Test #1 Flashcards
Republic
509 - 31 BC.
After the Etruscan kings, Romans vowed that Rome would never again be ruled by a monarchy.
No man could be trusted with absolute power because absolute power corrupts.
Idea: System of checks & balances so no individual or group would get too much power
Power was divided amongst numerous city officials & assemblies
Senate
The senate ran the Roman state.
Consisted of 300 of the wealthiest and most powerful Roman citizens. Senators for life.
Controlled most sources of power in the Roman state.
All city officials = senators
Controlled the courts, treasury, military (all officers and commanders = senators), and religion (priests = senators and used religion to get and maintain power)
Controlled assemblies (see: Tribal Assembly)
consul
Title of two annual chief magistrates of Rome elected in the comitia centuriata whose powers were military command (imperium) and the right to summon the senate and the people in attempts to discourage one from overpowering the other.
Tribal Assembly
All male citizens regardless of wealth were able to vote in the tribal assembly
The tribal assembly made all the major decisions: decide whether or not to go to war, create laws (I think they could also veto the senate but I’m not sure on this one?)
However, the tribal assembly was under the influence of the senate (see: tribune) as it was led by the tribune
Tribune
10 tribunes to lead tribal assembly
Elected annually & held office for 1 year
Tribunes = senators
Needed approval of senate so didn’t do anything to upset them
Punic Wars
1st War Rome was forced to take to the sea and build a navy, it was long and resulted in Rome acquiring Sicily, but was a long costly war.
2nd War Involved Hannibal crossing the Alps with the War elephants and almost destroying Rome entirely, also a long costly war.
3rd War 146 BC Carthage lay in ruins completely destroyed people dispersed or sold into slavery. Rome now sat unchallenged in the mediterranean.
T. Sempronius Gracchus
Attempted to increase the rights of non wealthy Roman citizens; got legislation passed that would grant land to Rome’s poor so they could serve in military and have livelihood. Popular but was killed by the senate before his reforms could be put into effect (133 BC)
C. Marius
107 BC ignored the property qualification, homeless and jobless flooded the army filling a manpower shortage in the military but the military now is loyal to general’s for financial gain not to state for states financial gain. Ultimately went head to head with Sulla.
L. Cornelius Sulla
Used his army to take over Rome to restore military commissions he had received that MARIUS had taken from him. After returning from war he retakes over Rome to become dictator but ultimately steps down, in 79 BC, to let the Senate and with it the Republic continue to exist. The beginning of senators more concerned with their power than the Republic and using the army to get what they want.
Spartacus
73 BC.
A slave who escaped captivity and led a large-scale insurrection against the Republic.
Significant because shows the political insecurity of Republic and the potential for local and regional violence.
C. Valerius Catallus
84–54 BC Roman Poet. Initially hated Caesar, but Caesar managed to calm him down.
1st Triumvirate
Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey were political allies and advanced each other’s interests in the Senate. Collectively they were very powerful and got their way in most things although ethical behavior was ignored in the process.
Cn. Pompeius Magnus
106-48 BC. Republic military leader. Noted for his success in Sulla’s 2nd Civil War. Nicknamed Pompey the Great. Consul 3 times, and had 3 triumphs. Joined Crassus and Caesar in the 1st Triumvirate. Married to Julia, Caesar’s daughter. Later contended for control of the Roman State. Defeated at the battle of Pharsalus by Caesar, and fled to Egypt where he was killed by his comrades and Ptolemy XIII. Caesar was displeased, for Magnus was still a friend who deserved an honorable death.
C. Julius Caesar
came from an ancient gentry family
his ancestors supposedly established the city of rome
was an important officer, was a member of the senate and was put in charge of roman army, conquered Gual. As a result he had incredible wealth and his soldiers loved caesar and were loyal to him. 49 BC senate ask caesar to give up all his power, he refuses and starts civil war. 45BC caesar wins civil war. He makes himself dictator for life.March 14, 44BC caesar is killed in a conspiracy in the senate(Brutus and Cassius).
Gallic Wars
(58-50) led by Caesar, fought against Gallic tribes. Rome takes over Gaul. Last major battle was at Alesia. Possibly one million Gauls die and around one million enslaved. Makes Caesar rich.
Civil Wars
First civil war - 83-82. marius vs sulla
Second Civil War
49 - 45 BC ceasar vs Republic led by Pompey initially
Rome’s revolution 133 BC - 31 BC includes both civil wars as well as a lot of roman on roman violence that didn’t reach the level of civil war
– Was Republicans vs 2nd Triumvirate 44-42BC a civil war? Seems like it but the book the professor wrote doesn’t identify it as such. he mentions a civil war from 32-31. warfare in the ancient world pg xvii
Battle of Pharsalus
48 BC. caesar vs Pompey. Pompey loses.
Cleopatra
Queen of Egypt. Girlfriend of Julius Caesar Living across the river from caesar in Rome. Had one son with Caesar named Caesarion. Cleopatra’s presence in Rome raises rumors that Caesar will make himself king. Affair with Antonius gives Octavius reason to attack Antonius and declare war against Egypt while in reality beginning another civil war. Donations of Alexandria - 34 BC, Antonius announces that when he dies, all of his land will go to his children by Cleopatra.
Ptolemy XV Caesarion
ONLY blood son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra (She had other children). After his father’s death in Rome, he and his mother went back to Egypt. At the age of 17 he was murdered by Octavius because he was seen as a potential threat to octavius rule/power.
M. Junius Brutus
Senator in rome during the republic. One of the main two people to conspire against Caesar’s dictatorship.44 BC killed caesar. said “Libertas” had been restore, “liberty”. Brutus and Cassius both left rome without an army.
C. Cassius Longinus
Senator in rome during the republic. one of the main two people to conspire against caesar. 44bc killed caesar