Rome Flashcards
SPQR
Senate and the people of Rome
2 Mountains that protected Rome
Alps and Apennine
of hills Rome was built on
7 hills
of sides with sea barriers
3 sides
The central location of Rome
Peninsula
Apennine mnt. Importance
Their not a barrier to the unification of the peninsula
Reasons for good farming & trade (
- Firtile soils & mild climate
- Had no need to import food
- Central location in Medditeranean
- Great for trade & expansion
3 other peoples living in Italy
1) Greek colonists
2) Carthaginian colonists
3) Gauls
Where did the Greek colonists live?
- Eastern portion of Italy
- Heel & Toe of Italy
Where did the Carthaginian colonists live?
-Western half of Sicily
Where did the Gauls live?
-Between the Alps & Po River
What people have their orgins lost to pre-history?
The Etruscans
Where did the Etruscans live?
Region today known at “Tuscany”
Were the Etruscans enemies of the Romans?
Yes
Things that the Etruscans taught the Romans (3)
- Arch in archetecture
- Drainage & Sewer building
- Phlanax military formation
What was the Indo-European tribe form the north?
The Latins
Where did the Latins settle?
South of Tiber River
-Area known as Latium
What league was formed for protection?
The Latin league
What city was leading in the Latin League?
Rome
Explain the 5 “Steps” in the legend of the founding of Rome.
1) Twin Romulus & Remus
2) Ordered to be drowned by uncle
3) Raised by a She-Wolf
4) Grew up, killed uncle
5) Romulus killed Remus
What were the 3 major periods in Roman History?
1) Roman Orgins
2) Roman Republic
3) Roman Empire
What were the 2 social classes in Rome?
The Patricians and Plebians
Which group was considered the Nobles and controlled the government in Rome?
The Patricians
What 3 groups was the government made of?
1) Executive power
2) Legislature
3) Assembly
Describe the executive power
- 2 consuls w/ 1 year term
- Elected by male patricians
Describe the legislature
- Senate- Upper house
- 300 patricians
- Served for life
- Controlled by 12 families
Describe assembly
- Lower house
Which group was considered the common people?
The plebians
What were the rights that they didn’t have?
- Couldnt run for office
- Couldnt marry into the nobility (Patricianss)
- Had little say in laws
What did the plebians threaten to do?
Succede from Rome
T or F? Over time, the plebians gained more rights
Yes
What are the 5 elected Roman Officials?
1) Adiles
2) Censors
3) Dictators
4) Practors
5) Quaesters
What was the job of the Adiles?
Ran city local government
What was the job of the Censors?
Kept track of citizen lists
-later took charge of public morality
What was the job of the Dictators?
- Absolute power
- Appointed by senate
- Used in times of emergency
- Rulled 6 months
What was the job of the Praectors?
In charge of Roman finances
What 4 areas did the plebians eventually earn greater rights in?
1) Intermarrige- plebs given right to marry patricians
2) Public offices- opened to plebs
3) Tribunes- plebs had right to elect tribunes
4) 12 tables- protected plebs from patrician judges
At what time did Rome come into control of all Italy, south of the Po River?
509-265 BC
When did the Gauls capture Rome & burn it?
386 BC
How did the Romans get the Gauls to leave?
They paid off the Gauls with a large amount of gold.
When the Romans turned away from the Gauls, what 4 areas did they conqure?
1) Etruscans
2) Allies in Latin League
3) Tribes in central Italy
4) Greeks in south
What 4 things made Rome be so succesful?
1) Infrastructure
* few geographical barriers
* Military roads (troops sent quick)
2) Military ability
* Great soldiers
* Well trained volunteers
* Severe punishment
3) Strategy: Divide & Control
* Forbade aliances
* Kept groups under Roman control disunited
4) Treatment of Conquered Peoples
* Treated well
* Recieved full citizenship
Tiberius Gracchus
-Pleb
-Looking for reform
-Elected as tribune for plebs
*Promised land reform
*Wanting to limit amt. of land owned
*Wanted to rebuild farming class
*Patricians not pleased
~Murdered w/ multiple followers
Gaius Gracchus
-Younger brother of Tiberius
-Elected Tribune
*Wanting land reform
*Wanted gov. to sell grain @ reduced price
*Wanted public works program to employ poor
*Wanted to reform way taxes collected
*Wanted to decrease senates power
*Riots erupted
~Killed along w/ thousands
What were the 2 differing parties in Rome?
