September 2021 Flashcards
Who was the “founder” of Rome? What was his story?
Romulus, descendant of a god, raised by a she-wolf, and killed his brother, Remus, to rule Rome by himself
What expectation did the founding myth set up for Rome?
That is was destined for greatness
What was Cincinnatus the “ideal” dictator?
He gave up his power when the job was done.
What territory did Rome acquire during its first period of expansion?
The Italian Peninsula and some of the island of Sicily.
What series of events put “Rome on the map” during its second period of expansion?
Punic Wars with Carthage
Why was Julius Ceaser assassinated?
Made enemies with the Senate and was feared that he was setting up a dynasty with Cleopatra
Who was Augustus Ceaser and what changes did he make?
Julius’s grand nephew and adopted son. Established rule as emperor but kept the status of the Senate.
How do we separate the two periods of Roman History and which was more efficient?
Republic vs Empire. Benevolent dictatorship was the most efficient.
What was the Pax Romana and how long did it last?
The Roman Peace and two centuries.
What was the problem of succession in the first century?
Power passed within the Julian Dynasty and didn’t always go to capable men.
What was the solution of succession in the first century?
Emperors adopted talented men to become their successors and train them
What was the big problem of the third century?
Wars and barbarian invasions overloaded the Roman economy.
What was the system of choosing an emperor after the second century?
There wasn’t one - the praetorian guard would choose a leader who could pay the most.
What were the economic and social problems that led to Rome’s decline?
Declining trade, heavy taxes, corruption, poor leadership, and the cost of non-citizen armies.
In what year was Rome finally sacked and by whom?
CE 410 by Alaric the Goth
What is the legacy of the Latin language?
Romance languages like Italian, French, and Spanish
What technological advances remain as a legacy of the Roman Empire?
The arch, domes, and waterproof concrete
What political influences remain as a legacy of the Roman Empire?
System of laws and republican form of government
Why is Christianity the greatest legacy of the Roman Empire?
It was born, spread, developed, and became a world power under Rome.
When Jesus was born, why was there resentment over Roman rule?
The Roman has only recently ended their return to self rule.
What was the nature of Jesus’s messages and how did he relay it?
He emphasized love and mercy and taught using parables.
Why did the Romans execute Jesus and what method did they use?
He attracted crowds. They used crucifixion.
Which two followers of Jesus made the greatest impact on spreading his message?
Peter - established the church in Rome based on Apostolic Succession
Paul - opened up Christianity to Gentiles and his letters made it into the Bible - New Testament
Why were Christians looked down upon in the time leading up to Constantine?
They wouldn’t worship the emperor as a God
What was the “winning version” of Christianity?
Pauline Christianity - based on 4 gospels, the death and resurrection of Jesus
What became of the Roman Empire and what do we call it?
It moved east. Historians call it the “Byzantine Empire”, but they though they were still Romans.
What were the advantages of Constantine’s new capital?
Being on a peninsula made it easier to defend and being a crossroads made it great for trade.
Besides moving the capital city, what else did Constantine do to strengthen the Roman Empire?
He made Christianity legal.
How did Constantine transform the religion?
He called together a council to define Christian doctrine - known as the Nicene Creed.
Which groups didn’t benefit Constantine’s reforms?
Non-Pauline Christians and Jews
