Lectures 16 - 20 Flashcards
Etruscans
Mysterious people, probably of eastern Mediterranean origin, who lived north of Latium and dominated the emerging Romans until about 500 B.C.
patricians
“Well-fathered ones,” the original social and political elite of Rome.
paterfamilias
Eldest male in a Roman household, who possessed life-or-death powers over all members of the family.
patristic era
The period of the church fathers
Senate
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.
plebeians
Original lower classes—economically, socially, politically— at Rome, who struggled over some two centuries to gain full political participation.
tribunes
Plebeian officers in Roman Republic, 10 in number elected annually, charged with looking out for the interests of the plebs.
Twelve Tables
First codification of Roman law, posted in the forum in 449 B.C.
consul
Highest officer in the Roman Republic. There were two, elected annually, who led armies, proposed legislation, and convened assemblies.
Licinian-Sextian law
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.
Latium
The semi-circular plain surrounding Rome. Called Lazio today, it gave its name to Latin.
Polybius
(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.
praetors
Chief judicial officers of the Roman Republic. Initially two, then as many as eight. Elected annually.
quaestors
Chief financial officers of the Roman Republic. Initially two in number, elected annually.
aediles
Roman republican officers, two elected annually, who had responsibility for food supply, public buildings, games.
censors
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.
Roman Magistrates
- dictator
- consul
- censors
- praetors
- aediles
- quaestors
Tribal Assembly
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.”
Centuriate Assembly
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.
Punic Wars
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.
Pyrrhic War
(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.
Attalus III
King of Pergamum, a small but rich Hellenistic kingdom, who willed his kingdom to Rome in 133 B.C.
Cato the Elder
(234–149 B.C.)
Conservative Roman author and statesman.
Catullus
(84–54 B.C.)
Roman lyric poet.
Cicero
(106–43 B.C.)
Roman lawyer and statesman who struggled for peace and concord in the crumbling Roman Republic.
Polybius
(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.
Plautus
(254–184 B.C.)
Brought Greek style “new comedy” to Rome. Author of, among other plays, The Pot of Gold.
Terence
(c. 190–159 B.C.)
Author of Latin comedies marked by brilliant, elegant style.
Aeneas
Central figure in Virgil’s Aeneid.
Gracchi brothers
Tiberius (d. 133 B.C.) and Gaius (d. 121 B.C.) who, as tribunes, were popular leaders. Both were murdered by political foes.
Marius
(157–86 B.C.)
“New Man” who gained prominence through military successes, held the consulship multiple times in succession, professionalized the Roman army.
Sulla
(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.
Pompey
(106–48 B.C.)
Roman politician who won military glory and joined with Julius Caesar, then turned against him.
Julius Caesar
(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.
Crassus
(d. 53 B.C.)
Wealthiest man in Rome; joined in various political alliances in a quest to earn respectability.
Triumvirate, First
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.
Triumvirate, Second
Formal alliance among Octavian, Lepidus, and Antonius in 43 B.C. by which they were to share rule in the Roman Empire.
