Midterm Flashcards
(141 cards)
1
Q
Polybius
A
Greek writer of the second c. BC; wrote “The Histories”
2
Q
Cato the Elder
A
Roman novus homo, statesman of the first half of the second c. BC
3
Q
Pliny the Elder
A
Roman encyclopedist and polymath, d. AD 79
4
Q
Livy
A
Roman historian writing under the emperor Augustus
5
Q
the four comitia of the Roman
Republic
A
Comitia curiata; comitia centuriata; comitia tributa; concilium plebis
6
Q
Comitia curiata
A
oldest; assembly of the 30 curiae wards; confers imperium on consuls and praetors; represented by ‘curate lictors’; called by consul, praetor or pontifex maximus
7
Q
comitia centuriata
A
second oldest; assembly of the 193 centuries; privileging wealthy; can only be called by magistrates with imperium or people they delegate to do this; consul could call elections for magistrates; elects magistrates with potential for imperium (consuls, praetors); voting happens outside city walls
8
Q
comitia tributa
A
tribal assembly of the 35 tribes; privileging agricultural element; called by consul, praetor, or curule aedile; can pass any kind of law
9
Q
concilium plebis
A
assembly of only the plebs which met in tribes; privileging agricultural element; called by tribune; 287 BCE Lex Hortensia meant that laws passed applied to patricians as well
10
Q
dictator, master of the horse, interred
A
oldest and ‘extraordinary’; all named, not elected
11
Q
senate
A
power based on prestige; consultative not legislative; role defined by most maiorum; ca. 300 members chosen then vetted by censors; called by consul, praetor and later tribune (though this goes against custom); accrues spheres of interest; serve for life, not elected, and no constituency
12
Q
augury
A
ncient Roman religious practice of watching birds for omens; 9 augurs; do gods approve or disapprove?; decrees about augural science; giving responsa to religious questions; inaugurating templa
13
Q
haruspices
A
60 possibly from Etruria; interpreting thunderbolts, unusual occurrences, and entrails; not a priestly college
14
Q
senator
A
Senators were entitled to wear a toga with a broad purple stripe, maroon shoes, and an iron (later gold) ring.
15
Q
equestrian
A
The equites constituted the second of the property-based classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class. They often had money but were not interested in politics
16
Q
patrician
A
The patricians (from Latin: patricius) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome.
17
Q
plebeian
A
non-noble families
18
Q
capite censi
A
lowest class of citizens in ancient Rome; owned little or no property, so they were counted by the head rather than by their property
19
Q
res publica
A
‘the public thing’; magistrates, people, laws; advised by the senate
20
Q
nobilitas, nobiles
A
older version (‘known’) of office and service overlaid with new emphasis on family; having had a consul in your family
21
Q
patronus
A
The patron was the protector, sponsor, and benefactor of the client; Patronage relationship were not exclusively between two people and also existed between a general and his soldiers, a founder and colonists
22
Q
cliens
A
a client was a free man who entrusted himself to another and received protection in return; Ordinary clients supported their patron (*patronus) in political and private life, and demonstrated their loyalty and respect by going to his house to greet him each morning (see salutatio), and attending him when he went out
23
Q
amicus
A
friendship, either between individuals, between the state and an individual or between states. It was “a technical term of Roman political life”; did not involve treaties or reciprocal obligations
24
Q
cursus honorum
A
“race-track of honor”; quaestor –> praetor –> consul; curule magistrates beyond quaestor
25
questorship
8-10; age 30; financial duties; usually worked with tribune or aedile
26
praetorship
6; age 39; military, judicial*, administrative duties; held imperium; had the curule chair and tribunal; 6 lictors each; toga praetexta
27
consulship
2; minimum age 42; military* and judicial duties; held imperium; curule chair and tribunal; 12 lictors each
28
tribunes
meant to be plebeians; 10; personally sacrosanct; veto any acts of other magistrates
29
aedileship
4; minimum age 36; 2 are plebeian aediles and elected in concilium plebes; 2 curule aediles wearing toga praetexta with care of the city and commercial transactions
30
dignitas
Dignitas was the influence a male citizen acquired throughout his life, including personal reputation, moral standing, and ethical worth, along with the man's entitlement to respect and proper treatment owing to the reputation and standing of his family
31
auctoritas
level of prestige a person had in Roman society, and, as a consequence, his standing, influence, and ability to rally support around his will
32
honor
honor of person
33
potestas: auctoritas :: 'constitution': X :: laws: Y
X = senate; Y = tradition (mos)
34
census
