Rome Rise & Decline Notes

Question 0

What were the 2 periods of Roman Government

Answer 0

Roman Republic

Roman Empire

Question 1

What was the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

There were to periods of the Roman government

Rome technically had an “empire” under Roman Republic

Question 2

Roman Republic Times

Answer 2

509 bc- 31 bc

Question 3

Roman Empire times

Answer 3

31 bc-476 ad

Question 4

Rome technically had an “empire” under roman republic

What does the term “Roman Empire” refer to?

Answer 4

Refers to the time period, beginning with Augustus (Octavian) when Rome was ruled by emperors

Question 5

Octavian becomes Augustus

Answer 5

Octavian was sole ruler of Rome after his forces defeated Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium
The senate gave him the name “Augustus” meaning “most high”
Octavian now rendered to as Augustus, was made consul for life by the senate

Question 6

Octavian/Augustus was declared consul for life by the senate

Answer 6

Also made “princeps” meaning “first citizen”
Also made “imperator” meaning “successful general”
Also made “pontifex Maximus” or chief religious leader

Question 7

Princeps gives us the origin of what word

Answer 7

Prince

Question 8

Imperator gives us the origin of what word

Answer 8

Emperor

Question 9

Pontifex Maximus gives us the origin of what word

Answer 9

Origin of the word “pontiff” used to describe the Pope today

Question 10

Prionus inter pares means what

Answer 10

First among equals

Question 11

First among equals:

Answer 11

Augustus and some later emperors tried to maintain the facade that they were elected officials rather than dictators
Being “first among equals” gave the illusion that an emperor was the most prestigious and important member of the roman senate, but that each senator was simultaneously equally important
In reality roman emperors ruled with little input from anyone else

Question 12

Rome under Augustus: the golden age

Answer 12

Attempted to reform public morales by promoting family life (largely unsuccessful)
Began the practice of declaring emperors gods and picking their own successors
It is said that Augustus “found time a city of bricks and left it in a city of marble”
Firefighting departments were established

Question 13

Architecture and engineering

Answer 13

A large part of times success was due to the importance it placed on building and maintaining
Concrete was the key to Rome’s ability to build massive public works
After fall of Rome, secret of concrete would be lost until 18th century

Question 14

Pax Romana means…

Answer 14

Roman Peace

Question 15

Pax Romana

Answer 15

Rome controlled the entire Mediterranean region and beyond
This peace lasted nearly 200 years
More and more provincials were granted official Roman citizenship

Question 16

Roman Emperors after Augustus

Answer 16

The office of emperors was initially designed to be hereditary

Question 17

The office of emperor was initially designed to be hereditary

Answer 17

From the start there was confusion as to which family member would inherit throne
Some emperors were cutthroats, insane, or both
The military came to play and enormous role in selecting who would become emperor

Question 18

Tiberius Caligula

Answer 18

Abolished assembly
Earned his name “Caligula” meaning “little boots” by the Roman army as a child (liked to dress like a soldier)
Murdered and/or exiled members of family and perceived enemies
Assassinated in 41 ad by members of praetorian gaura (his personal bodyguard)

Question 19

Claudius

Answer 19

Became emperor because he was the last surviving adult male of his family
Conducted a census of the empire in 48 ad

Question 20

When Claudius conducted a census, how many Roman citizens were there

(Not including slaves, freedmen, and non-citizens)

Answer 20

5,984,072

Question 21

Nero

Answer 21

Came to power after his mother poisoned his predecessor Claudius
Murdered his mother, stepbrother, and his two wives
The Fire in Rome(64 ad) happened when he was emperor
He was forced I commit suicide

Question 22

FIRE IN ROME IN 64 AD

Answer 22

Nero was accused of setting the fire and of fiddling while the city burned
Nero blamed the fire on the Christians (new religious group)

Question 23

Nero forced to commit suicide:

Answer 23

Nero was the last male member of his family

No other descendants of Augustus or Tiberius were left

Question 24

(69 ad) the year of the 4 emperors

Answer 24

4 emperors ruled in quick succession in 69 as

This illustrates the problems of imperial succession

Question 25

The for emperors that ruled in quick succession were

Answer 25

Galba
Otho
Vitellius
Vespasian

Question 26

Trajan

Answer 26

First non-patrician to take over
Become emperor after being adopted by the first of the so called “good-emperors” Nerva
Oversaw the expansion of the empire to its greatest extent

Question 27

Hadrian

Answer 27

Strengthened the empires defenses

The Romans put down 2nd Jewish revolt under Hadrian

Question 28

Hadrian strengthened the empires defenses

Answer 28

Hadrians wall separated roman territory in Britannia from the Picts (roughly now Scotland)

Question 29

Under Hadrian the Romans put down the second Jewish revolt

Answer 29

Jew forces to leave Jerusalem after defeat

Question 30

Jews forced to leave Jerusalem after defeat

Answer 30

Many historians dat this as the official start of the Jewish diaspora

Question 31

Marcus Aurelius

Answer 31

Adopted son of Hadrian, last of so-called “good-emperors”
Stoic philosopher
Succeeded by his son commodus who was unqualified for the position
End of Marcus Aurelius was the end of the Pax Romana

Question 32

Years for the Pax Romana

Answer 32

27 bc-180 ad