Introduction To Roman History

Question 1

Sources for Roman History

Answer 1

• Literary Sources
• Epigraphic Sources (inscriptions)
• Archaeological Sources

Question 2

Examples of Sources

Answer 2

• Literary Sources: Roman Government Documents and Written Histories
• Epigraphic Sources: Tombstones, Road Milestones, Government Rulings
• Archaeological Sources: Houses, temples, personal objects, artworks

Question 3

Factors that Influenced Rome’s Development

Answer 3

• Italy’s position in the Mediterranean
• Rome’s location on the fertile plains

Question 4

What are the key factors to Romes location

Answer 4

• Fertile plains
• The seven hills of Rome
• Near the sea
• The climate of Rome

Question 5

What is the story of the finding of Rome?

Answer 5

Remus and Romulus.

Question 6

Who are the Etruscans?

Answer 6

-Settled North of Rome around 900 BC
- Was ruled by Kings
- Had loose confederation of neighboring states
- Had labor and military class

Question 7

What is Archaeological evidence of the Etruscans?

Answer 7

• The Etruscan Tombs.
  -The tombs looked like small houses and there are artworks showing everyday life

Question 8

How did the Etruscans build their cities?

Answer 8

• Grid system
• Made aqueducts, tunnels, drains and bridges
• Introduced the use of the Arch

Question 9

What is the Etruscan religion?

Answer 9

• They had three main Gods, Tini, Uni and Menrva. Called the Capitoline Three
• They also used divination, art of reading signs from heaven.

Question 10

What was the Etruscans social customs?

Answer 10

• Symbols such as the Fasces (bundle of rods with an axe tide in it), signified authority
• Color purple signified authority and wore togas.
  Gladiators and Chariot races

Question 11

When did the Greeks come to early Rome?

Answer 11

• Migrated to Naples in the plain of Campia around 750 BC

Question 12

How did the Etruscan empire decline?

Answer 12

• Around 6th century BC the Romans started to depose their Kings
• They lost wars with the Greek and the Samnites

Question 13

What direct influence did the Greek have on Rome’s culture

Answer 13

• Trade
• Diplomatic agreements
• Architecture
• Religion
• Writing styles
• Customes
• Science
  -Literature
  -Philosophy
• Education

Question 14

What were the two main classes of Rome?

Answer 14

• Patricians (Upper class)
• Plebians (Lower Class)

Question 15

What roles did the Patricians and Plebs have in Political matters?

Answer 15

• Patricians: controlled everything, the consuls and magistrates were only elected from the Patrician class
• Plebs: No political power, could not hold political office, had their own assemblies but was controlled by the patricians.

Question 16

What role did the Patricians and Plebs have in religious matters?

Answer 16

• Patricians: controlled all religious matters, members from the priestly colleges were all patricians.
• Plebs: Had no right to hold religious office

Question 17

What role did the Patricians and Plebs have in legal matters?

Answer 17

• Patricians: Controlled all laws, criminal or civil, wrote all the laws, controlled the legal apparatus (written law) and could change the laws.
• Plebs: No access to the legal apparatus, could not hold legal office, no right to appeal.

Question 18

What role did the Patricians and Plebs have in social matters?

Answer 18

-Patricians: Patricians could not marry plebs, and when marries they would have a ceremony with priests.
-Plebs: Could not marry Patricians and their children would automatically be plebs.

Question 19

What role did the Patricians and Plebs have in Economic matters?

Answer 19

-Patricians: Could own large estates, own business and industries, could lease land from the state (ager Publicus)
-Plebs: Could not lease public land, hired by Patricians, pay rent, had to pay military tax, would often fall into debt.

Question 20

What role did the Patricians and Plebs have in Military matters?

Answer 20

-Patricians: Held all senior military positions, the two consuls of Rome were also the generals. Military service was based off of wealth.
- Plebs: Those working on farms called away for war had to still pay rent and taxes. Used their military position to put pressure on the Patricians for better quality of life.

Question 21

What are the Property Qualifications for the Roman Military (5 tiers)

Answer 21

• Created by Etruscan King Servius Tullius (6th Century BC.
  -1st tier, Triarii (spearmen): property worth 100’000 asses
  -2nd tier and 3rd, Principes (heavy infantry): property worth 70’000 asses
  -4th tier, Hastati (medium infantry): property worth 25’000 asses
  5th tier, velities (skirmishers): property worth 11’000 asses

Question 22

What was the formation of the military?

Answer 22

• It had 4’200 men
• Velities at the front, than the Hastati, then the Principles and lastly Triarii
• Poorest at the front richest at the back.