conducted every 5 years; difficult to discern how accurate the information is
35
triumph
civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the success of a military commander who had led Roman forces to victory; able to walk through Roman streets
36
funeral
procession, cremation and burial, eulogy, feast, and commemoration
37
cognomen
the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary (e.g., Scaevola)
38
agnomen
additional, fourth name given to a person by the ancient Romans in allusion to some achievement or other circumstance, as “Africanus”
39
novus homo
man who was the first in his family to serve in the Roman Senate or, more specifically, to be elected as consul
40
flamen Dialis
appearance and taboos abound; patrician; parents married by confarreatio; duties (flamen of Jupiter); cannot be bound; can never be a magistrate bc overlapping responsibilities
41
other flamines
15; Mars, Quirinus; Vulturnus; Vulcanus; Furrina; Pomona; must be patricians
42
rex sacrorum
1; patrician; sacrifices and regifugium (reenacts expulsion of kings); no magistracy; announces festivals
43
pontifices
16; headed by pontifex maximus (who must live in regia); both patricians and plebeians; sacrifices; calendar; responsa on religious questions
44
decemviri scares faciundis
10; conducting sacrifices; consulting Sibylline books
45
Vestals
6; generally from patrician families; guarding the flame of Vesta; legally emancipated from any man; made mola salsa (salted flour)
46
VIII viri epulonum
7; organized banquets for epulum Iovi "feast of Jupiter"
47
sodalitates
brotherhoods
48
Arval brethren
12; from senatorial families; cult of Dea Dia at fifth milestone
49
Salii
2 groups of 12; patricians; "leaper" and "the dancing priests of Mars" with ancilia; linen armor; silver apex helmet
50
Luperci
two groups; wolf men performing fertility ceremony; Marc Antony was one
51
Fetiales
20; declarers of war and local arrangers of peace; sacrifice of piglet with a knife or flint to declare peace; used an arrow to declare war
52
quaestio perpetua
permanent jury court in the Roman republic. The first was established by the lex Calpurnia de repetundis in 149 BC to try cases on corruption and extortion
53
quaestio de rebus
repetundis
standing criminal court that heard cases of corruption or misconduct in office and concerned itself especially with the recovery of extorted money
54
kalends
first of the month
55
nones
The Nones fell on the 7th day of the long months (March, May, Quinctilis, October), and the 5th of the others
56
ides
Ides fell on the 15th if the month was long, and the 13th if the month was short
57
mos maiorum
unwritten code from which the ancient Romans derived their social norms; based on tradition
58
pomerium
religious boundary around the city of Rome; Aventine Hill outside the pomerium; imperium must be practiced outside
59
templum
sacred sanctuary or shrine that was consecrated by a member of the priesthood for religious purposes
60
capitolium
Capitoline Hill; Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus in on there
61
arx
"citadel". In the ancient city of Rome, the arx was located on the northern spur of the Capitoline Hill, and is sometimes specified as the Arx Capitolina
62
Palatine
the original Romans lived on the Palatine; site of the ancient festival of the Lupercalia.
Many affluent Romans of the Republican period had their residences there.
63
vestibulum
The vestibulum was the main entrance hall of the Roman domus. It is usually seen only in grander structures; however, many urban homes had shops or rental space directly off the streets with the front door between
64
atrium
large open-air or skylight-covered space surrounded by a building
65
tablinum
room generally situated on one side of the atrium and opposite to the entrance; it opened in the rear onto the peristyle, with either a large window or only an anteroom or curtain. The walls were richly decorated with fresco pictures, and busts of the family were arranged on pedestals on the two sides of the room
66
salutatio
daily Roman ritual in which powerful, prominent citizens would receive their "clients," who would bring news, ask for favors, and be asked for favors in return
67
C. Laelius 'Sapiens'
Roman statesman, best known for his friendship with the Roman general and statesman Scipio Aemilianus. He was consul of 140 BC. Laelius was called Sapiens ("wise") because of his decision not to undertake efforts at political reform that were beginning to create serious dissension in the Roman Senate.
68
P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus
'Africanus the Younger'
Roman general famed both for his exploits during the Third Punic War (149–146 BC) and for his subjugation of Spain (134–133 BC). He received the name Africanus and celebrated a triumph in Rome after his destruction of Carthage (146 BC). He acquired the (unofficial) name Numantinus for his reduction of Spanish Numantia (133 BC).
