Power Struggle 42-30BC

Question 1

Agrippa

Answer 1

Full name: Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
A close friend, general, and trusted advisor to Octavian (Augustus).
Played a key role in the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) and in various Roman military victories.
Oversaw major architectural projects in Rome, including the Pantheon and aqueducts.

Question 2

The Temple of Deified Julius Caesar

Answer 2

A temple in the Roman Forum built to honor the deified Julius Caesar.
Dedicated by Augustus in 29 BCE after Caesar’s death and deification.
It became a central site for Caesar’s cult and public worship, symbolizing Augustus’ political legitimacy.

Question 3

The Treaty of Brundisium

Answer 3

A peace agreement signed in 40 BCE between Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus.
It divided the Roman territories: Octavian controlled the West, Antony the East, and Lepidus Africa.
The treaty solidified their alliance for a time and reinforced the Second Triumvirate.

Question 4

Grain Blockade

Answer 4

Imposed by Sextus Pompeius, who controlled Sicily and used his navy to block grain shipments to Rome.
This caused severe food shortages in the city.
The blockade ended when the in 36 BCE - Agrippa’s fleet was essential to the victory.

Question 5

Sextus Pompeius

Answer 5

The son of Pompey the Great, a prominent opponent of Julius Caesar.
After Caesar’s assassination, he controlled Sicily and used his naval power to disrupt Rome’s grain supply.
His defeat in 36 BCE by Octavian and Agrippa marked the end of Pompeian resistance.

Question 6

Aureus

Answer 6

A gold coin used in ancient Rome, first minted in the 1st century BCE.
It was the standard currency for large transactions and military payments.
The denarius was the more common silver coin, but the aureus was highly valuable and used in major economic and political contexts.

Question 7

Livia

Answer 7

Full name: Livia Drusilla, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius, Rome’s second emperor.
She was highly influential in Roman politics and served as a model of the ideal Roman matrona.
Deified after her death and became a symbol of dynastic continuity for the Julio-Claudian family.

Question 8

Matrona

Answer 8

The title for a respectable Roman married woman.
Expected to embody virtues like chastity, modesty, and fidelity.
Matronae played important roles in maintaining family honor and were often involved in religious and social functions.

Question 9

Cleopatra

Answer 9

The last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt.
Had relationships with both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, seeking to align Egypt’s power with Rome.
Her defeat at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) led to the fall of Egypt to Rome and her eventual suicide.

Question 10

Mark Antony

Answer 10

A Roman general and politician, key ally of Julius Caesar.
Formed the Second Triumvirate with Octavian and Lepidus.
His relationship with Cleopatra and his rivalry with Octavian culminated in his defeat at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE).
Committed suicide in 30 BCE.

Question 11

Mausoleum

Answer 11

A monumental tomb used to honor the dead, often associated with rulers or important figures.
The Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome was one of the most famous, built for Augustus and his family.
These structures were symbolic of eternal power and prestige.

Question 12

The Battle of Actium

Answer 12

A decisive naval battle in 31 BCE between Octavian’s fleet, commanded by Agrippa, and the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
Took place off the coast of Greece near Actium.
Octavian’s victory led to the fall of Antony and Cleopatra and the establishment of his rule as the first Roman Emperor.

Question 13

The Donations of Alexandria

Answer 13

A political act in 34 BCE by Mark Antony, where he distributed Roman territories to Cleopatra’s children, declaring them rulers of various eastern lands.
This caused outrage in Rome, seen as a betrayal of Roman interests to a foreign power (Egypt).
It was used by Octavian to turn public opinion against Antony.
He also celebrated his victory over Armenia in Alexandria alongside this.

Question 14

Patron

Answer 14

In ancient Rome, a patron was a wealthy and powerful individual who provided protection and financial support to clients (often lower-class individuals or artists).
In return, clients offered loyalty, political support, or services.
The system of patronage was a key element of Roman social and political life.

Question 15

The Temple of Janus Quirinus

Answer 15

An ancient temple in Rome dedicated to Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions.
The temple’s doors were open during times of war and closed during peace.
Augustus closed the doors three times, symbolizing the Pax Romana (Roman Peace).

Question 16

Horace

Answer 16

A prominent Roman poet during the time of Augustus.
Known for his Odes, Satires, and Epistles, Horace celebrated Roman values and the Augustan age.
He was closely associated with Maecenas, Augustus’ cultural advisor and patron of the arts.

Question 17

Propertius

Answer 17

A Roman poet famous for his elegies, focusing on themes of love and personal emotion.
Like Horace, he was also supported by Maecenas and part of the literary circle surrounding Augustus.
His work contrasts with more political or nationalistic poetry, focusing on personal relationships.

Question 18

Maecenas

Answer 18

A wealthy Roman statesman and close advisor to Augustus.
He is best known as a patron of the arts, supporting poets like Horace, Virgil, and Propertius.
His cultural influence helped promote the ideology of the Augustan regime through literature.