Rome Flashcards
What tactic was used by Hannibal in the Battle of Cannae?
He posted his army in a crescent-shaped formation, so when the Roman legions pushed forward, they were surrounded.
How many Roman casualties were in the Battle of Cannae?
25,000
Who was Hasdrubal?
Hannibal’s brother. He arrived with reinforcements in Italy and the Romans intercepted his message to Hannibal, learned the location of his army, killed his troops, and threw his severed head in Hannibal’s camp.
What city did the Romans attack that forced Hannibal out of Italy?
Zama city.
What happened in the Battle at Zama city?
Hannibal came back to defend it and suffered his only military defeat, as the Romans had the stronger cavalry.
What Roman General was actually effective in countering Hannibal? How did he do it?
General Fabius, and he wanted to wait Hannibal out.
Name some terms of Carthage’s surrender in the Second Punic War. [3]
They had to surrender their Empire and fleet, and agree to pay 10,000 talents in 50 annual instalments.
What was the First Triumvirate?
An alliance in 60 BC between Julius Caesar, Gnaneus Pompey, and Marcus Lucius Crassus to pool resources and take over Rome.
How did Julius Caesar become dictator of Rome? [6]
In 55 BC, Crassus died out East, JC gained territory in Gaul and Britain, Pompey feared his power and allied with the Senate. 49 BC Senate ordered JC to disband his army, he disregarded the order and marched on Rome, crushed Pompey’s army, and dictator he became.
List Caesar’s reforms. [5]
- Redistributed land and wealth to the poor
- Gave citizenship to people in provinces
- Initiated building projects
- Increased soldiers pay
- Developed a more accurate calendar
Describe the circumstances around the assassination of Julius Caesar.
He maintained absolute power which some people obviously didn’t like. He was assassinated by conspirators led by Gaius Cassius and Marcus Brutus on March 14, 44 BC.
What two sides formed in the civil war after Caesar’s death? Who was involved?
REPUBLICANS: Brutus [defeated] and Cassius [suicide]
CAESAR’S FOLLOWERS/SECOND TRIUMVIRATE: Marc Antony [suicide], Marcus Lepidus [killed], Gaius Octavius [became Augustus, first Emperor of Rome].
What happened with Marc Antony after Caesar’s death?
He formed the Second Triumvirate, battled Augustus for control over Rome, allied with Cleopatra, lost to Augustus, and killed himself. His romantic and political alliance with Cleopatra was said to be his downfall.
What is the significance of Augustus? [6]
- He was the first and arguably greatest Emperor of Rome
- “Found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble”
- Expanded frontiers
- Rome’s cultural peak
- PAX ROMANA (100 years of peace)
- Master of propaganda.
What is the significance of Tiberius? [Emperor] [3]
- Took over after Augustus died
- Unpopular with the people
- Died of natural causes or possibly murdered at 78
What is the significance of Caligula? [2]
- Ruled Rome for just 4 years
- Ruthless dictator, had sex with sister, crazy.
What is the significance of Claudius? [3]
- Declared Emperor by Praetorian Guard
- Bad relationship with Senate
- Added Britain to the Empire (really done by General leading conquest, Aulus Plautius)
What is the significance of Nero? [4]
- Rumoured to have started the fire of Rome in 64 AD, and played the lyre while it burned
- Offered to rebuild city, used as an excuse to build himself a palace “The Golden House”. [never completed]
- Committed suicide when Senate deserted him.
- Killed a bunch of his family, really crazy
What is the significance of Vespasian? [3]
- Restored peace to Rome after a series of civil wars.
- Restored Rome’s finances after Nero’s reign
- Began the construction of the Colosseum
What is the significance of Domitian? [3]
- Notorious for cruelty
- Added another tier to Colosseum
- Added Hypogeum (vast network of rooms, tunnels, cells, and passages) under Colosseum
What is the significance of Trajan? [4]
- Benevolent ruler
- Public projects (improving roads, constructing aqueducts, building public baths, extending Port of Ostia)
- Highly successful General
- Second of ‘Five Good Emperors’
What is the significance of Hadrian? [2]
- Third of ‘Five Good Emperors’
- Substantial building projects in Britain (Hadrian’s Wall)
What is the significance of Diocletian? [2]
- Split the Empire into two parts, became Emperor in the East and left Maximian to rule in Rome.