69
Cornelia
mother of the Gracchi; first woman celebrated in her own right with statues
70
Ap. Claudius Pulcher
Roman politician, father-in-law of the agrarian reformer Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Claudius served on the Gracchan land commission from 133 until his death.
71
princeps senatus
leading member of the Senate
72
C. Hostilius Mancinus
politician and general of the Roman Republic. He is mostly known for his defeat against the Numantines as consul in 137 BC and the humiliating treaty he signed afterwards in order to save his army.
73
Ti. Sempronius Gracchus
sponsored agrarian reforms to restore the class of small independent farmers and who was assassinated in a riot sparked by his senatorial opponents. His brother was Gaius Sempronius Gracchus.
74
P. Licinius Crassus Mucianus 'Dives'
('Rich')
Roman politician who supported the agrarian reforms of the tribune Tiberius Gracchus. Brother of the orator and jurist Publius Mucius Scaevola
75
P. Mucius Scaevola
prominent Roman politician and jurist who was consul in 133 BC. tribune of the plebs in 141 BC and praetor in 136 BC. He also held the position of pontifex maximus for sixteen years after his consulship. He died around 115 BC.
Scaevola was consul at the time of Tiberius Gracchus' tribuneship and murder, and was heavily involved in reconciling the Senate following Gracchus' death. According to Cicero, Scaevola supported Gracchus' land reforms
76
M. Fulvius Flaccus
Roman senator and an ally of the Gracchi. He served as consul in 125 BC and as plebeian tribune in 122 BC. As a solution to the problem of land division among the allied cities, Flaccus proposed to give Roman citizenship to individual Italian allies in order to obtain land
77
lex Sempronia agraria
Tiberius Gracchus’ land reform bill; land in excess of this legal precedent should be confiscated, after payment to the owner, and redistributed to the landless poor
78
ager publicus
public land of which there were 5 types: ager occupatorius, ager questorius, ager in trientabulis, ager censorious, and ager scripturarius
79
Attalus III
ruling Pergamon; left his kingdom in his will to the Roman Republic; Tiberius Gracchus requested that the treasury of Pergamon be opened up to the Roman public, but the Senate refused this
80
M. Octavius
Roman tribune of the plebs in 133 BC and a major rival of Tiberius Gracchus; at the behest of the Roman senate, repeatedly vetoed Gracchus's programmes of land refor
81
P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio
mobilising the mob which killed Tiberius Gracchus, who was at the time attempting to stand for re-election as plebeian tribune in 133 BC. He was consul in 138 BC and served as pontifex maximus, from possibly 141 through to his death in 132 BC.
82
P. Popillius Laenas
When consul he incurred the hatred of the populares by his harsh measures as head of a special commission appointed to take measures against the accomplices of Tiberius Gracchus. In 123 BC Gaius Gracchus brought in a bill prohibiting all such commissions, and declared that, in accordance with the old laws of appeal, a magistrate who pronounced sentence of death against a Roman citizen, without the people's assent, should be guilty of high treason.
83
C. Sempronius Gracchus
reenacted the agrarian reforms of his brother, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, and who proposed other measures to lessen the power of the senatorial nobility; He formulated a bill—aimed at his brother’s enemy Octavius—that would have denied further office to magistrates deposed by the Assembly; land reform
84
M. Livius Drusus
Drusus began by proposing colonial and agrarian reform bills; given the right of collecting taxes to the knights and had made them the source of jurors on standing criminal courts
85
lex Acilia
It provides for equites as jurors in courts overseeing the senatorial class to prevent corruption abroad. Equites who gained tax contracts or presided over courts could not, unlike senators, be prosecuted for extortion. The law was extremely unpopular in the Senate since it subjected the senatorial class to the inferior equestrian
86
L. Opimius
held the consulship in 121 BC, in which capacity and year he ordered the execution of 3,000 supporters of popular leader Gaius Gracchus without trial, using as pretext the state of emergency declared after Gracchus's recent and turbulent death. He was censured in 116 BC by a tribunal investigating illicit bribes taken from Jugurtha
87
senatusconsultum ultimum
"final decree of the Senate"; resolutions of the Roman Senate lending its moral support for magistrates to use the full extent of their powers and ignore the laws to safeguard the state; used against C. Gracchus
88
lex Rubria
provisions for and restrictions on local jurisdiction in Cisalpine Gaul
89
Numantia
In 137 BC, 20,000 Romans surrendered to Numantia ; Tiberius Gracchus, as quaestor, saved the Roman army from destruction by signing a peace treaty with the Numantines, which the Senate rejected; 133 BC the Roman Senate gave Scipio Aemilianus Africanus the task of destroying Numantia
90
Pergamon
When Attalus III died without an heir in 133 BC, he bequeathed the whole of Pergamon to Rome
91
Fregellae
belonged the Volsci; after the rejection of Flaccus's proposals for the extension of Roman citizenship in 125 BC, a revolt broke out against Rome. A local traitor named Numitorius opened the gates to the Roman army under the praetor Lucius Opimius.
