midterm - pics Flashcards
1
Q
Italy/Italian peninsula
A
- heartland of Roman civilization
- diversity provided both resources and challenges that influenced early political and military strategies
2
Q
Mediterranean Sea
A
- arena for cultural, commercial, and military exchanges
- Maritime access was critical in establishing trade routes and forging alliances with distant cultures such as the Greeks and Phoenicians
- dynamic network that both connected and propelled early Roman expansion
3
Q
Alps
A
- formidable natural barrier to the north, influenced migration, trade, and military strategy in early Italy
- provided a measure of protection while also serving as a conduit for cultural exchange and the gradual influx of northern influences
4
Q
Apennines
A
- Running like a spine down the center of Italy
- challenges of traversing this range helped shape early settlement patterns, defense strategies, and agricultural practices
5
Q
Tyrrhenian Sea & Tyrrhenian coast
A
- Bordering the western edge of Italy
- zone where indigenous Italic traditions met Greek colonists
- illustrate early cross-cultural interactions that influenced everything from religious practices to urban planning
- enabled Rome to later project power across the sea.
6
Q
Adriatic Sea & Adriatic coast
A
- east of Italy
- alternate maritime corridor that connected the Italian peninsula with the Balkan and Greek worlds.
- fostered trade and communication, influencing the cultural and economic development of early Italy.
7
Q
Sicily
A
- largest island in the Mediterranean
- played a pivotal role as a crossroads of various ancient cultures (Greek, Phoenician, and later Carthaginian influences)
- Strategic location made Sicily a highly contested prize, setting the stage for later conflicts such as the Punic Wars
8
Q
Etruria
A
- homeland of the sophisticated Etruscan civilization
- profoundly influenced the early cultural and political development of Rome
- source of urban innovations, religious practices, and artistic traditions that were later absorbed and transformed by the Romans
9
Q
Latium
A
central region of Italy where early Rome was founded, making it the cradle of Latin culture and political organization
10
Q
Campania
A
- rich agricultural lands and coastal access, was a magnet for early settlers and later Greek colonists
- bridge between Italic and Hellenic traditions
11
Q
Bronze Age
A
period when societies began to use bronze tools and weapons
12
Q
Iron Age
A
major technological revolution, as iron tools and weapons became widespread and spurred further social and economic change
13
Q
Archaic period
A
- characterized by the emergence of organized city-states, the development of written laws, and the early formation of political and religious institutions
- processes of urbanization and state formation that would later define the Roman Republic
14
Q
Villanovan culture
A
- early Iron Age
- sites across central & northern Italy (full extent uncertain, only
isolated sites known) - no written records (= language uncertain)
- small settlements, wattle-and-daub huts
- hut urns; emerging social differentiation in graves
15
Q
Latial culture
A
- early Iron Age onwards
- sites across central Italy (full extent uncertain, only isolated sites known)
- including the future site of Rome
- no written records (= language uncertain, thought to be proto-Latin)
- small settlements, wattle-and-daub huts
- hut urns; emerging social differentiation in graves
16
Q
Phoenicians
A
- influential maritime traders whose commercial networks extended throughout the Mediterranean, including early Italy. - ideas that would eventually influence Roman culture.
17
Q
Greeks, Magna Graecia
A
- Greek colonies of Magna Graecia brought advanced art, architecture, and political ideas to southern Italy and the surrounding regions.
- Their presence created a dynamic cultural interface that enriched local traditions and set the stage for later Roman adaptations.
- The influence of Greek language and thought is evident in many aspects of Roman art, literature, and governance.
18
Q
Etruscans, Etruscan language
A
- loosely unified group of independent city-states with common language and culture
- controlled territory north of Rome
(roughly centered on the area of modern Tuscany, but larger) - Etruscan influence extended
south along the Tyrrhenian coast
of the Italian peninsula - language not related to latin/Greek
19
Q
Latins, Latin language
A
- Latins were the early inhabitants of the region that would become Rome
- their language served as the foundation for the Roman tongue
- Their cultural practices, religious beliefs, and social customs are deeply embedded in Roman identity.
20
Q
Latin League
A
- alliance of Latin city-states that cooperated on matters of mutual defense and shared religious practices.
- Its formation illustrates early attempts at political organization and collective identity among Latin peoples
21
Q
gens (plural gentes; “clan”/”clans”)
A
- gens was a fundamental kinship group in early Roman society that provided the framework for social organization and political identity.
- Membership in a gens conferred both social status and a sense of collective responsibility among its members.
22
Q
patrons and clients
A
- system of patrons and clients was a key social and political relationship in early Rome, linking the elite to less powerful citizens.
- Through mutual obligations, patrons offered protection and resources while clients provided support in political and social affairs
23
Q
Tiber River
A
- lifeblood of early Rome but also a strategic geographic feature that influenced its growth and trade.
