Rome Flashcards
Rome began as a-
small city state in Italy
Italy is geographically a ——– with access to -
peninsula/all continents along the Mediterranean sea
Africa, Europe and Asia
Was Rome easier or harder to unite than Greece?
Why?
There weren’t many mountains in Italy so Rome was easier to unite than Greece.
*Greece was decentralized because of the many tall mountains separating them
Which mountain range was to the north of Italy and protected Rome?
The Alps
What are the Apennine Mountains?
Mountain range that runs down the middle of Italy
They are not very tall, so did not separate people
How was Romes soil?
Great fertile plains for food supplies.
The Romans became a great empire in part because they -
were a crossroad for trade AND (in contrast to Greece) had very fertile soil
Who were the first inhabitants of Rome?
Where did they settle?
Indo-European descendents (Latins) were the first inhabitants.
Latins were the original Romans
Settled along the Tiber River (800 BC)
The Etruscans
Settled North of Rome
Conquered Romans
Most of what the Romans learned came from the Etruscans
The Etruscans laid the foundations the Roman empire
Most of what the Romans learned came from the Etruscans, this included-
Their alphabet
Arches
Drainage
Gods
Romans kicked out the -
Etruscans (509 BC)
They were previously ruled by an Etruscan king - they had no say
When the Romans drove the Etruscans out, they outlawed -
kings
What did the Romans create after driving out the Etruscans?
They created a republic, a government where officials are chosen by the people
This is an INDIRECT DEMOCRACY
Designed to keep the power out of one man’s hands
*Having a republic speeds up decision-making & other processes - less people are involved
The U.S. and the republic of Rome are:
A republic
A representative democracy
An indirect democracy
THESE ARE ALL EFFECTIVELY SYNONYMS
Rome also developed a —– army that would -
great
help them conquer many peoples
3 key components of Romes government-
Senate
Consul
Dictator
Senate
300 member body made up of landholding upper class, called the Patricians
Senators served for life
Somewhat of an oligarchy
What was an implication of senators serving for life in Rome?
Means Senator can make unbiased decisions since they aren’t at threat of being kicked/voted out
Patr is the root for-
father and male (as in Patricians)
The Patricians were “fathers” over the ——, helping them out
Plebians
Rome was a ——- society
patrilineal
Consul
Two were chosen from the Patrician class
Their main job was to supervise the government and command the armies
One controlled the army, the other the government (roughly)
How long did members of the Consul serve?
They only served a one year term
This is so they did not gain too much power
Dictator
At times of crisis/war (monetary or otherwise) the Senate could choose a dictator
He was one man with absolute power
He ruled until the crisis was over, or for a strict limit of 6 months (to limit power)
Who was the model for a Roman dictator?
Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus was a retired general who was called to duty in a military crisis
He came out retirement to be appointed dictator
He quickly defeated the enemy
And then let go of all his power, returning home.
Less officials and government stratification was needed as Rome grew
True or False. Why?
False
As Rome grew, more officials and government layers were needed to manage its larger population, vast territories, complex economy, and social divisions.
Which departments in society grew along with Romes evolvment?
Such as departments of finance, justice, religion and census
Plebeians demanded ——-
equality
(Farmers, merchants, artisans, traders wanted more of a say in the government)
What was a major step forward in Plebian equality when it came to the law?
450BC: laws get placed in the marketplace for all to see (12 tables)
This is so ignorance isn’t used as a defence
Also allowed people to see the damn law
Tribunes
Representatives to protect the poor
Tribunes were often well educated and thus not poor
They could veto laws
By 270BC, Roman Troops had conquered-
almost the entire Italian peninsula.
Could women be soldiers in Rome?
No, only men.
Soldiers were paid handsomly in Rome, resulting in further motivation and hence their large army.
True or False?
False.
Soldiers weren’t paid a dime, yet everyone signed up because patriotism.
The basic unit was called a-
How many people in this unit?
Legion
5000 men in a Legion
Soldiers were —— by reward and punishment
motivated
e.g- if one person messed up, every tenth person would be punished (likely killed)
What would happened to the lands Rome conquered?
Conquered people paid taxes and gave men for the army
Romans also left them alone (keep their gods and traditions)
Roads linked provinces to Rome (For efficiency of movement)
Nations Rome conquered were-
Under the protection and rights of Rome
Some were given special rights
Carthage has —– dominance, and Rome has ———– dominance
naval/terrestrial
Carthage was a city state in-
Present day-
Northern Africa/Tunisia
Rome and Carthage fought for control of the-
Mediterranean Sea
Rome and Carthage fought —– wars
three
Punic Wars (264–146BC)
The first Punic War was fought on sea
Rome won the first war through grappling
Carthage wanted revenge
What islands did Rome take after the first Punic War?
Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia
Hannibal
Carthaginian General
Hated Rome because his dad kept telling him Rome is evil
Hated Romans
Hates Rome
Was the second Punic war fought on land or sea?
Land (lasted 15 years)
Hannibal went through this mountain range in order to surprise attack Romans-
The Alps
(This sounds good in theory, but it was the worst decision made… ever)
What was Hannibals journey across the Alps like?
Half of his army and all but one of his war elephants died during the journey
Took 15 days to cross Alps
Hannibal got close to Rome but never took it.
Why?
Rome intercepted Hannibal’s attack message to his brother.
(His brother’s head was then given to him)
Romans then attacked Carthage and killed the vulnerable people because the army was not near Carthage.
Hannibal rushed back, but by then, Rome won the second Punic War
After Rome won, they named the Mediterranean-
Mare Nostrum: “Our Sea”
Carthage also paid ——- to Rome and lost —-
tribute/lands
What happened to Hannibal after the second Punic War?
Let free by the Romans and made a legion
Before the Romans could capture him for insurrection, he killed himself
Senator Cato
Roman Senator Cato called for the full destruction of Carthage in every speech he made. Worked overtime.
What resulted from Senator Cato’s propaganda?
The Romans went around Carthage twice:
Once to kill everyone
The second time to find people they didn’t kill and sold them off
700 yr. old city (Carthage) destroyed and North Africa became part of Rome.
What were the social and economic consequences of expansion on Rome?
New class of wealthy Romans emerged (Used slave labour on large farms called latifundia)
This is bad for Rome because no progress is made: slaves are uneducated and overworked, rich are Epicureanists and hedonists
What happened to Plebians as a result of Romes large expansion?
Grain came in from conquered lands
Small farmers could not compete
Many people moved to the city to find jobs.
Reforms of Gracchi
established a commission to survey Roman public land, reassert state claims to it, and redistribute it to poor rural farmers.
What happened as a result of more and more people moving to cities?
City became overcrowded and the gap between rich and poor widened.
Corruption, greed growing in government.
Tiberius Grachus
Was elected tribune in 133 BC
Gave land to poor farmers
Gaius Grachus
Elected a tribune in 123 BC
More reforms
Were the Grachi’s efforts of reform safe or daring? Why?
The Grachi’s efforts of reform were very daring because to stand up to the Senate almost always meant death.
(Then they were murdered with the followers “in a riot”)
The century of civil war in Rome was which two main heads clashing?
Senate vs popular political leaders
Spartacus
He was a slave that started an uprising in Rome
It took a bit over a year to put him down, and he gained a lot of traction
And when he died, he was crucified
Soldiers more loyal to ———- than to —-. Why?
commanders/Rome
Soldiers were more partial to the senators because they knew the commander they marched for but not the Senator.
Soldiers eventually gained an animosity towards the Senators
How did Julius Caesar start out in the Roman political scene?
Ambitious young general who wanted to make reforms
By Dante’s Inferno, Caesar was-
selected by god to rule, and his traitors are in hell.
Who created the first Triumvirate? What is this?
Julius Caesar created the first triumvirate — a three person ruling thinktank.
Who ran the first triumvirate?
Caesar, Pompey and Crassus ran the first triumvirate
Crassus was the wealthiest man in all of Rome
Selfishness overcame the trio, and all wanted the power for themselves
Julius Caesar and Gaul (what happened)
59 BC he defeated the barbaric Gallic Hordes (Gaul) in modern day France after 9 years of war.
Pompey and Crassus wanted Caesar to die.
They incited Caesar to cross the Rubicon, starting the Roman Civil War
Rubicon
A rival general named Pompey had the Senate order Caesar to disband his army and return.
Caesar was not to cross the Rubicon with his army, and if he did, it was an act of war on.
He defeated all enemies
What was Caesar’s generational dub quote?
“Veni, Vidi, Vici” - I came, I saw, I conquered
What happened to Pompey after Caesar took Rome?
Pompey then ran away to Egypt, and Egypt killed Pompey 💀
Julius was like “bro what” (no one likes a glazer).
Julius wanted to refabricate the friendship :(
Julius Caesar forced the Senate to make him ——–. Why did they go through with it?
dictator
They were scared of him
Julius Caesar kept the ——– of a republic but he was appointed an ——– ruler.
features/absolute
Julius Caesar was Roman Emperor who reigned from 46 BC - 44BC.
True or False
False. Julius Caesar was not an Emperor.
Julius Caesar Reforms
He helped the poor and jobless, and granted citizenship to more people
Created the Julian calendar, which was based on the Egyptian calendar
Ides of March-
Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by his friends for fear he’d become king.
