Key words Flashcards
res publica
the republic; form of government where Senate rule Rome
patrician family
aristocratic families who could trace ancestors to early days of Rome
plebeian family
Roman families who were not patricians; originally seen as a lower class
nobiles
families who have had a consul in their family
equites
‘knights’ - a social rank which grew in wealth through the opportunities offered by Rome’s expansion
novus homo
‘new man’
someone who had managed to become consul, even though no one in his family had previously done so
cursus honorum
the ladder of political positions in Rome; elected each year
consul
2 consuls each year, oversaw the running of the senate
dictator
position awarded in a crisis to one man but he consuls for 6 months
populares
senators who looked to gain power by making improvements to the lives of the people of Rome
optimates
senators who worked to maintain the status quo politically and socially
amicitia
alliance between families designed to further their success (often secured through marriages)
inimicitia
bad relationship between families- hostility caused by disagreement
stoicism
philosophy influencing the ideas of many Roman senatros; reason and soul should be seen as more important than body; Stoics show endurance and moral behaviour
triumvirate
committee of 3 men set up in 60 BC - Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus formed it themselves to support each other with their political goals
