Early Rome

"Filter of the Ancient World"

Rome acts as the filter through which we see the Ancient World, where Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece converge. Rome is our source and perspective for all ancient societies.

Polybius, Livy, Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius

These are primary sources for understanding ancient Rome, providing agendas, problems, and perspectives.

Alps and Apennines

Mountains in the Italian peninsula that provided protection for Rome in many directions.

Po, Arno, Tiber, Rubicon

Important rivers in Roman geography.

Lion v. Wolf Pack

A comparison between Greece and Rome; Rome is syncretic and adapts the best from all cultures like a "wolf pack," contrasting with Greek individualism which eventually undermined Roman traditions.

Etruscans

The first "Italian" society known for a sophisticated religion involving divination and augury. They were later conquered by Ancus Marcius.

Latins

One of the original tribes. They united under Rome but immediately rebelled in 338 BCE, leading Rome to abolish their league and become the main power in Central Italy.

Greeks

Referenced primarily as Magna Graecia.

Tarentum

A city attacked by Rome, leading Greece to call on Pyrrhus of Epirus for help.

Messina & Syracuse

A conflict arose when the King of Syracuse besieged Messina to remove the Mamertines, acting as an immediate cause of the First Punic War.

Romulus and Remus

Part of the founding legends of Rome. Romulus was the founder of Rome (753-716 BCE) and created the senate.

Alba Longa

A city associated with Rome's mythical origins, involving Ascanius, Romulus, and Remus.

Vestal Virgins

Created by the Roman king Numa Pompilius.

Sabines

An original tribe. Legends say Romans kidnapped Sabine women, leading to the Sabine Wars and a dual kingship.

Senex

Translates to "old men," referring to the Senate.

Senate

During the monarchy, these were older members of the aristocracy who elected and advised the king. In the Republic, they served a legislative role and advised the consuls.

Numa Pompilius

King (715-674 BCE) who established the calendar, guilds, and Vestal Virgins.

Tullus Hostilius

King (673-642 BCE) who conquered Latin tribes and built the Curia Hostilia (Senate House).

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus

King (616-579 BCE) who conquered tribes in central Italy and built the Circus Maximus and Cloaca Maxima (city sewer).

Servius Tullius

King (578-535 BCE) who claimed the throne, created a new class, and expanded voting rights.

Ancus Marcius

King (641-617 BCE) who conquered the Etruscans and established Ostia, Rome's port city.

Roman/Mediterranean Geography

Featured arable farming land, natural ports on all coasts, protective mountains, rivers, and a location in the center of the Mediterranean that allowed for trade and conquest.

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

King (534-509 BCE) who seized power through assassination, utilized great personal wealth to buy popularity, and was challenged by the senate.

Scaevola

A legend of a man putting his hand in the fire to establish Roman values.

The Monarchy

Spanned from 753-509 BCE.

The Republic

Spanned from 509-31/27 BCE.

Consul

Held "Executive Imperium" in the Roman Republic.

Principate

A new system created by Augustus to maintain a strong army loyal to one man while keeping the appearance of a republic.

Horatius

A legendary figure who defended the Pons Sublicius, representing Roman values.

Rape of Lucretia

The son of King Tarquinius Superbus raped a noblewoman, acting as the catalyst for the revolution and the end of the monarchy.

Lucius Junius Brutus

Mentioned in a legend regarding his son in the rebellion, serving to establish Roman values.

Severitas

A guiding virtue meaning "ideals above personal gain/comfort".

Patricians

Wealthy landowners and descendants of the original 100 senators who were legally and socially superior. They formed the leading class, filling roles like Consuls, Senators, and Praetors (judges).

Plebeians

The lower class/ordinary citizens who paid taxes. They made up the majority of the population and ranged from peasants to the super-rich.

Twelve Tables (451-449 BCE)

A series of laws that changed Patrician and Plebe rights. It served as a code of laws addressing inheritance, property, and criminal/civil charges, resulting in reduced crime, a more efficient court system, and more equal treatment.

Headcount

The poor class who were dependent on state grain.

Struggle of Orders (500-300 BCE)

A class conflict between Patricians and Plebes involving a series of strikes and boycotts that resulted in changes to the law.

Lex Canuleia, Licinian-Sextian, Lex Hortensia

Mentioned in a table regarding the Struggle of Orders, but their specific purposes and results are left blank in the notes.

Praetors

Judges drawn from the Patrician class.

Treaty of Cassius

Established after the Battle of Lake Regillus, making Rome the protectors of Italy.

Gauls

Warlike tribal invaders from France.

Sack of Rome (Battle of Allia River, 390 BCE)

The Gauls destroyed the population, infrastructure, temples, records, and confidence of Rome. Rome paid 1,000 lbs. of gold to remove them, leading to a psychological shift vowing never to be invaded again.

Pyrrhus

A famous tactician and soldier from Epirus whom Greece called upon to fight Rome in a war of attrition.