92
Arpinum
The town produced two consuls of the Roman republic: Gaius Marius and Marcus Tullius Cicero
93
Junonia
Ancient Roman colony established in 122 BC under the direction of Gaius Gracchus; located at the site of the destroyed city of Carthage
94
Narbo
established in Gaul by the Roman Republic in 118 BC and made into the capital of the newly established province of Gallia Transalpina
95
Jugurtha
king of Numidia; His troops then massacred many residents including the Romans. This brought Jugurtha into direct conflict with Rome, which sent troops; in 105 BC Marius sent his quaestor, Sulla, to Mauretania in order to weaken Jugurtha; Jugurtha was brought to Rome in chains and was paraded through the streets as Gaius Marius' Roman triumph
96
C. Marius
3rd founder of Rome; Victor of the Cimbric and Jugurthine wars, he held the office of consul an unprecedented seven times; from Arpinum; Marius suffered political setbacks during his sixth consulship in 100 BC and afterwards entered a period of semi-retirement from public life
97
Bocchus
was king of Mauretania from c. 111 – 80 BCE. He was father-in-law to the Numidian king Jugurtha, with whom he initially allied against the Romans in the Jugurthine War, a lengthy and indecisive conflict. King Bocchus eventually betrayed Jugurtha to the Romans in 105 BCE.
98
L. Cornelius Sulla
Sulla had the distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as reviving the dictatorship; Sulla rose to prominence during the war against the Numidian king Jugurtha, whom he captured as a result of Jugurtha's betrayal by the king's allies, although his superior Gaius Marius took credit for ending the war; fought successfully against Germanic tribes during the Cimbrian War, and Italian allies during the Social War
99
Q. Caecilius Metellus ‘Numidicus’
leader of the Optimates, the conservative faction of the Roman Senate. He was a bitter political opponent of Gaius Marius. He was consul in 109 BC, in that capacity he commanded the Roman forces in Africa during the Jugurthine War. In 107 BC, he was displaced from his command by Marius. On his return he was granted a triumph and the cognomen Numidicus.
100
P. Rutilius Rufus
great-uncle of Gaius Julius Caesar; During his consulship, he reformed the drill system and improved army discipline. As legate to Quintus Mucius Scaevola, he attempted to protect the inhabitants of Asia from extortion by the equites, which provoked them to raise the accusation of extortion from those provincials
101
Cn. Pompeius Strabo
consul in 89; father of Pompey the Great; Strabo celebrated a triumph for his victories against the Italian Allies on 27 December 89
102
Q. Lutatius Catulus
consul of the Roman Republic in 102 BC. His consular colleague was Gaius Marius. During their consulship the Cimbri and Teutones marched south again and threatened the Republic. While Marius marched against the Teutones in Gaul, Catulus had to keep the Cimbri from invading Italy. In this he failed; the Cimbri succeeded in invading the Po Valley. In 101 BC Catulus, as proconsul, continued the war against the Cimbri.
103
pilum
javelin
104
eagle
legionary standards of Roman army
105
muli Mariani
Marian reforms were alleged changes to the composition and operation of the Roman army; altering of the socio-economic background of the soldiery. Other changes were supposed to have included the introduction of the cohort; the institution of a single form of heavy infantry with uniform equipment; the universal adoption of the eagle standard; and the abolition of the citizen cavalry
106
centurions
The size of the century changed over time, and from the first century BC through most of the imperial era was reduced to 80 men
107
velites
class of infantry in the Roman army of the mid-Republic from 211 to 107 BC. Velites were light infantry and skirmishers armed with javelins
108
hastati
class of infantry employed in the armies of the early Roman Republic, who originally fought as spearmen and later as swordsmen
109
principes
spearmen, and later swordsmen, in the armies of the early Roman Republic. They were men in the prime of their lives who were fairly wealthy, and could afford decent equipment. They were the heavier infantry of the legion who carried large shields and wore good quality armor
110
triarii
They were the oldest and among the wealthiest men in the army and could afford high quality equipment. They wore heavy metal armor and carried large shields, their usual position being the third battle line.
