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
M. Antonius
Served with Caesar in Gual and in civil war. by 44BC he was caesars second in command. after caesars death part of the soldiers armies loyalty is transferred to him. very powerful very quickly. He, Lepidus and octavius end up going into an alliance and split the empire into three in 43BC. Antonius and Octavius would get rid of Lepidius and split the empire into two and chose the east side of the empire because it was richer. After he goes east he gets reacquainted with cleopatra. falls madly in love with cleopatra and divorces his roman wife and marries cleopatra and has children with her. SCANDALOUS! The roman wife he divorced was OCTAVIUS sister. in 34 BC He holds a huge ceremony in Alexandria where he states that all his land and wealth will only go to his children by Cleopatra. Octavius starts a successful propaganda campaign against cleopatra. Rome goes to war with Egypt. Octavius defeated Antonius/Cleopatra and antonius commits suicide.
M. Tulius Cicero
106-43 BC. Politician, lawyer, orator, and philosopher. Opposed the 2nd Triumvirate and became an enemy of Antonius. Supported the old Republic. Killed in 43 BC by the 2nd Triumvirate as an enemy to the state.
M. Aemilius Lepidus
in 43 BC split the roman empire into three with octavius and antonius His part of the empire was North Africa. He is the oldest of the alliance and also the least important of all the three and it is known by all. Is betrayed by Antonius and Octavius and is tricked into attacking Octavius and therefore it is mutiny and Lepidus own army hands him over to Octavius.
2nd Triumvirate
43 BC
Consisted of: Antonius, Octavius & Lepidus (oldest, but least important member)
Seized control of western half of the empire by killing all political enemies
Meanwhile, The Republicans (Brutus & Cassius) were building a Roman army in the east
Defeated the Republicans at the Battle of Philippi
Battle of Philippi
42 BC The army of the 2nd Triumvirate defeated the Republicans. Brutus and Cassius commit suicide and therefore no one is left to defend the republic.
Battle of Actium
31 BC. The only major battle in the war between Rome and Egypt(Antonius and Cleopatra). Octavius’s navy defeats Antonius and Cleopatras army.
C. Suetonius Tranquillus
Roman historian, author of the 12 Caesars, including the Life of Julius Caesar and the Life of Augustus. Was not like other historians whose goal was to tell a story, and only include the facts that supported their interpretation of history. He recorded all the details of a persons life that he could find, in order to give an accurate account of that person. Early on he had access to all the public documents of Rome. As he continued to write his ‘accurate’ histories, he was allowed less access.
principate
latin for ‘first citizen’ Augustus took this title to hide the fact that he held the reins of power and let the title imply that he was merely the first among his peers not an absolute monarch. The title is derived from the term princeps senatus. Basically, it is the political regime dominated by such a political leader, whether or not he is formally the head of the government. (2 reasons for this: 1. to keep power in his own hands. 2. avoid arousing bitter feelings and ending up like Caesar.)
M. Vipsanius Agrippa
Augustus’s right hand man. The military leader responsible for much of his military success including his naval strategy at actium. Octavius’ 2nd choice for successor and made vice emperor in 23 BC following 2nd settlement. Marries daughter to seal the deal.
M. Licinius Crassus
Won the spoila opima and as a popular successful commander he represented a threat to octavian’s power grab. Octavian denies him the honor and history never hears from him again. <– not sure this is correct, not saying it’s wrong, just not sure.
C. Cornelius Gallus
Commander posted in Egypt who went south conquering in the name of Rome to quell a rebellion. Octavian sees him as a threat and tries him for treason under the charge of waging war without authorization. A novel unprecedented charge to be brought against a regional commander (prefect) who historically had the authority to act within his territory which never the less forces gallus to commit suicide. Also a poet.
M. Primus
23BC Gets in trouble for starting a war without Augustus’ permission. He is put on trial for Macedonia, Primus argues that it shouldn’t matter because Macedonia is a providence that does not even belong to Augustus. He is killed.
A. Terentius Murena
M. Primus’ lawyer. He knew that Rome was no longer a Republic and spoke openly about it. As a result, he was executed without a trial.
princeps senatus
Means first senator. Is a Republic title. Has the right to speak first in Senate. Augustus takes this title for himself after defeating all his rivals.