Apparently told by a soothsayer to be careful on the Ides.
Said “et tu puer meus”
The Second Triumvirate
Formed by Mark Antony, Caesar’s nephew Octavian (now Augustas), and Lepidus
Vowed to hunt town Caesar’s killers.
Mark Anthony and Octavion’s close relationship-
Also Mark Antony (by marrying Octavian’s sister) becomes brothers-in-law with Octavian
Mark Anthony and Octavions start hating eachother-
Then Mark and Octavian hate each other because of power struggles
Then Mark decides to work with Cleopatra and sleep with her, so now he’s dating his aunt-in-law
Then since Cleopatra was madly in love with Mark, she killed herself when she thought he died
End of the Roman Republic-
The Senate, out of fear, named Octavian “Augustus” meaning Exalted one. (31BC–14AD)
He was not a king but did have absolute power
Was one of the best emperors.
500 yr. old Roman Republic came to an end and the Roman Empire began
Imperial Rome’s 7 benefits from stable government-
Senate still in place
Civil service jobs were offered to people regardless of class
Census’ were made for tax purposes and fairness
Postal service and new coins
Had the poor work on civil necessities (roads, temples, farms, etc)
Allowed some self governance for some provinces.
His [Augustus’] system lasted 200 years
What was the main issue after Augustus died?
He didn’t have any heirs, so power was disputed
The crappy emperors of imperial Rome-
Tiberius
Caligula
Claudius
Nero
(note: key takeaway is that each indivisual is clinically insane)
What happened to Rome after it burned?
Rome was still chilling though because Augustus was just that good.
They Rebuilt
Good Emperors in Imperial Rome-
Hadrian
Marcus Auralius
Hadrian
He codified Roman law (fixed it, corrected contradictions)
He built a wall between England & Scotland to keep invaders out
Marcus Auralius
The Philosopher King”
He was the last great emperor of Rome
His reign was the end of Pax Romana
Tiberius
He was insane
He loved watching people die
Completely sadistic
Caligula
Even worse than Tiberius in every way
At one point, he got angry at the sea and ordered his soldiers to attack it
He took all the shells from the beach to spite the sea or Poseidon
He named a horse Consul
He and his entire family was murdered by his guards
Claudius
He was afraid of being killed, and hid everywhere before he became emperor
He spoke with a stutter, and was not respected by anyone
He was eventually was poisoned by his sister
Nero
He loved his mother (way too much)
He started hating his mother and had her killed after many attempts
Nero fiddled (played violin) while Rome burned in a huge fire
Roman Peace Period is recongized as-
200 year period from Augustus → Marcus Aurelius is known as the “Pax Romana”
Stretched from the Euphrates → England (size of U.S)
Traded with other parts of the world*
Merchants were safe because Romans protected their roads
Brought peace & stability (civilization)
Family Life in Rome was-
Patriarchal
Women in Rome-
Had more freedom but most stayed home and cared for their families
Better treatment of women than civilizations in previous units
Upper class women were treated better than lower class women
Education in Rome
Children learned to read and write
Greek slaves were often used as tutors
Tutors (and other slaves) were treated well, and Aristotle was a slave
Two systems of Roman Law
Civil Law
Law of Nations
Eventually, these two systems will merge
Civil law –
laws that applied to citizens
Law of Nations –
laws that applied to all people under Roman control
What did Roman law create in the Roman Empire?
Roman law helped create unity and stability throughout the empire
US law is largely derived from Roman law. List 5 ways in which this true-
- Innocent until proven guilty
- Everyone is equal before the law
- Accused has the right to face the accuser (It helps to defend oneself, eg., so you can provide an alibi)
- Guilt must be decided unanimously
- Guilt must be “clearer than daylight” or beyond reasonable doubt
In what ways did the Romans borrow from the Greeks?
culture
arts
literature
science
philosophy
The Romans adapted and changed these things into their own style
Greco-Roman civilization is the combination of-
Greek, Hellenistic & Roman traditions
Romans imported many pieces of —– art
Greek
What was a new style of art Rome made?
Putting portraits in stone and coins
Who did the Romans borrow the idea of columns from? How did the Romans modify them?