Battle of Lake Regillus (396 BCE)

A battle where Rome defeated its neighbors, leading to the Treaty of Cassius.

Siege of Veii

Occurred in 396 BCE during Rome's conquest of central Italy.

Samnite Wars (First 343-341, Second 326-304, Third 298-290 BCE)

A series of brutal conflicts against the Samnites, a warrior society in the central Italian mountains. Rome eventually won, controlling Italy from the Greek colonies to the Alps.

Battle of Caudine Forks (321 BCE)

A devastating defeat for Rome due to poor decisions and improved Samnite tactics, leading to Rome's humiliation and subsequent military reorganization.

Battle of Heraclea (280) & Battle of Asculum (279)

Battles during the Pyrrhic War where Rome wore down Greece.

Civitas sine suffragio

A level of partial Latin citizenship.

Suffettes

Carthaginian executives who bought control and influence for a time.

Ba'al Moloch

The primordial demon god from Babylon worshipped in Carthage, centered around human sacrifice.

Battle of Mylae (260 BCE)

A naval battle where Rome surprised and defeated Carthage, allowing Rome to claim status as a "world power".

Battle of Trebia (218 BCE)

A Roman defeat due to poor Roman planning.

Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BCE)

The Roman army was devastated in an ambush.

Hamilcar, Hasdrubal and Hannibal Barca

Carthaginian generals. Hamilcar rebuilt Carthage in Spain. Hasdrubal and Hannibal vowed to destroy Rome. Hannibal famously crossed the Alps and fought in Italy for 15 years.

Battle of Cannae (216 BCE)

Carthage used a false retreat tactic, killing 50,000 Roman soldiers and devastating Rome.

Battle of Zama (202 BCE)

A battle in Africa where Scipio defeated Hannibal.

Punic Wars (265-146 BCE)

A 120-year conflict transforming Rome from a regional power to masters of the Western world, resulting in the elimination of Carthage.

Carthage

A wealthy Phoenician industrial and commercial colony run as a plutocracy. They relied on paid foreign mercenaries.

Mamertines

Religious fanatics descended from Rome who occupied Messinia. Their appeal to Rome and Carthage triggered the First Punic War.

corvus

Known as the "Beak," it was a plank and hook on the prow of Roman ships that turned naval battles into land battles.

Ebro River

The boundary line in a treaty between Rome and Spanish Carthage.

Roman Expansion

Followed a cycle where territory was gained, poor citizens settled to gain wealth, they became soldiers, and were used to conquer more territory.

Mos Maiorum

Translates to "Way of the ancestors," representing the traditions and customs that served as Rome's guiding principles.

paterfamilias

Meaning father of the family.

Slave Revolts

Extensive warfare led to a massive slave population, causing major rebellions in 134 BCE, 104 BCE, and 73 BCE.

Spartacus

A gladiator who led a 100,000-person slave revolt in 73 BCE. The revolt lasted 3 years before survivors were defeated and crucified.

Circus Maximus

Built by King Lucius Tarquinius Priscus.

Tiberius Gracchus

A reformer (133 BCE) who proposed giving state land to the idle mob, violating tradition to get laws passed, which led to riots and his assassination.

Gaius Gracchus

Brother of Tiberius (123 BCE) who proposed cheap grain for the poor, citizenship for Italians, and creating a new Equites class. He was also assassinated.

Gaius Marius

Reformed the army by supplying state equipment to volunteers and promising land to veterans, creating forces loyal to generals.

Sulla

Hero of the Mithridatic War who put down a lower-class rebellion, defeated Marius in a Civil War, and briefly retired, returning power to the senate.

Pompey

Part of the First Triumvirate, bringing control of the army. He was defeated by Julius Caesar in the Second Civil War.

Julius Caesar

A popular leader in the First Triumvirate who gained massive wealth and army loyalty in Gaul. He defeated Pompey, enacted reforms, claimed divinity and absolute power, and was assassinated by the senate on March 15, 44 BCE.

Octavian / Augustus

Caesar's successor who formed the Second Triumvirate, defeated Anthony at Actium, and became the sole ruler, establishing the Principate and Pax Romana.

Ides of March

March 15, 44 BCE, the date Julius Caesar was assassinated.

Optimates

A political faction relying on the senate and nobles for support.

Populares

A political faction relying on the popular assembly and the mob for support.

Actium

The battle in 31 BCE where Octavian was victorious over Anthony.

Pharsalus

The battle in 47 BCE where Caesar defeated Pompey.

Golden Age

Synonymous with the Age of Augustus.

Triumvirate

There were two

Cleopatra & Marc Anthony

Anthony controlled the East and Egypt, allied with Cleopatra, and fought Octavian. They both committed suicide after losing the civil war.

Brutus & Cassius

Fought a war against the Second Triumvirate and were defeated at Philippi in 42 BCE.

princeps senatus / princeps civitatis

Translates to "first among equals," granting the right to speak first on all occasions.