CLSX 106 Term ID Practice Quiz

Consul

• Who: 2 elected annually

• What: the highest office of the state

• When: during the Roman Republic (founded in 509 BCE)

• Where: Rome - Roman Republic

• What/Why:

  • commanded armies in the field

  • summoned assemblies

  • chose senators

  • checks and balances → consuls serve one year term - they need support from the senate to finish a campaign during their elected time

  • consuls and other magistrates organize voting of people

  • An election of consuls replaced the board of ten in 449 BCE (Twelve tables)

Aeneas

• Who: mythological ancestor of Romulus & Remus

• When: Trojan War: ~1200BCE

• Where: Troy & Rome

• What/Why:

  • Livy & Vergil - written accounts of mythological man

  • Foundation myth of Rome

  • Fights Latinus & makes peace: origins of conflict then peace between Latins and their neighbors

Tarquinius Superbus:

• Who: Etruscan and the last king of Rome - acts like a Tyrant

• When: Reign c. 534-509 BCE [ruled for 25 years] (Died 496 BCE)

• Where: Rome

• Why:

  • Started building Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus: Temple shows how Romans were influenced by Greeks and Etruscans

  • Comes into power by coup

    • Tarquinius Superbus conspires with his wife’s sister to murder their spouses. Then they overthrew the king, Servius Tullius

    • shows how the last king comes into power - explanation as to why he needs to be overthrown

  • Mythological kings, not related, shows how cultures were defining Romans, how Romans were conceiving of early mythology

  • Overthrow:

    • His son rapes Lucretia

    • Brutus, tribune and friend of Collatinus, convinces rest to revolt against king

    • Tarquinius Superbus exiled from Rome

    • Leads to Roman Republic

Twelve Tables

• Who: board of ten elected to produce new laws

• When: Completed in 450 BCE

• Where: Roman Republic

• What/Why:

  • Shows early laws written and displayed

• Tyranic rule: essentially citizens couldn’t appeal against what they ruled

• 449 BCE – seven laws to supplement Twelve Tables, likely due to public outcry

• Overthrow of Board of Ten: 

  • Appius Claudius on board abducts Virginia. Her father is not allowed to defend himself; kills Virginia in public

  • some legendary associations - emphasized

  • shows how the board of ten were acting like tyrants

• Laws give insight into society: inheritance, importance of agriculture, militaristic overtones, harsh/corporal punishments & religion weaved within society and government

  • Broader context: law code of Solon in Athens in 594 BCE; law code of Gortyn in Crete, Greece around 450 BCE