- Its waters provided resources for agriculture, transportation, and communication among early settlements
24
Q
Capitoline hill
A
- became one of the most important urban centers in early Rome, symbolizing political and religious authority.
- It was the site of key temples and civic buildings that underscored the city’s emerging identity
25
Palatine hill
- regarded as the site of Rome’s founding and the home of its earliest settlements.
- It provided a defensible location and later became the seat of power for the Roman elite.
- Romulus and Remus
26
Roman Forum/Forum Romanum
- served as the political, religious, and commercial heart of the early city.
- It was the venue for public speeches, legal proceedings, and civic gatherings, reflecting the active participation of citizens in the Republic
27
Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus [= Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus = Capitolium]
- on the Capitoline hill was one of Rome’s most sacred religious sites and a symbol of the city’s power
28
"Tuscan order" (compare to Archaic Etruscan temples)
- refers to an architectural style characterized by simplicity and sturdiness that influenced early Roman temple design
29
Roman regal period/Roman monarchy
- 8th-6th century BC
- model of settlement on the Palatine hill, circa mid-8th cent. BC
- 753 BC: date when Roman historians recorded the foundation of Rome by the first king, Romulus
- model of major construction projects on the Capitoline hill, circa late 6th cent. BC
- 509 BC: date when Roman historians recorded the expulsion of the last king, Tarquinius Superbus
30
Romulus and Remus
- myth of Romulus and Remus encapsulates the legendary origins of Rome
- emphasizing themes of divine destiny, fraternal conflict, and the struggle for power.
- Their story explains not only the founding of the city but also the values of resilience and ambition that characterized Roman culture.
31
Aeneas
- foundational figure in Roman myth, whose journey from Troy to Italy symbolized the continuity of heroic traditions and divine favor
32
Sabines
- Italic people whose interactions—often through conflict and eventual integration—with early Romans played a significant role in shaping Rome’s social and cultural landscape.
33
7 Kinds of Rome
Romulus
Numa Pompilius
Tullus Hostilius
Ancus Marcius
L(ucumo) Tarquinius Priscus
Servius Tullius
L(ucius) Tarquinius Superbus
34
Timeline
before 900 BC
- Urnfield cultures (across Europe)
- Bronze Age Proto-Villanovan
Circa 900-700 BC
- Villanovan
- (Iron Age) Latial
- (Western) Greek
- (= Greek settlements of Magna Graecia)
After 700 BC
- Etruscan
* some sites overlap
- Latin =cities of Latium
- South Italian/ Greek (Western)
- Rome
35
last kind of rome
- Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
- expelled and replaced with a new form of government
36
Lucretia
- one of the most famous female exempla from Roman history
- becomes symbolic of Roman female virtue
- when she was killed it provoked the overthrow of the Tarquins
37
Tarquins
38
consul
- a magistracy that took over many political/military functions of the kingship
- elected annually
- shared between two colleagues
- restrictions designed to limit power so even the highest office under the republic should not be
able to exercise power like a king
39
dictators
- because restrictions on the power of individual officials also made them less effective at
exercising power in a crisis, dictators could be appointed for limited-time emergencies only
40
what was the goal of the new system of government
- when last kind was overthrown the new system avoided concentrating power in one person's hands
41
magistrates
their offices were the backbone of Roman Republican governance, ensuring the execution of laws and administration of the state
42
priests
- got the religious functions of the kingship
- rex sacrorum and pontifex Maximus
43
what was the point of changing from a kingship to a consul ship or republic?
so the powers
held by a king are
now spread
across multiple
offices in the
republic, not
concentrated in
the hands of one
office
44
several symbols of kingly power persist into the Republic
- toga bordered in purple, the toga praetexta
- use of the curule chair (sella curulis)
- escort of lictors bearing fasces
45
praetors
- judicial magistrates who played a key role in the administration of justice and the management of military affairs.
- Their responsibilities included the oversight of legal disputes and, in some cases, the command of armies
46
curule aediles
responsible for maintaining public order, overseeing markets, and organizing festivals, thereby playing an important role in urban life
47
quaestors
financial officers responsible for managing the state’s treasury and overseeing fiscal administration
48
censors
magistrates charged with maintaining the census and overseeing public morality, reflecting the state’s concern with both population and ethical conduct
49
tribunes of the plebs
- elected officials who represented the interests of the common people and provided a critical check on patrician power.
