Week 4: Severe Threats Flashcards
What is the name for the senatorial priestly position accompanying the consuls?
Rex Sacrorum
Describe the Republican System:
- 2 consuls
- 1 Rex Sacrorum (on the same level of hierarchy as consuls)
- Senate
- Popular Assemblies
What were the 3 popular assemblies of the Republic?
- Comitia Centuriata
- Comitia Tribuna
- Conclilium Plebis
What 2 events marl the climax of Rome’s first international struggles?
- Siege of Veii
- Gauls taking Rome
How long was the siege of Veii?
10 years
I what year did the Romans finally destroy Veii?
396 BC
Who did the Romans have a mutual hatred for?
The Veii
True or False: When Rome declared war on Veii, all the other Etruscan cities rushed to help.
FALSE
Most Etruscan cities didn’t help Veii
Why was the city of Veii an attractive target for Rome?
- It was the richest of Etruscan cities
What was one thing the Romans admired about the Etruscans?
- Their close reliance and adhering to proper religious practices
How did the Romans finally manage to storm the city of Veii?
They dug a tunnel underneath the city and stormed it
Where did the Romans get the idea to build tunnels?
- Earlier in the siege, the Romans had sent ambassadors to Delphi, where they were told that they must drain the Alban lake before resuming operations
- So, the Romans built a tunnel to funnel the Alban lake water and get rid of the surrounding swamplands (which they knew caused diseases too)
- This is where they learned the tunnel building technique they employed when they dug the siege tunnel underneath the city of Veii
When the Romans sent an ambassador to the Delphic oracle during the siege of Veii, they told Rome to _____________________.
Drain the Alban Lake before resuming operations
What did Camilius do to assure a Roman victory at Veii?
-He prayed a lot and vowed to host votive games if he is victorious.
What did the Romans do upon taking the city of Veii?
- Romans destroyed the city of Veii
- They even sacked the Temples
- Pushed against those surrounding towns that had allied with Veii
Why was Camilius thrown into exile upon his return from conquering the Veii?
- His triumph has four white horses and was viewed as too “kinglike”
- The Roman people also didn’t like the extreme extent of his plundering
In honour of their victory over the Veii, what did the Romans give to the Shrine of Apollo at Delphi ?
- A golden Krater
When did Gaulish migrations south begin?
400 BC
For what 2 reasons did the Gauls migrate south?
- Southern Luxuries (ex. wine, gold, etc.)
- Overpopulation
What is the difference between Transalpine Gauls and Cisalpine Gauls?
- Transalpine = North of the Alps
- Cisalpine = South of the Alps
Explain the hierarchy of Gallic society:
- Chieftain
- Druids and Bards
- Warriors
- Women
Define: Druids
- Male or Female priests/priestesses
- They also served as moral judges
Why did the Romans denounce the Druids?
- They accused the Druids of human sacrifices
Define: Bards
- Oral storytellers and historians
How does Livy describe the Gauls?
- Hair spiked with Lime
- Fought naked on occasion
- They were big and tall
- Fierce
According to Livy, what are the Gaulish flaws?
- Their uncontrolled temper
- Their proneness to intoxication through Roman wine
What is the Vix Krater?
- A Greek made krater found buried with a Celtic noblewoman
- What does this tell us? –> This is precisely the kind of riches the Gauls were after in southern migrations
True or False: The Romans started very poorly in their war against the Gauls.
TRUE
What initially sparked the Romano-Gaulish war?
- Gauls killed Roman envoys
What god did Camilius dedicate most gifts to?
Apollo
What was the name of the Gaulish ethnic group that migrated south?
La Trène Culture
What divine event is attributed as the reason why the Romans were defeated against the gods?
- One day a man heard a voice from the gods stating that the Gauls are coming
- His fellow Romans laughed at him and wrote it off
- Was seen as disrespecting the gods
What was the date of the First battle against the Gauls?
July 18th 390 BC
What was the result of the battle of Allia against the Gauls?
- Battle was right outside of Rome
- Romans lost, and retreated into the city
- Gauls followed and stormed the city, destroying and pillaging everything except the Capitoline Hill
- They executed several Roman senators
What was the only part of Rome left un-destroyed after the Gauls stormed the city?
Capitoline Hill
What 2 reasons did Livy give for Roman defeat at the hands of the Gauls?
- They were not brave
- They ignored omens
Describe how geese saved Rome:
- One night, there was a creeping stealth attack from the Gauls about to occur on the Capitoline hill-the last Roman stronghold standing.
- The Gauls were so silent that not even the dogs barked, and the sentry’s didn’t hear or see them
- But, all of a sudden, a group of geese started honking, and woke up the Roman defenders, who managed to repel the attack
Why didn’t the Gauls capitalize on the Roman defeat?
- They got addicted to wine
- They weren’t interested in taking Rome permanently
How did Camilius pay the Gauls off?
- He offered 1000 pounds of gold to the Gaul chieftain, Brennus
How did the Gauls cheat the deal?
- They brought their own scale that already weighed more than standard, thus, getting way more than 1000 pounds in gold’s worth
What is the reaction of Brennus when confronted by the upset Romans about the unfair Gaulish scale-weight?
Brennus puts his sword on the scale, exclaiming, “Vae Victis!” (Woe to the Conquered!)
What was the name of the battle in which the Gauls defeated the Romans?
The Battle of Allia (387 BC)
Who convinced the Romans that they should rebuild the city on the same traditional site of Rome?
- Camillus
Who is considered the second founder of Rome?
Camillus
Why is Camillus considered the second founder of Rome?
- Because after the city’s destruction at the hands of the Gauls in 387 BC, he made a speech convincing the Romans to rebuild the city on its original site instead of relocating.
What example of Cledonomancy reaffirmed Camillus’ speech to stay in Rome?
- One day, a centurion was marching with his soldiers, and ordered “stop here”
- A priest overheard it and interpreted it as a sign from the gods to remain and rebuild in Rome
