30/01 - City of Rome

Question 1

Who described Rome as a ‘face-to-face’ society?

Answer 1

Fergus Millar

Question 2

What does the idea of a ‘face-to-face’ society stress?

Answer 2

The importance of public speaking for senators and politicians.

Question 3

How does Seneca depict the city - On Anger, 3.6.4?

Answer 3

o Quite busy and unpleasant.
o He describes that it is unavoidable when hurrying in a crowd to slip, be held back or splashed.
o Many hinderances occur and there are many complaints.

Question 4

How does Cicero describe the city of Rome - ad. Att. 4.5?

Answer 4

o Describes the crowds and applause that welcomed him.
o Says that the number of people in the forum and on the Capitol itself was “astonishing.”

Question 5

What does Cicero attempt to explain in de res publica 2.10-11?

Answer 5

Use hindsight to explain why the city of Rome became so great.

Question 6

What does Cicero praise about the site of Rome?

Answer 6

o The River Tiber - being a “never-failing river” perhaps suggesting its use as a water source.
o Goes on to describe the importance of the river for importing what it lacks and exporting what it produces in superfluity. It can bring “whatever is most essential for its life and civilisation.”
o Describes the “natural defences of the city.”
o How the site of Rome abounds in springs and is “healthful.”

Question 7

What are the 4 main reasons for why the site of Rome was chosen?

Answer 7

1. Easily defensible
2. Water source
3. 7 Hills
4. Access to the sea via the river Tiber.

Question 8

What does Dionysius of Halicarnassus say about the site of Rome - 4.13.3-4?

Answer 8

o That unlike inhabited places around it, Rome has walls, which make it better protected against enemies.
o That the city is closely connected with the country.

Question 9

What are the names of the 7(/8) hills?

Answer 9

1. Palatine
2. Capitol / Capitoline
3. Quirinal
4. Viminal
5. Esquiline
6. Oppian
7. Caelian
8. Aventine

Question 10

Upon which hill did the rich of the Roman Republic tend to reside?

Answer 10

Palatine hill

Question 11

Upon which hill have we found evidence of early-life burials?

Answer 11

Esquiline hill

Question 12

Where did the poor tend to reside?

Answer 12

Suburbium or suburbs

Question 13

What is the Campus Martius?

Answer 13

Also called the Field of Mars; a largely open area where the citizens would gather for the census / lustrum.

Question 14

What is the area across the river Tiber called?

Answer 14

Transtiberim, today called the Trastevere and is where Vatican city is.

Question 15

What is the emporium?

Answer 15

A place of large storage halls (storehouses) containing the shipments received at the port of Ostia.