Lectures 16 - 20

Question 1

Etruscans

Answer 1

Mysterious people, probably of eastern Mediterranean origin, who lived north of Latium and dominated the emerging Romans until about 500 B.C.

Question 2

patricians

Answer 2

“Well-fathered ones,” the original social and political elite of Rome.

Question 3

paterfamilias

Answer 3

Eldest male in a Roman household, who possessed life-or-death powers over all members of the family.

Question 4

patristic era

Answer 4

The period of the church fathers

Question 5

Senate

Answer 5

Originally the patrician-dominated assembly of Rome but later a body of former office holders. Made treaties and issued influential opinions but did not legislate.

Question 6

plebeians

Answer 6

Original lower classes—economically, socially, politically— at Rome, who struggled over some two centuries to gain full political participation.

Question 7

tribunes

Answer 7

Plebeian officers in Roman Republic, 10 in number elected annually, charged with looking out for the interests of the plebs.

Question 8

Twelve Tables

Answer 8

First codification of Roman law, posted in the forum in 449 B.C.

Question 9

consul

Answer 9

Highest officer in the Roman Republic. There were two, elected annually, who led armies, proposed legislation, and convened assemblies.

Question 10

Licinian-Sextian law

Answer 10

In 287 b.c.e., this law granted the decisions of the plebeian assembly the full force of law and made the plebs equal in the Roman constitution.

Question 11

Latium

Answer 11

The semi-circular plain surrounding Rome. Called Lazio today, it gave its name to Latin.

Question 12

Polybius

Answer 12

(c. 200–c. 118 B.C.)

Greek historian captured by the Romans. Lived in elegant exile at Rome and wrote a history of the Hellenistic world, emphasizing Rome’s rise to greatness and the unique features of the Roman constitution.

Question 13

praetors

Answer 13

Chief judicial officers of the Roman Republic. Initially two, then as many as eight. Elected annually.

Question 14

quaestors

Answer 14

Chief financial officers of the Roman Republic. Initially two in number, elected annually.

Question 15

aediles

Answer 15

Roman republican officers, two elected annually, who had responsibility for food supply, public buildings, games.

Question 16

censors

Answer 16

Roman republican officers, two in number, elected every ve years to serve for 18 months. They determined the economic status of citizens for voting purposes and legislated on public morality.

Question 17

Roman Magistrates

Answer 17

• dictator
• consul
• censors
• praetors
• aediles
• quaestors

Question 18

Tribal Assembly

Answer 18

Roman republican assembly consisting of all Roman citizens organized into 33 voting districts. Used “block” voting, that is, there were 33 votes, one per “tribe.”

Question 19

Centuriate Assembly

Answer 19

Roman republican voting assembly consisting of all Roman citizens organized by “centuries,” or wealth groups. Used “block” voting, that is, there were always 192 votes, one for each century.

Question 20

Punic Wars

Answer 20

Three wars (264–241 B.C., 218–201, 149–146) between the Romans and the Carthaginians (the “Puni,” or “Poeni,” that is, “purple people,” meaning Phoenicians). Roman victory brought domination of the western Mediterranean.

Question 21

Pyrrhic War

Answer 21

(280– 276 B.C.)

War between the Romans and King Pyrrhus of Epirus in which Pyrrhus won battles but so depleted his resources that he eventually lost (hence, “Pyrrhic victory”). The war was occasioned by Roman expansion into southern Italy and generated Roman involvement in the Balkans.

Question 22

Attalus III

Answer 22

King of Pergamum, a small but rich Hellenistic kingdom, who willed his kingdom to Rome in 133 B.C.

Question 23

Cato the Elder

Answer 23

(234–149 B.C.)

Conservative Roman author and statesman.

Question 24

Catullus

Answer 24

(84–54 B.C.)

Roman lyric poet.

Question 25

Cicero

Answer 25

(106–43 B.C.)

Roman lawyer and statesman who struggled for peace and concord in the crumbling Roman Republic.

Question 26

Polybius

Answer 26

(c. 200–c. 118 B.C.)

Greek historian captured by the Romans. Lived in elegant exile at Rome and wrote a history of the Hellenistic world, emphasizing Rome’s rise to greatness and the unique features of the Roman constitution.

Question 27

Plautus

Answer 27

(254–184 B.C.)

Brought Greek style “new comedy” to Rome. Author of, among other plays, The Pot of Gold.

Question 28

Terence

Answer 28

(c. 190–159 B.C.)

Author of Latin comedies marked by brilliant, elegant style.

Question 29

Aeneas

Answer 29

Central figure in Virgil’s Aeneid.

Question 30

Gracchi brothers

Answer 30

Tiberius (d. 133 B.C.) and Gaius (d. 121 B.C.) who, as tribunes, were popular leaders. Both were murdered by political foes.

Question 31

Marius

Answer 31

(157–86 B.C.)

“New Man” who gained prominence through military successes, held the consulship multiple times in succession, professionalized the Roman army.

Question 32

Sulla

Answer 32

(138–78 B.C.)

Unscrupulous conservative politician from a distinguished family who sought to turn back the clock in Roman public life to a time before the Gracchi.

Question 33

Pompey

Answer 33

(106–48 B.C.)

Roman politician who won military glory and joined with Julius Caesar, then turned against him.

Question 34

Julius Caesar

Answer 34

(100–44 B.C.)

Brilliant, ambitious, and enigmatic Roman politician who held high offices, won military glory in Gaul, became dictator in Rome, and was murdered.

Question 35

Crassus

Answer 35

(d. 53 B.C.)

Wealthiest man in Rome; joined in various political alliances in a quest to earn respectability.

Question 36

Triumvirate, First

Answer 36

Informal alliance of Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey in 60 B.C. designed to secure military commands for the first two and generous settlements for the military veterans who had served under the third.

Question 37

Triumvirate, Second

Answer 37

Formal alliance among Octavian, Lepidus, and Antonius in 43 B.C. by which they were to share rule in the Roman Empire.