Optimates & Populares
What party was the senetorial party, and wanted to remain the position & power of the plebian class?
The Optimates
What party was the peoples party, had strength in the assembly, and wanted reforms?
The Populares
Why did military dictators come to power?
- Constant fighting between rich and poor
- Restlessness in provinces
- Slave rebellions (Spartacus)
- Invasions
- Craved strong leadership
Gaius Marius
-Leader of the Populares
*Elected consul in 107 BC
-Successful general
-Elected consul 7 times
-Army reforms
*Formed paid, volunteer, professional army
~staffed by Rome’s landless ppl
*Rival with Lucius Sulla
Lucius Sulla
- Patrician member of senate
- Successful general
- Marius & supporters came to power when Sulla was away
- Sulla came back to Rome
- Sulla killed Marius’s followers
- Rulled as Dictator for 3 years
- Gave senate back control of gov. then retired
What was the first triumvirate?
An unnoficial pact to control Rome
Who were the 3 men in the First Triumvirate?
1) Gais Julius Caesar
2) Marcus Lincinius Crassus
3) Gnaeus Pompelus Magns
Gaius Julius Caesar
-Elected consul 59 BC
-Military Victories
*Brought Gaul under Roman rule
~Wrote commentary on Galic Wars
Marcus Licinius Crassus
- Not a great general
- Extremely wealthy (by devious means)
- Bought burning buildings
Gnaeus Pompelus Magns
- General under Sulla
- Great general
- Became angry and senate
- Denied triumph
- Senate refused to pay for soldiers
What did Pompey Magnus bring to the table?
- Soldiers
* Became leader of Italy
What did Marcus Crassus bring to the table?
- Money
* Became leader of Rome’s eastern provinces
What did Julius Caesar bring to the table?
- Popularity
* Proconsul of Gaul (France)
What ended the 1st triumvirate?
When Crassus was killed in battle against the Parthians
What does “Weni, vidi, vici!” mean?
*I came, i saw, i conqured”
What geographical barriers of the Italian Peninsula?
- Seas
- Mountains
Apart from the Latins, what other groups lived in Italy?
- Greek colonists
- Gauls
- Carthaginian Colonists
Who founded the Roman Republic 509 BC?
Romulus
Who were the patricians, and what rights did they have?
- Nobles
- Controlled gov.
Who were the plebians, and what rights did they have?
- Common people
- Almost no rights
How and why were the Gracchus brothers killed?
One was murdered, the other was killed in a riot. Both were killed because they were not liked by the patricians.
How and why did military dictators come to power in Rome?
They came to power in emergencies to bring stability to Rome. They served 6 month terms.
Who were the members of the 1st triumviarte, and what did each member bring to the table?
1) Pompey Magnus- Soldiers
2) Marcus Crassus- Money
3) Julius Caesar- Popularity
What steps led to Caesar being the sole ruler of Rome?
1) Crassus killed in battle
2) Pompey jelous of caesar
3) Caesar had a decision to make
4) Crossed rubicon River
5) Pompey flees to greece, then egypt
6) Ptolamy XIII killed pompey
7) Caesar met Cleopatra
8) Returned to Rome, and military victories left Caesar the sole ruler of Rome
Describe Caesars assassination?
Brutus and Cassius stabbed Caesar 23 times on the floor of the senate house.
Explain how and why Mark Antony and Octavian came into conflict.
- Antony divorces Octavians sister and marries Cleopatra
- Antony offend Rome by “going native”
- Octavian’s forces go into Egypt to fight
What were the dates of the Roman Republic?
509 BC- 31 BC
What were the dates of the Roman Empire?
31 BC- 476 BC
Explain the meaning of “primus inter pares”
- First among equals
- Gave the people of Rome the idea that it was still a republic
What are the accomplishments of Agustus?
- Declared Emporers gods
- Built and maintains infustructure in Rome
- Encouraged growth of businesses
- Established police and fire department
- Extended citizenship
- “Found Rome, a city of bricks, and left it a city of marble”
What was the pax romana?
- Roman Peace
- When Rome controlled the whole mediterranean
- Lasted about 200 years
How do Caligula, Nero, and the year of the 4 emporers represent problems of hereditary succesion?
- All didnt have a male son to take over
- Left city in confusion who will take power
Who was the last “good emporer”?
Marcus Aurelius
What was Rome under Augustus called?
The Golden Age
What was the big technological advance during the time of Augustus?
Concrete
