Key Terms For The Lte Republican Society Flashcards
Amicitia
Literally friendship. In Rome this was a system of family and individuals alliances established to consolidate and further the success of influential Romans.
Auctoritas
Literally authority, yet it is better to translate is as the prestige, influence or clout that a Roman magistrate possessed. Different from imperium, which is the official power magistrates wielded.
Augur
A state religious official at Rome, who could read signs such as the flight of birds. Their interpretations were seen as either divine favour or disapproval during major decisions of state.
Boni
Men considered to be ideal statesmen: well-educated, traditional, patriotic and experienced enough in politics to accept responsibility for making good decisions for the moral and political health of the state. (A political term used by Cicero).
Clients
Citizens who were bound by loyalty to a wealthy patron to support him in his public interests in return for support and resources.
Curses honorum
The political ladder of elected magistrates
Dignitas
Literally dignity. It can mean prestige. Dignitas is often associated with a Romans accumulated social, religious, and political standing.
Dominatio
A form of autocracy or despotism, which Romans loyal to the res republica loathed.
Equestrians
The wealthy business class of Rome, whose influence grew through commerce and finance. Their status was symbolised by a gold finger ring and a narrow purple stripe on their toga.
Fasces
A bundle of rods and axes. These publicly symbolised the imperium (power) of senior Roman magistrates; and the magistrates attendants ( called lictors) carried them.
Freedman/freedwomen
The ex slaves who had been granted their freedom by their masters. The ritual of freeing the slave was termed manumission. Children born to freedom were allowed to become Roman citizens. They symbolically received a cap of freedom.
Hellenisation
The process whereby Greek culture was absorbed and spread
Imperium
The official power invested in a counsel giving him the military command of the state army. Imperium also enabled a counsel of initiate legislation
Inimicitia
Literally meaning enmity. This is the opposite system to amicitia, where individual disagreements could extend to significant hostility between families and Roman leaders.
Libertas
A term for liberty of the political freedom of citizens. A prominent term in the late Republic.
Legions
The heavy infantry units of the Roman army , Each made of around 5000 men. Traditionally, they were recruited from Roman citizens in times of war and each legionary swore an oath to the SPQR during the Republic became increasingly professional and loyal to the commanders.
Magistrates
Quaestor, aedile, praetor, council dictator console and tribune for the plebs. (Except for dictator and Senso), these were the annually elected magistrates of the res public and part of the cursus honorum.
Mos maiorum
Literally translate as the custom of ancestors . this was an unwritten code of social value about the Romans especially conservatives believe derived from the actions of the ancestors. They believed that these ancestral values and models of behaviour should be followed within their private political and military lives.
Nobiles
Select group of senatorial families distinguished by the inclusion of a council in their ancestry.
Novus homo
Literally new man, one who had not only managed to break into the ranks of the Senate but even to become council with no history of the council ship or sometimes even senatorial rank in his family lineage for example Cicero.
Optimates
A group of aristocratic politicians whose energies were channelled into the conservative preservation of the political and social status quo.
Patricians
Aristocratic families who could trace the ancestors back to the early days of Rome when Romulus mythical founder of Rome chose them as they’re 100 senators.
Patron
Significant social standing who was able to offer various resources financial legal work or simple foods to his clients in return and other services.
Piety (pietas)
The tall Roman believes where one of the duty film and respectful to the gods, your family and your country part of this party involved following the mos maiorum.
