defending their fellow plebians against patrician injustice. they could call the senate, introduce legislature and veto decisions

Question 22

pomerium

Answer 22

the sacred boundry around the city of rome

Question 23

censor

Answer 23

a politician responsible for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, and overseeing certain aspects of the government’s finances. appointed by senate. the origin of the modern meaning of the word “censorship”

Question 24

lustrum

Answer 24

the official purification ceremony that marked the completion of the census

Question 25

imperial cult

Answer 25

the incorporation and worship of the emperor and members of his family into roman religion. they could be deified or go through apotheosis to become a god.

Question 26

numen

Answer 26

the divinity of a person

Question 27

genius

Answer 27

the spirit of a person or place

Question 28

provincial governor

Answer 28

senators or knights who ruled the provinces of the roman empire. generally a governed of a senatorial province was a proconsul while an imperial province was governed by a legate

Question 29

praefectus urbi

Answer 29

the prefect of rome, an office created by augustus that had power over the daily administration of rome

Question 30

patrician

Answer 30

traditionally the oldest part of rome’s aristocracy who could trace their bloodline back to the original nobility

Question 31

plebeian

Answer 31

common people, lower classes of citizens

Question 32

equestrians

Answer 32

members of rome’s second class of nobility. also known as knights. there was a wealth classification and formed the basis of the merchant of professional class in the city

Question 33

largesse

Answer 33

great generosity, usually lavish gifts of food or money

Question 34

congiarium

Answer 34

money given to the plebeians at important events in relation to the imperial family

Question 35

consilium princips

Answer 35

a council set up by augustus to prepare the agenda for the senate. it consisted of augustus the consuls and fifteen senators. it was reconstituted every six months

Question 36

princeps iuventutis

Answer 36

leader of the youth a title given to indicate the potential as successors