The Roman Republic Flashcards
The romans are a blend of 3 peoples:
Latins, Etruscans, and Trojan Greeks
Original settlers of Rome
Latins
Latins settled on 7 hills near the Tiber River, so it was originally called
Latium
Rome was originally called
“Hesperia” Which means the “Land of the Evening Sun”
Epic poem written by Roman historian Virgil about Trojan survivor of Troy and his wanderings
Aeneid
Aeneas landed in Italy after years of wandering and becomes the earliest ancestor of the Romans. Great great great… grandfather of the twins:
Romulus and Remus. (Sent down the Tiber River in a basket, raised by wolves)
First king of Rome?
Romulus
Rome’s 3 forms of government
Monarchy - Republic - Empire
2 main social classes:
- Patricians - wealthy, aristocratic noble class
2. Plebeians - everyone else
Republic
Government where the citizens chose there own leaders based on laws
3 governing bodies
- Senate - represented the Patricians, made the laws, 300 men
- Consuls - Rulers. Chosen by assembly. 2 of them.
- Assembly - elected by and represented the Plebeians. Members called Tribunes. Elected the consuls
Forum
Main public square - has the 12 tables
Official emblem of Rome - Roman senate and the people
SPQR
High priest - Consul of Rome was known as:
Pontifex Maximus. - Roman religion was same as Greek mythology but with different names for the gods
Protecters of Rome, “Eternal Flame”
Vestil Virgins
Paterfamilias means
Father is the head of the family
Patricians live in mansions called
Villas
Romes goal:
To conquer the entire civilized world
Rome had 2 armies:
1 to protect the city of Rome and the emperor, and one to protect the empire
Praetorian guard:
Elite force of soldiers that protected the city of Rome and the Emperor
Legionaries (Roman soldier)
Protected the empire
Roman officers were called
Centurions
Colonia
Roman settlements / Forts
*All roads lead to Rome
Don’t forget to study Algebra 2
Carthage was Rome’s biggest rival, known as,
“Jewel of the Mediterranean” (Tunisia - North Africa)
3 Punic wars, Rome vs. Carthage
Rome, land power - Carthage, Naval power
1st war lasted 20 years
Rome wins; gains the island of Sicily
2nd war, 17 years
Rome wins Spain
Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barca, Carthage’s leading general, raised havoc over the Italian peninsula for 15 years. What does Rome do?
Romans led be scipio, something about “Scourge of Rome” Scared their elephants and won the “Battle of Zama”. - Rome wins war
3rd war was 3 years
“Siege of Carthage” Rome levels Carthage.
The Mediterranean Sea becomes known as:
“More Nostrum” which means, “Our sea”
Slaves made up 40% of Rome’s population
Thousands of “Urban poor” pour into the city
Led a revolt of 90,000 slaves!
Spartacus
2 brothers who tried to help the poor by proposing “Land Reform”
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
First person to create his own Personal army was
Marius
First person to come to power using a personal army and took the name of dictator
Sulla
Julius Caesar:
Young rising military star
Hailed as a hero by the lower class
1st Triumvirate (Rule of 3)
Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar
Co-Rulers of Egypt
Ptolemy and Cleopatra (brother and sister)
Cleopatra and Caesar fall in love/have a son
Caesarian - not legitimate, he was already married
Caesar proclaimed himself “Dictator for life”
March 15, “Ides of March” He was murdered by 60 of the senators - Led by Brutus
2nd Triumvirate formed,
Octavian, Marc Anthony, and Lepidus
Octavian and Anthony have war, Octavian wins in Battle of Actium
Octavian brings an end to the Civil wars and to the Republic