111
maniple
a subdivision of a Roman legion, containing either 120 or 60 men.
112
legion
argest military unit of the Roman army, comprised 4,200 infantry and 300 equites (cavalry)
113
century
military units originally consisting of 100 men
114
cohort
generally composed of 480 soldiers
115
legates
The legatus of a Roman Republican army was essentially a supreme military tribune; After "Marian reforms", the figure of the legatus as a major second-in-command was eliminated. Multiple legati were assigned to every army, each in command of a legion
116
military tribunes
officer of the Roman army who ranked below the legate and above the centurion. Young men of Equestrian rank often served as military tribune as a stepping stone to the Senate
117
C. Julius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus
'Sesquiculus'
In 103 BC, he was on a committee to supervise the implementation of the Lex frumentaria, an agrarian bill, proposed by tribune Lucius Appuleius Saturninus. Strabo became a pontifex in 99 BC; a quaestor in 96 BC and an aedile in 90 BC.
In the midst of the Social War, Strabo stood for the consulship even though he had not yet been praetor.
118
lex Plautia Papiria
Roman plebiscite enacted amidst the Social War in 89 BCE. It was proposed by the Tribunes of the Plebs, Silvanus and Carbo. The law granted Roman citizenship to Italian communities that had previously rebelled against Rome during this war
119
Q. Hortensius Hortalus
consul in 69 BC; After 63, Cicero gravitated towards the faction to which Hortensius belonged. Consequently, in political cases, the two men were often engaged on the same side
120
M. Tullius Cicero
He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists and the innovator of what became known as "Ciceronian rhetoric"; tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire
121
lex Varia
criminal law passed on the motion of Hybrida; passed after the Social War; ????
122
P. Sulpicius Rufus
Roman politician and orator whose attempts to pass controversial laws with the help of mob violence helped trigger the first civil war of the Roman Republic. His actions kindled the deadly rivalry between Gaius Marius and Sulla, and provided the pretext for Sulla's unexpected march on Rome.
123
iustitium
temporary suspension of jurisdiction and judicial operations by magistrates and judges in civil and criminal matters. It was proclaimed by a magistrate in an edict, usually on the senate's authority. It was originally used in a military crisis, especially a tumultus, to enable the people to concentrate on raising an army
124
conubium
right to a valid, legal Roman marriage (children are Roman citizens)
125
commercium
create valid Roman contracts between citizens and others
126
ius suffragii
right to come to Rome and vote
127
ius migrandi
right of Latin individuals to acquire Roman citizenship through migration and settlement in Rome
128
coloniae
Roman outpost established in conquered territory to secure it. Eventually, however, the term came to denote the highest status of a Roman city
129
civitates foederatae
federated cities; supply men; by Punic War, >150 of them
130
the Social War
81 - 87 BCE; rebellion of Asculum started it; allies seeking to have more rights and frustrating at supplying men when their population is dwindling; Latins did not fight
131
Q. Poppaedius Silo
led the north or Marsic group of Roman allies in the Social War
132
C. Papius Mutilus
led the south or Sanmite group in the Social War
133
lex Iulia
90 BCE; granted Roman citizenship to Latin and Italian communities (likely to those who did not revolt or who laid down their arms); takes steam out of rebellion
134
lex Pompeia
89 BCE; grants Latin status to inhabitants of Cisalpine Gaul
135
lex Licinia Mucia
95 BCE; set up a quaestio to investigate Latin and Italian allies registered as Romans on the citizen rolls. It was established by consuls Lucius Licinius Crassus and Quintus Mucius Scaevola Pontifex in 95 BC. This law is regarded as a cause of the Social War
136
Arausio
105 BCE; two Roman armies, commanded by proconsul Quintus Servilius Caepio and consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus, clashed with the migratory tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutones.
Differences between the Roman commanders prevented regular coordination between their armies, resulting in annihilation by the united Cimbrian-Teutonic force
137
Gallia Transpadana (or Cisalpina)
"on this side of the Alps" (from the perspective of the Romans)
138
Gallia Narbonensis (or Transalpina)
"on the far side of the Alps"
139
Vercellae
101 BCE; Cimbric king defeated by a Roman army under the joint command of the consul Gaius Marius and the proconsul Quintus Lutatius Catulus. The battle marked the end of the Germanic threat to the Roman Republic.
140
Aquae Sextiae
102 BCE; Romans under Gaius Marius finally defeated the Teutones and Ambrones as they attempted to advance through the Alps into Italy
141
Asculum
start of Social War