- Their institution allowed plebeians to challenge unjust practices and secure legal protections
50
senate
- did not have the authority to write legislation, issued advice and gradually gained power to approve action initiated by magistrates
- non-elected advisory council, membership based primarily on family origin
- Originally limited to patricians; plebeians later gained access
- Membership held for life unless a member was removed
51
The “Long” 5th Century
Sabines
Latium/the Latin League
Hernici, Aequi, Volsci
Etruscans (limited)--Veii
Gauls
52
The “Long” 4th Century
Etruscans
Latins
Samnites
53
The Early 3rd Century
Pyrrhus of Epirus
54
Attempts to restore the Tarquins
Etruscan cities attempt to reinstate Tarquinius Superbus
Lars Porsenna of Clusium attacks Rome, withdraws because
of Roman virtue (according to Livy):
Horatius Cocles at the Pons Sublicius
Mucius Scaevola and the botched assassination
Cloelia escaping from captivity
Subsequently defeated at Battle of Aricia (504) by
Cumaean Greeks and Latin allies
55
“long” 5th century: Military Alliances
Foedus Cassianum (493) with Latin League
o Rome is equal to the Latin League combined—each makes
up half of the army and takes half of the plunder
o Rome has right to summon common army
o Ius Latii (“Latin rights”) shared by all Latin cities
56
Gallic Sack
- 390 (or 387): Gauls under Brennus sack Rome
Marcus Manlius Capitolinus and a small group hold out
on the Capitoline, repel an attack thanks to the Sacred
Geese
Payment to Gauls negotiated
57
First half of 4th century
- Aggressive expansion in Latium
Battles in Etruria
Treaties—both in Italy (including the Samnites in 354)
and with Carthage (348)
349 Gallic invasion repulsed
58
Conflict with the Samnites
- A mountain people, the strongest group in the central
highlands of Italy
4 tribes organized in a loose alliance
4x the territory and 2x the population of the Romans
Skilled in fighting in mountainous terrain, where the
heavily-armored Roman phalanx (adapted from Greek
cities) was a liability
59
The Latin Wars (340-338)
- Upset by Rome’s ceding Sidicini to the Samnites, the
Latin League and Rome’s Campanian allies revolted
Battle of Antium (338) ended Latin independence
Latin League dissolved
Latin Rights (Ius Latii) granted on individual treaty basis,
detached from geographic and ethnic basis
60
Latin Colonies (Coloniae)
Created jointly by Romans and non-Roman Latins
Held Latin Rights
Foreign states allied with Rome, not Roman citizens
61
Roman Colonies (Coloniae)
- Created by Romans
Held Roman citizenship
62
Municipia
- Existing polities converted into self-governing communities of Roman
citizens
Smaller than Latin Colonies
Tusculum (381) first—not necessarily an honor
Different kinds
Civitas optimo iure: Full citizenship rights, including franchise
Civitas sine suffragio: No right to vote
63
Second Samnite War (327-
304/3)
- Rome and Samnites involved in internal dispute in
Naples
Battle of Caudine Forks (321): Romans defeated, sent
under the yoke
Brief pause in hostilities; fighting resumes 316
Appius Claudius Caecus constructs the Via Appia in
312
[306 Roman treaty with Carthage renewed]
304 peace declared, no clear victor
64
Third Samnite War (298-
290)
- Samnites allied with Etruscans, Umbrians, and Celts
Battle of Sentinum (295), devotio of P. Decius Mus,
decisive turning-point in the war
290 Manius Curius Dentatus forced Samnite surrender
Samnites become socii
Generally moderate peace terms with Etruscans and
Umbrians
65
Increasing involvement in southern Italy/Magna Graecia
- Samnites no longer acted as buffer between Rome and
Magna Graecia
Treaty between Rome and Tarentum existed, but there
were tensions
282 Tarentines sink Roman ships in Bay of Tarentum
and sack Thurii, then call on Pyrrhus of Epirus (2nd
cousin of Alexander the Great) for aid
66
Pyrrhic Wars (280-272)
- Rome enters the larger Mediterranean stage against a
professionally-trained Hellenistic army
Pyrrhus goes to Sicily to fight Carthaginians and is
abandoned by allies after initial successes (278)
Pyrrhus withdraws to Greece (275) and leaves garrison
at Tarentum
[Roman treaty with Hellenistic King Ptolemy II of Egypt,
one of Alexander the Great’s successor kingdoms, in 273]
Fall of Tarentum (272)
67
Punic Wars: Background
- When Roman power first reached to southern tip of
Italy in the mid-3rd century, Carthage and Greek
colonies had been competing for control of Sicily for
more than a century
Carthage: Phoenician colony founded mid-8th century
BC à nb. contemporary with Rome’s foundation!
Gained independence from Phoenician mother city,
Tyre, in mid-7th century BC
68
nobiles
nobles of rome
69
Twelve Tables
first codification of Roman law and established a publicly accessible set of rules governing civil, criminal, and religious matters
70
decemviri
special commission appointed to draft the Laws of the Twelve Tables, representing a moment when legal reform temporarily concentrated power in the hands of appointed experts
71
Conflict wth Veii
- Strong regional power 10 miles from Rome
Understood as a turning point in Roman expansion
Annexation of territory, incorporation of citizens
72
The Gallic Sack
390 (or 387): Gauls under Brennus sack Rome
- Symbolic second founding of city
73
First half of 4th century
Aggressive expansion in Latium
Treaties—both in Italy (including the Samnites in 354) and with Carthage (348)
74