1st Settlement
27 BC augustus’s first attempt to consolidate power without provoking a civil war or riots. takes the title Princeps Senatus. becomes a consul each year (for how many years does anyone know?). Keeps up the appearance of the old republic. Becomes governor of three provinces Spain, Syria, and Gaul thus controlling 20 of the 28 legions in Rome.
2nd Settlement
gives up 3 provinces, Marcus Agrippa appointed as vice emperor and Octavius stepped down as consul. appears to give up power but actually takes more, especially the two powers listed below:
tribunicia potestas - powers of tribune w/out actually holding the office. can convene senate and power of veto. veto is the most important power of the tribune.
imperium maius - commander of all Rome’s armies
tribunicia potestas
powers of tribune w/out actually holding the office. can convene senate and power of veto. veto is the most important power of the tribune.
imperium maius
commander of all Rome’s armies
Legion
the basic unit of the roman army. Had uniform equipment including javilens: pila, shortsword: gladius, and a large shield: scutum and armor generally chain or lorica segementa . Soliders were trained to work as a unit. mainly heavy infantry with about 1000 missile armed light auxilieries 120 calvary. about 6000 men. This description is of the legion during imperial times. basic unit was the century of about 80 men. These small units were more flexible than the phalanax and the other line tactics used at the time.
Praetorian Guard
created by augustus as an elite legion that drew veteran soldiers from other legions. Posted in Rome the only troops stationed in italy. 4500 men. Grew to 9,000. Played a role in making and deposing emperors.
auxilia
troops and legions provided by friends and allies of rome. Includes most of the calavry, missile troops, as well as legions. soldiers recruited from Roman provinces. would receive citizenship at the end of their service.
P. Quinctilius Varus
46-9 BC. Roman general who lost 3 Roman legions and his own life after attempting to attack and conquer parts of Germany.
Pietas
3 parts. Means Duty. Honor family, honor rome, honor the gods. What augustus felt was missing and allowed the civil war to rage for 100 years and its lack allowed men like him to seize power at the expense of rome and its people. Augustus used this idea and the belief that lack of pietas was what caused the civil wars through the Gods losing favor with Rome, to gain the support of the older Roman generation. He created laws in an attempt to bring pietas back to Rome.
Leges Juliae
Julian laws. Augustus’s social reforms. designed to strengthen the roman family and instill pietas in the next generations. Adultery was illegal, you had to have a large family, and other things to make the family important.
18BC - 9 AD
Religious - Rebuilt temples in Rome & Italy. Resurrected religious festivals & forced people to participate. Augustus took part in festivals as chief priest
Families - Protect marriage & large Roman families. Required citizens to be married.
P. Virgilius Maro
Wrote the Aeneid. story about a trojan who survived and founded rome and survives due to pietas. Partly propaganda to support augustus’s pietas campaign. Perhaps best author in roman history.
T. Livius
a poet who supported pietas in his works as above. one of rome’s greatest poets.
P. Ovidius Naso
did not support the julian laws. wrote poetry that encouraged adultry.
Livia
3rd wife of Augustus. Mother of Tiberius. may have assassinated potential heirs to Augustus to make way for Tiberius.
Tiberius
second emperor of Rome and augustus’s successor. 14AD to 37AD
L. Aelius Sejanus
Commander of the praetorian guard under Tiberius. Had extensive spy network and implemented a reign of terror. 14AD to 31AD
maiestas
latin for majesty. sejanus and Tiberius reinterpret it from a sort of treason against Rome charge to a anything the emperor doesn’t like charge. Much like the charge of communism in the 1960’s with more suicides and executions. saying anything bad about the emperor was maiestas, which means there is no longer freedom of speech.
A. Cremutius Cordus
wrote a history of the late republic in which Brutus and Cassius were the heroes Sejanus bring him to trial and he makes a speech about freedom of speech and then commits suicide
Q. Sertorius Macro
2nd in command of praetorian guard under tiberius. Betrays Sejanus at tibby’s request and becomes commander of the praetorian guard
