Unit 8 Test: Ancient Rome Flashcards
dictator
someone who has all the power
constitution
a written set of laws
republic
a government that uses representatives to make laws and decisions, was a constitution to protect the people
patrician
upper class, wealthy citizens
plebeian
everyone else that was free
The Twelve Tables
Roman constitution- first laws put into writing, all citizens had equal treatment under the law
The Senate
300 members, life term in office, traditionally patricians, controlled all the money and taxes
The Tribune of the Plebs
10 members, life term in office, represented interests of plebians, could veto any actions by the senate or consuls.
Julius Caeser
100-44 BCE, military general, first dictator, a part of the First Triumvirate
First Triumvirate
voting pact between 2 consuls(Pompey, Crassus, Julius Caeser)
Caesar Augustus
aka Octavian, First emperor of Rome from 23 BCE to 14 BCE, part of the second Triumvirate, created the Praetorian guard
Second Triumvirate
military dictatorship with Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus
Pax Romana
translation: Roman Peace
- a game to simulate the fall of the Roman Republic, this game involves strategy and making/breaking alliances to win
Praetorian Guard
an elite unit of bodyguards for the emperor
Bread and Circuses
A system of feeding people and giving them entertainment to make their minds distracted from their discontent and keep them from revolting
Byzantine Empire
An empire started in the middle of Constantinople and came from the Eastern half of the Roman empire.
Constantinople
the capital of the Eastern part of the Roman empire; named after Emperor Constantine
Edict of Milan
an edict made by Constantine to decriminalize Christianity
Christianity
a monotheistic religion, believe that Jesus was a savior sent by god
The Bible
Chrisitianity’s holy book
Constantine
emperor of Rome, ruled from 306-337 BCE, divided the Roman empire into East and West, decriminalized Christianity in 313 CE with the Edict of Milan, established the Eastern capital Constantinople
Similarities and Differences between U.S and Roman governments
Similarities:
A constitution that states laws and guarentees all citizens equal treatment under the law.
An executive branvg that runs the government, commands the armym and is elected by voting citizens
Differences:
Only men could vote in Rome
Citizens wore white togas in Rome
Tribune of the Plebs in Rome (10 Members)
-Could veto actions done by senate or consuls
In America, the supreme court (9 members) determines if laws are constitutional
In America, the executive branch serves 4 year terms
Describe the reasons that the Roman Republic collapsed.
1) Expansion caused social & economic tensions
-Plebians forced to fight
-wars destroyed farmland
2) Shifting alliances
3) Generals started fighting each other
4*) Julius Caesar gets backstabbed(literally) and senators think their saving the republic, but are really destroying it.
Describe how Pax Romana represents the downfall of the republic
Pax Romana represents the downfall of the Roman Republic because in this game generals have to fight each other to expand their territory and increase their power. In the Roman Republic this same thing happened, but this game doesn’t really focus on residents and the land they have, we just have to pretend plebians are fightins and the battles are destroying farmland. Also, in order to win this game, you must make alliances and eventually the alliances will shift like in the Roman Republic.
Describe what it was like to be a gladiator
As a gladiator, you had to go to gladiator school. You were provided with good food, and good healthcare so you could be in top condition to battle and perform. If you were dominating an opponent really bad you would have to kill them. Sometimes as a gladiator you could make some money, on betting and other types of stuff.
Timeline
- Roman Republic Established
- Twelve Tables make laws visible
- Overexpansion causes shifting alliances+civil war
- Julius Caesar is stabbed in the back
- Octavian becomes first emperor
- The Praetorian Guard is created
- Vespasian builds the Colosseum
- Constantine decriminalizes Christianity
- Rome falls+ Constantinople lives on as capital of the Byzantine Empire
Explain how wealth and/or social stus affected people in each of the following ways.
Government:
Patricians- usually made up the senate
Plebians- Tribune of the Plebs that represented the interests of plebians
Food and drink:
Plebians- cooked on small grills, mostly depended on Thermopolia(fast food). Ate chunks of fish, asparagus, fig for homemade dinners
Patricians- sometimes dines at Thermopolia in the daytime, they had elaborate dinners with appetizers such as mice cooked in honey and parrrots stuffed w/ dates
Women:
Able to own property, but needed a man to sell it. Most daughters names were a feminine form of their father’s name
Augustus taxed unmarried women and gave privileges to women with 3 or more kids,
Couldn’t vote or have a public life
Plebians- did not attend school when young, married in twenties
Patricians- went to school when young, married in teen years
Recreation:
Plebians and Patricians- relaxed in public pools, watched gladiator contests and chariot races(patricians sat closer that plebians did in colosseum
Patricians- enjoyed plays in theaters and musical performances in other’s homes.