- Maintained higher power than Maximian.
What is the significance of Tacitus?
Roman historian, wrote GERMANICA (detailed description of Germans in early AD)
What is the significance of Cassius Dio?
Roman historian, wrote ROMAIKA, a history of Rome (written in Greek) that tells a lot about the last years of the Republic and early Empire.
What is the significance of Cicero?
His letters revealed a lot of details about Caesar’s and Pompey’s fight for power.
What is the significance of Pliny the Elder?
Wrote NATURAL HISTORY, an encyclopedia of useful knowledge on many subjects.
What is the significance of Pliny the Younger?
An administrator in the time of Trajan, best known for his letter writing illustrating public and private life in the Roman Empire.
What is the significance of Suetonius?
Wrote LIVES OF THE CAESARS, and important source for personal, but not reliable, information about the Emperors.
Venus
Aphrodite
Ceres
Demeter
Mercury
Hermes
Jupiter
Zeus
Minerva
Athena
Juno
Hera
Pluto
Hades
Mars
Ares
Neptune
Poseidon
What were the pros [3] and cons [3] of the Roman Republic?
PROS: -Poor voted for the rich -Assembly allowed for plebeians -Worked for 500 years CONS: -Consuls could veto each other -Social class played a huge role -Rich had the most power
What was the ancient Roman social hierarchy? [3] [5]
Patricians -> Senatorial Class -> Equestrian Class
Plebeians -> The Commons -> Latins -> Foreigners -> Slaves
Describe the hierarchy of the Roman Magistrates (Executive Bodies). [5]
Consuls (2) -> Praetors (8) -> Censors (2) -> Aediles (4) -> Quaestors (4)
Describe the hierarchy of The Roman Assembly (Legislative Bodies). [5]
The Senate -> Assembly of Centuries, Assembly of Tribunes, Consilium Plebis, Comitia Tributa Populati.
What was the role of the Senate? [5]
- Advised those in charge
- Had control over finance, administration of the state and empire, and relations with foreign powers
- Adjudicated on religious powers
What were the responsibilities of the Comitia Centuriata? [3]
- Decided on war and peace
- Passed laws
- Elected consuls and praetors
What were the responsibilities of the Comitia Tributa? [2]
- Elected minor officials
- Approved legislations
Describe the responsibilities of the Concilium Plebis. [2]
- Elected tribunes and plebeian aediles
- Later became chief law-making body
Describe the responsibilities of the consuls. [4]
- Propose law
- Act as senior judge
- Army commander
- Jointly propose dictator
Describe the role of praetors. [2]
- Act as judge
- Create law by legal precedent
Describe the role of aediles. [2]
- Oversee public works
- Sponsor public games
Describe the role of quaestors.
-Oversee public finance and taxation
Describe the responsibilities of tribunes. [2]
- Propose law
- Veto any act made by any magistrate or the Assembly
Describe the role of a dictator (Roman Republic).
Combines all magisterial powers in one person for the duration of a particular crisis (max. 6 months)
What were some significant changes in the Mediterranean world after Carthage lost the Punic Wars? [3]
- Rome became the unrivalled power in the Mediterranean.
- Smaller states began to come to Rome to settle disputes and alliances
- Rome began its campaign of military expansion throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.
What four things does spectacle need?
- Audience
- Interplay between audience and spectacle
- Amusement of audience
- Constant evolution
What were the three major events in Roman spectacle?
- Gladiators
- Chariot racing
- Venatio
Who were the mythical founders of Rome?
Romulus and Remus
At what two places did Hannibal defeat the Roman legions after he launched an attack on the Italian peninsula?
Trebia River and Lake Trasimene
Why were gladiatorial games first held at funerals?
The human blood made the dead happy.
Describe a Samnes gladiator. [2]
- Wore helmet
- Rectangular shield
Describe a Retiarius gladiator. [3]
- Large net
- Trident
- Arm-guard
Describe a Thracian gladiator. [2]
- Round shield
- Curved sword
Describe a Hoplomachus gladiator. [2]
- Heavily-armed
- All-enclosing helmet
