The Late Republic (133–31 bc)

Question 1

The Late Republic (133–31 bc)

Answer 1

• War and military glory were an essential part of the Roman aristocratic ethos and, hence, of Roman political life

Question 2

The republic (c. 121–91 bc)

Answer 2

• Jugurtha sought to oust his two cousins from their shares of the divided Numidia, relying on his superior ability and aristocratic Roman connections.
• war was waged reluctantly and ineffectively, with the result that charges of bribery were freely bandied about by demagogic tribunes taking advantage of suspicion of aristocratic political behaviour that had smoldered ever since the Gracchan crisis

Question 3

Wars and dictatorship (c. 91–80 bc)

Answer 3

• In foreign affairs the 90s were dominated by Asia, Rome’s chief source of income
• In the 2nd century bc, Italians as a whole had shown little desire for Roman citizenship and had been remarkably submissive under exploitation and ill-treatment
• The first year of the Social War (90) was dangerous: the tribes of central and southern Italy, traditionally among the best soldiers in Rome’s wars, organized in a confederacy for the struggle that had been forced upon them
• In 89 the war in central Italy was won
• In Rome, various men, including Marius, had hoped for the Eastern command. But it went to Sulla, elected consul for 88 after distinguished service in the Social War
• At the beginning of 80 Sulla laid down his dictatorship and became merely consul, with the senior Metellus (Quintus Metellus Pius), a relative of his wife, as his colleague.

Question 4

The Roman state in the two decades after Sulla (79–60 bc)

Answer 4

• Pompey deserted the government after Cinna’s death, raised a force among his father’s veterans in central Italy, and helped to conquer Italy and, in a lightning campaign, Sicily and the province of Africa for Sulla
• The year 70 thus marked the loss of control by the Sullan establishment.
• Politically, the 60s lay under the shadow of Pompey.

Question 5

The final collapse of the Roman Republic (59–44 bc)

Answer 5

• Pompey evacuated Rome, then Italy. His plan was to bottle Caesar up in Italy and starve him out. But Caesar, in a lightning sweep, seized Massilia and Spain from Pompey’s commanders, then crossed into Greece, where a short campaign ended in Pompey’s decisive defeat at Pharsalus (48).
• Caesar was everywhere, doing everything to an almost superhuman degree, but about 60 men—former friends and old enemies, honourable patriots and men with grievances—struck him down in the Senate on March 15, 44 bc.

Question 6

The Triumvirate and Octavian’s achievement of sole power

Answer 6

• two leaders embarked on campaigns and reorganization in his half—Octavian in Illyricum, Antony particularly on the Parthian frontier. But Antony now married Cleopatra and tried to make Egypt his military and political base.
• in 32, though he now held no legal position, Octavian intimidated most of Antony’s remaining aristocratic friends into joining him, made the whole West swear allegiance to himself, and in 31, as consul, crossed into Greece to attack Antony
• On September 2 he defeated Antony and Cleopatra in a naval battle at Actium. Though in itself not a major victory, it was followed by the disintegration of Antony’s forces, and Antony and Cleopatra finally committed suicide in Alexandria (30).