Study questions Exam 1 Flashcards
Explain why Early Iron Age Italy is referred to as a “Polyglot World”?
It is referred to as a Polyglot world because of all the various, distinct languages and cultures in Italy at the time. No group was united and they were essentially each their own little worlds.
What are the features of Villanovan culture?
It consisted of archaeological evidence such as an “urnfield culture” in which they cremated the deceased and buried their ashes inside of urns which were often encompassed in huts. They are often recognized as “pre-etruscan”
Where and when were Greek colonies established? What type of archaeological evidence do we have for Greek colonies in these areas? What are some identifiable features of their culture?
Greek colonies were established in the 8th century BC in Sicily which formed Magna Graecia. In Posodonia, the Greeks had temples showcasing symposium scenes and council houses. Their culture barred women from luxurious leisures, as exemplified in symposium scenes, and were defined by having a strong urban core.
Who were the Etruscans, when did their culture flourish and what are some identifiable features of their culture? What crafts were they particularly adept at?
They were a polyglot group of people who had a unique language, social structure, and religion, and their culture flourished from 650-450 BC. Bucchero pottery and metal work were uniquely Etruscan crafts.
Discuss the different theories regarding the origins of Etruscan cultures. Be sure to consider ancient sources and well as modern and/or archaeological.
Dionysius believed that the Etruscans never migrated and were always the people of the land because of their strange language and culture while the Herodotus theory implies that the Etruscans came from modern day Turkey.
Where does most of our archaeological evidence for Etruscan culture come from? Describe some of the features of Etruscan tombs, providing specific
Most of our evidence comes from the cemeteries in Cerveteri in which the Tomb of the Reliefs and the Tomb of the Ship are inside of. In the Tomb of the Reliefs, the sacrophagi and art include women which means the Etruscans embraced women within their works, which the Greeks dared not to do. The tomb of the Ship displays a harbor scene and a syposium scene.
How was Etruscan culture influenced by the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia and Sicily? Provide specific examples from the archaeological evidence.
The Greek colonies heavily influenced the Etruscan in their pottery because they often resembled Greek shapes, and the adaptation of symposium scenes in tombs in Etruria were modeled after Greek symposiums.
What are our sources, both literary and archaeological, for the early history of Rome? What are some of the problems with both types of sources and how do they limit our ability to fully understand the monarchy period of Rome?
Our sources for the history of early Rome include Livy’s From the Foundation of Rome (Literary) and archaeological remains found in the Roman Forum and two Hills of Rome, Capitoline and Palatine
Problem with Literary: the history is only from origins to 9 BCE, writing centuries after founding of Rome, not factually reliable to early period, and it is a reflection of what late republic/ early empire believed
Problem with archaeological evidence: Does not give specific names of peoples of Italy and specifics about the roman population
Describe the following mytho-legendary stories related to Rome’s foundation: Aeneas of Troy Romulus and Remus Rape of the Sabine Women- Seven Kings of Rome`
Aeneas of Troy-Aeneas was a Trojan prince who was one of the few men allowed to leave by the Greeks. He went to the Italian coast and allied himself with King Latinus of Latium through marriage to his daughter Lavinium.
Romulus and Remus
Birth story-Their mother, Rhea Silvia, was raped by Mars, god of war, and gave birth to the two twins. Sent them down the river and they were found and nursed by a she-wolf, raised by Faustulus (Royal herdsman)
Foundation of Rome-
Established in 753 BCE, Felt the urge to start a new settlement where they were left to drown, the problem of who would be king and give their name to the town arised, chose to interpret through the flight of birds, one saw birds first but the other saw more birds, Romulus kills remus
Rape of the Sabine Women-
Romulus’s city needs women, he steals the women by deception and violence, gets everyone drunk and takes the women, eventually the romans win over the sabine women, which causes a war between the romans and sabines, the wives interfere and stop the war
“We are mothers now, our children are your sons – your grandsons … Turn your anger on us. We are the cause of strife. On our account our husbands and fathers lie wounded or dead, and we would rather die ourselves than live on either widowed or orphaned”
Seven Kings of Rome (you should be able to speak about them generally, to name to a few of them, and some of their important contributions to the development of the Roman state)
Romulus:
Numa: second king of Rome, Sabine origin, established important religious institutions, established priesthoods (Priest of Jupiter), Established cult to Vesta and Priestesses (Vestal Virgins)
Tullus Hostilius: the 6th king of rome, responsible for developing constitution, changes government used during early monarchy
What were the main social/political classes during the early Republic and what were the distinctions between them? In what ways did the patricians monopolize political power?
Patricians - members of the old leading families back when there were clans (gentes). They monopolized power by holding all of the political offices and denying access to the plebians. They could be Magistrates, which there were many elected annually. Patricians could also be religious officials, and also Consuls, which there were only 2 elected annually. They also held all of the offices of the Senate and held all of the land that was won in war, which also was unavailable to the people whom fought in those wars. None of these offices were open to Plebians.
Plebians/plebs - not necessarily poor, just not fortunate enough to be born into a leading family. They had no access to aristocratic or religious offices. The poorest went into debt slavery if they could not pay their taxes in time.
How does Livy’s story about the soldier inform us about the circumstances of some members of the plebian class during the Republic?
Reveals welts on his back- compare to honorable scars from war on chest; shows how the plebeians were unfairly treated
What was the “Struggle of the Orders”? Explain the Plebian secession and the institutions set up in association with this secession. What are the Twelve Tables and how are they connected to the “Struggle of the Orders”?
religious or political power was held by the aristocrats, this eventually led to strife. The Plebians formed the Plebian Succession in 490 bce, which established the Plebian Assembly. This was a political body that established the Tribune of the plebs which could politically veto a motion by the sentate. This body was essentially the voice of the poeple. WIth it they also wrote the 12 tables, which is much like a bill of rights. This was the first written law code in Rome and established marital rights, inhereitance laws, criminal laws, debt laws and the right of appeal.
What reforms to land and debt (passed under the Licinian-Sextian laws) were the result of the “Struggle of the Orders”? How did access to political and religious offices change as a result?
This gave the plebians access to public lands. The debt reform decreased interest and punishment on unpaid debts. In addition, The plebians were granted access to certain political and religious offices.
What were the hill tribes and how did they cause problems for Rome in the 5th BCE? Who was Cincinnatus and why is he considered a “good Roman citizen”?
The hill tribes were raiding Roman and Latin lands. The tribes are followed by the Sabines and the Aequi who attack Rome and defeat the Roman Army. This leads to the story of Cincinnatus, the “good citizen” since this was the first time the Republic needed to call upon a dictator. He was found plowing his fields and given the power of dictator. He went out with his army, quelled the attack, and Returned to Rome victorious. He then sorted out a few political matters and then handed the power of DIctatorship back to the Romans. The story goes that he only held the office for 15 days when he was originally promised 6 months. Exempligfies the “good Citizen-soldier” idea.
How did the city of Veii finally fall to the Romans? What did Romans do to the Etruscans AND the city of Veii after its fall?
The seige of Veii lasted 10 years. Eventually the commander/dictator Camillus tunneled under its walls and took the city. All of the males were executed, and the women and children enslaved. Thye colonized the city and made it a colony of Rome.
