Week 4 (Roman Provincial Administration and Roman Religion)

Question 1

• Former consuls and praetors became provincial _________ for one years = proconsuls and propraetors
  
  • Held minimal staff
  • Basic duties included defending the province, judge disputes, overseeing tax collection by the _________ (tax collection companies, made up of locals + Roman equestrians (rich _________))
  • Administration relied on _____ communities and elites
• Small provincial administration and great authority for senators far from Rome created potential for __________: publicani used their authority to ______ excessive taxes, governors engage in _______. The Extortion Court (est. 149 BC) was meant to try governors for corruption, but failed due to it being ran by the ________

Answer 1

governors
publicani, plebeians
local
corruption, extort, bribery, senators

Question 2

Domestic Effects
- New lower upper class (called the ___________) of wealthy businessmen (ex. merchants, manufacturers, etc.)
- More personal and economic freedom for higher class _____ by 2nd cent. BC: Sine manu marriage preferred (remained under father’s guardianship if absent from husband’s home for more than 3 nights in a row), could initiate legal proceedings but a male guardian still required
- Creation of Roman copper, silver, gold coinage: earliest copper coin in 289 BC
- the silver coin ________ becomes the monetary standard across the Mediterranean (ex. Denarius of Publius Licinus Nerva , 113 BC, the back showcasing secret-ballot voting)

Answer 2

equestrians
women
denarius

Question 3

Domestic Effects Continued
- Roman state and generals spend wealth from empire on new buildings/projects that draw extensively on _____ architecture (ex. Temple of ________ Victor, c.146 BC)
- Greater use of concrete, archways, vaulting
- Wide popularity of Greek culture among _________ Romans: Greek as Rome’s lingua franca, Greek literature reading groups (Scipionic Circle), first Roman histories in Greek (ex. Fabius Pictor, Polybius), Roman theater performances based on Greek plays (Livius Andronicus from Tarentum = ___ Roman playwright)
- Fear of Greek “contamination” of Roman morals (ex. belief held by ____ “the _____”)

Answer 3

Greek, Hercules
wealthier, first
Cato “the Elder”

Question 4

Domestic Effects Continued: Socio-Political Inequality in Italy
- Roman army involvement depended on ____ ownership
- mid-2nd cent. BC: large quantities of ager publicus from Italic allies worked and amassed by the ________
- Additionally, many soldiers either gave up their land or did not comeback to it
- Italic allies become discontent: makeup the majority of Rome’s armies, fight Rome’s wars, yet see little rewards
- ________ Gracchus (Tribune 133 BC): proposed new land law: extra land to landless plebs, but opposed by the Senate
- takes his law directly to the Council of the _____, where it is passed; Senate refuses to allocate any _______ to put the land law into effect. Tiberius threatens to introduce a law assigning funding from the wealth of the newly acquired kingdom of _______, the Senate yields.

Answer 4

land
senators
Tiberius
Plebs, funding, Pergamum

Question 5

Domestic Effects Continued
- Tiberius runs for Tribune reelection in 132 BC, but him and his supporters are killed by a mob lead by Senator Scipio ______.
- Result: Breakdown of carefully nurtured cooperation among senators, Senators now increasingly look out for their own self-interests.
- Optimates vs. Populares: former refers to “the best people”, those who preferred to work within the ______, attempting to prevent any reforms. The later refers to “men of the people”, those who supported political programs directly from the people, and made common cause with the equestrians and Italians in order to find support outside the Senate.
- Italians are ______ Roman citizenship: in 125 BC, the Consul Fulvius Flaccus introduces a bill to make Italians citizens, withdrawn after the Senate offers him military command in Gaul.
- Response: Latin town of Fregellae attempts to withdraw from its alliance with Rome, destroyed by the Praetor ______.

Answer 5

Nasica
Senate
denied
Opimius

Question 6

• Gaius Gracchus (Tribune 123-122 BC): reaffirms and expands the program of land distribution, passed legislation providing subsidized foodstuffs to plebeians in Rome, transferred control of the Extortion Court from the Senate to the __________
• Reelected in 122 BC alongside Fulvius Flaccus, but opposed by Tribune Drusus, an ally of the ______, who makes even more popular proposals (that he doesn’t plan to keep) such as finding twelve colonies for the poorest Roman citizens, and vetoed Gaius’ franchise bill.
• Gaius not reelected in 121 BC, occupies Aventine Hill with Flaccus and armed followers
  
  • Response: senatus consultum ultimum (“Last Recommendation of the Senate”), Consul _______ raises an army band of citizens, Flaccus, Gaius, and his followers are killed.

Answer 6

equestrians
Senate
Opimius

Question 7

Roman Religion
- Characteristics: ____________ (belief in many gods) and _________ (belief that all things have a spirit, or soul), Roman gods linked to Greek ones based on shared powers/traits = syncretism/interpretatio
- Mars = god of war & ___________, Juno = goddess of _________, Janus = god of ________ (depicted looking forward and backwards).
- Romans were willing to adopt new gods: evocatio (generals “called out” deities from _____ cities), new gods brought to reverse misfortune (ex. 205 BC, Cybele from Asia on instruction of Sibylline books), deification (ex. Julius Caesar, Romulus)

Answer 7

polytheistic and animistic
agriculture, fertility, doorways

Question 8

Roman Worship
- Purpose: for health, safety, and success, performed through offerings and prayers
- Proper Worship was pertinent (referred to as ______). Pietas = respect for the ____, _____/community, and ______
- A personal relationship with the gods was ___ necessary to worship
- Harsh Treatment of certain religions: Cult of _______ was outlawed briefly across Italy c. 186 BC), Judaism & Christianity (both ____________ religions) were looked down upon (Jews were required to pay special ___ to the Romans to practice their faith, offer prayers and sacrifices)
- Four Types of Offerings: _______ (ex. figurines, statues, temples), blood sacrifices, bloodless sacrifices, services/displays

Answer 8

cultus
gods, state, family
not
Bacchus, monotheistic, tax
votives

Question 9

• “Colleges” of priesthoods advised on and conducted rituals.
  
  • Priesthoods separate from _________ positions
• Big state priesthoods: Pontifices and Pontifex Maximus (advised on proper procedure for offerings and prayers, enforced the ________), Flamines (in charge of specific cults), Vestal Virgins (cared for the eternal flame of Vesta), Augurs (watching and interpreting flight and eating patterns of _____), Haruspices (examined animal entrails for signs)

Answer 9

political
calendar, birds

Question 10

• Roman Festivals: large public events (offerings, prayers, games) usually several days in honor of particular traditions, gods
  
  • Regifugium: celebrating the expulsion of __________ _________ (last king of Rome)
  • Saturnalia: pagan Christmas, enslaved people “masters” for a day

Answer 10

Tarquinius Superbus

Question 11

Roman Architecture
- Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus: located on __________ Hill
- Necessary elements of Roman sanctuary: _____ + sacred precinct
- Roman temple developed from ________ temple architecture; most popular column order was __________ (think Greek styles)
- Moral values: pietas, virtus (perceived as ________ strengths), pudicitia (________ exemplified by women)

Answer 11

Capitoline
altar
Etruscan, Corinthian
masculine, modesty