Rome Flashcards
Italian peninsula was made up of who
Latins, Etruscans, Greek colonies and celts, Carthage (North Africa)
When was the founding of Rome
753 BCE (8th century)
How many origin stories did Rome have and what were they?
Rome had 2 origin stories
- Aeneas- leader of Trojan in exile who intermarried with Latins
- Romulus and Remes who were raised by a she wolf captured Sabine and Latin women.
What do records show about Rome
They had forums(public place)
Located near Tiber River
City peaked in 6th century BCE
Republic formed in 509 BCE when a kings son raped a married women and the husband rebelled and drafted monarchy.
Describe the early republic
- Political institutions-senate made of 100 men
- Social tension due to varying classes of people. (Patricians were aristocratic families, plebeians were other free people). Caused struggle for orders
Describe the assemblies
- Division of population into 30 groups
- Took responsibility for enacting laws, choosing senior magistrates and death penalty
- Gave no special power to men of wealth and standing
What were magistrates
Legal and administrative powers
The law of the twelve tables
Set of definitions of legal rights and procedures posted in the forum on 12 tablets. Prohibited intermarriage or patricians and plebeians. Also dealt with real estate and inheritance.
Wars with Carthage
3 Punic wars (Phoenician in Latin= Punic) [264-146 BCE]
- Rome forced enemies to make peace and took command of Sicily
- Carthage recovered, Hannibal swore to never befriend Rome, but surrendered.
- Fall of Carthage
What happened to Carthage after Punic wars
Carthage flourished as a Roman province
Who was polybius
A writer who promoted study of history and gave an account of why Rome was so successful in the mid 2nd century BCE.
He concluded that Rome was successful because all levels of government believed they needed to work for the good of the republic. (Tempered constitution)
Religion in Rome
- Was a private affair
- Many Gods from past Hellenistic period and their own.
- Jupiter (Zeus), Juno (Mother Earth), Minerva (wisdom), Janus( two faces of war and peace. Temple doors open in war times.
Education in Rome
- no official schools
- Girls and boys
- boys did hunting and horseback riding, Girls did House training
- used to establish elite children
The family system of Rome
Paterfamilias= man of the household ran the household
Girls entered marriage at 12, while boys were much much later
Women in Roman times
- Allowed all through household
- can speak to men
- owned property
- initiate divorce
- poorer women could have almost any job
- seen as weak minded
- poor and rich women wove and spun wool
Slavery in Rome
- # of slaves rose after Punic wars
- some had wages and could pay their freedom (city only)
- no civil rights: no vote, no property, no marriage unless told
- harsh discipline and punishment
Cato the elder
2nd century BCE
Favoured wealthier getting wealthier through Latifundia(a huge agrarian estate)
Also wrote a book called origins which was the first account of Roman history written in Latin by a Roman
City life in Rome
- Many lived in apartments
- graffiti showed urban voices
- theatres in temples with slave actors and Roman comedy
Gracchi brothers
We’re patricians concerned with inequality. 5eu and other reformers called populares tried to get land reform and grain distribution.
Gladiators
Pro fighters who fought to the death with weapons
- trained in schools
- most were criminals trying to gain freedom, some people volunteered
- great men sponsored gladiators
- huge form of entertainment
The social war
In 1st century BCE
- Full Roman citizens, latins (no political rights) and allies (not able to have land they conquered). Revolt of Latins who made own state of Italia
- Spartacus led slave revolt but was defeated
The first triumvirate
60 BCE
- Julius Caesar
- Pompey
- Macy’s Liciniuc Crassus
Wanted to rule Rome together but fell apart
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero-“new man” because he was not a patrician but elected to magistrates as council for his talents. He didn’t go anywhere because of his bloodline. He believed in protecting the self sacrifice to Rome ideal.
*Proscribed or denounced by 2nd triumvirate
Julius Caesar
- Had the ancient ancestry
- General and a statesmen
- took command of own army who obeyed him not Rome
- established empire by 44BCE
- ACCEPTED TITLE OF GOD
- assassinated by Brutus and Cassius in forum causing civil war
Octavian
- created the principate: the rule of one single chief or princeps
- restored temples
- didn’t hold public office but ruled tribune
- gave women autonomy (empresses)
Pax Romana
was the longest time of peace in Rome started by Octavian or Augustus