Greeks
Made them bigger & more elaborate
Rome improved Greek architectural ideas such as the —- and the —-. Provide two examples of Roman buildings where these improvments were used-
arch and the dome
Pantheon
Baths of Caracalla
What was the Pantheon?
temple to all Roman gods
Roman engineering-
Built roads, bridges, harbors
Aqueducts-
Bridgelike structures that brought water into the Roman cities from the hills
Who did the scientific research for Rome-
was left to the Greeks in Alexandria
Ptolemy-
Astronomer/Mathematician who said that earth was the center of the universe
Galen-
composed a medical encyclopedia
Pliny the Elder-
a Roman Scientist
Virgil wrote the-
Aeneid
What was the Aeneid-
an epic poem showing teh glory of Rome, trying to raise nationilism
He wanted to show that Rome had a past as heroic as that of Greece
Who wrote about the glory of Rome by linking Roman and Greek gods-
Ovid
Horace wrote —— about Greek society
satire
Livy was a famous historian who-
wanted to rouse patriotic feelings
Tacitus
wrote about how bad the Roman generals were and that he admired the simple culture of the “Germans” who lived in the north
Roman Philosophers borrowed much of their philosophy from-
the Greeks
Roman religion was-
Polytheistic (Roman Mythology)
Who did the Romans copy their religion from, and in what ways?
Nearly copied the Etruscan/Greek gods
Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Mars
Their gods were used as planet names and day names
Many feasts and festivals for celebration
The Pantheone was used in Rome until-
they switched to Early Christianity close to their fall
Rome fell to-
corruption, religion, geography and invaders
After the death of ——— ———-, Rome became very unstable
Marcus Aurelius
After Marcus Aurelius, what were the death statistics of Roman Emporers (shows how crappy the job was)?
Over a 50-year period, there were 26 emperors – only 2 died of natural causes (the rest were killed).
Different rulers and generals fought for power
Taxes were too high, people left their —–
lands
During Romes’s decline, the lower class had two terrible options:
- Leave the Roman empire, where they would be killed by barbarians
- Stay in the empire, where:
they would work for wealthy landowners in exchange for their taxes being paid
They would not be paid
They would then not be able to leave because they needed their taxes paid (they would be thrown in jail otherwise)
They were not really free
Diocletian did what that majorly changed Rome forever?
284 AD divided the empire in half
What happened as a result of Romes divide?
Diocletian ruled the wealthy, flourishing eastern half (Byzantine), which contained:
Greece, Egypt and Turkey
He gave the West to Maximian (a friend)
Unfortunately, Rome was in the West
How did Diocletian make his position seem better than it was?
He made his position seem better than it was by wearing “regal clothing” & having elaborate ceremonies
He wore purple clothing, which was extremely expensive and showed that the person wearing it was wealthy
Diocletian and the economy-
He fixed prices for goods and services
This means that someone couldn’t make a product too expensive, there was a limit
The rich could afford high prices, but not the poor - the price fixing helped the poor
Constantine and religion-
Granted religious toleration for Christians
This was done through the Edict of Milan
Previously, Rome would persecute and kill Christians
Constantine built a new capital between the-
What was it called?
Black Sea & the Mediterranean Sea
Constantinople (present day Turkey)
It was called Byzantium before Constantinople made it the capital & named it after himself
The —- from East Asia began to migrate West
What did this lead to?
Huns
The native Germans could either fight the Huns or immigrate to Rome and have some chance of survival
Germanic people in the Hun’s way were killed
Now there were thousands of Germans in Rome, either as refugees or invaders
The Huns did not actually destroy Rome, but they indirectly caused its destruction
List some of the germanic tribes that fled to Rome-
Other Germanic tribes like the Goths (Visigoths and Ostrogoths) and Vandals fled within the Roman Empire for safety
—— the Hun conquered much of Europe and he forced more barbarians to move into Roman lands
Atilla
Who was sent to talk to Atilla, and how did he convince the Huns to not invade Rome?
The Pope told of a plague in Europe; and Atilla just… left
When did Rome officially “fall”, and how?
476 AD
Odoacer defeated Emperor Romulus Augustulus, and Rome fell.
Odoacer granted Romulus Augustulus freedom and large sums of money and retired him to Byzantine
Military causes of Rome’s fall-
Germanic invasions
Rome hired mercenaries – paid soldiers
They often hired German mercenaries, this was stupid - they were fighting Germans
Political causes of Rome’s fall-
The government became more oppressive & lost the support of the people
Corruption (taking bribes, etc.)
Terrible leadership (crazy emperors)
Economic causes of Rome’s fall-
Taxes were too high for the people
Slave labor meant that Romans did not need to invent new technology
When something was needed, more slaves would be brought in instead of new technology being invented to help
Social causes of Rome’s fall-
Decline in values
Patricians started out treating plebeians like their children – by the fall of Rome, both classes hated each other
Upper class did not lead any more
By Rome’s fall, Patricians had become a lazy, materialistic, partying upper class
Did Rome fall?
It is largely recognized that they did, however, the Byzantine Empire lasted another 1000 years (to 1453 AD).
Cicero
Roman writer and senator, values of public service and speaking, sought to identify the good
