GCSE Classical Civilisations - War and Warfare

Flashcards from GCSE Classical Civilisations Revision Guide focusing on War and Warfare, Sparta, Athens, and the Roman Military.

Who were the Helots in Spartan society?

Enslaved laborers in Sparta who worked the land and provided produce to their masters.

Who were the Perioeci in Spartan society?

Craftsmen and traders who lived in less fertile parts of the region and were obliged to follow Sparta in matters of war and foreign policy.

What was the main aim of Spartan education, according to Plutarch?

Aimed to prepare boys to become highly trained, loyal citizens from birth.

What was the Agoge?

A training school for Spartan boys from the age of seven.

What was the purpose of the Krypteia for older Spartan teenagers?

Focused on survival training, with youths sent to Laconia and Messenia with minimal rations, potentially forced to kill Helots.

What was the Syssitia in Spartan society?

Dining clubs of around fifteen members who ate a simple meal together every night to breed comradeship.

What was a Hoplite?

A fully-armed Spartan soldier.

What was the Phalanx formation?

A rectangular formation of soldiers packed together, charging at the opposition and thrusting spears.

Who led Spartan armies during campaigns?

One of the two kings who jointly ruled in Sparta and led campaigns.

What was the Mora?

The largest sub-division of the Spartan army.

What was the Enomotia?

The smallest unit of the Spartan army, made up of around forty men.

Who was the Taxiarch?

Senior officer responsible for the kings.

Why did the Spartans value a noble death in battle?

Enhanced their kleos (reputation). Women valued a noble death in battle.

What happened to Spartans who deserted battle (tresantes)?

Deprived of citizenship; they had to give way to others, rise for younger men, and could not look cheerful.

When did the Battle of Thermopylae take place and what was the outcome?

Took place in 480 BC and resulted in defeat for the Spartans.

Who formed the advance party in the Battle of Thermopylae?

300 Spartan fathers, including King Leonidas.

Who was Demaratus and what role did he play in the Battle of Thermopylae?

Advised Xerxes about Greek courage and resistance.

Who was Ephialtes, and what did he do?

He told Xerxes how to get to the other side of the pass so they could trap the Greeks.

Who was expected to serve in the Athenian military?

All adult male Athenian citizens, except those over sixty.

What percentage of the Athenian population fought as light-armed troops?

50-70% of the Athenian population.

How was the Athenian cavalry divided?

Ten units, based on tribe.

How was the Athenian army organized?

Ten regiments, provided by one of the city’s ten tribes, subdivided into lochoi.

What was the role of the Strategos in the Athenian army?

They made decisions for the army.

What were triremes?

Long, thin ships with a bronze-plated ram extending out from its front.

How many men rowed a trireme?

170 men.

What was the Liturgy?

A super-tax on Athens’ wealthiest citizens.

What was the Diekplous?

Sailing through a gap in the line of its enemy and then turning at speed to ram the side of the enemy ship.

What political system did Athens establish in 508 BC?

Gave extensive power to the citizens as they could vote in assembly and serve in the political system.

How did Athens honor those who died in battle?

A prominent Athenian would make a speech in the city’s main cemetery, commemorating those who had died in war annually

What is Aristophanes' play Lysistrata about?

Lysistrata attempts to put an end to the Peloponnesian War with other women by agreeing to a sex strike.

What did the Persians do as they marched south towards Athens?

They sacked cities who had opposed them.

What did the Persians do when they found the Acropolis empty?

They began to loot the temples on the Acropolis, burning them to the ground.

Why did the Athenians abandon the city?

Themistocles persuaded them otherwise.

What did Themistocles order his slave – Sicinnus – to do?

He told the Persians that the Greek commanders were in dispute and were planning to sail away.

How was the Roman army organised?

The empire would be divided into divisions and sub-divisions and the largest unit of the army was the legion.

What was the Contubernium?

A unit of eight men who shared the same tent and dealt with their own mess arrangements.

What was a Century?

A unit of around 80 men.

What was a Cohort?

The largest unit of a legion, made up of six centuries most commonly.

What was a Legion?

Made up of ten cohorts, forming the largest unit of the army, supported by 120 horsemen.

Who was the Centurion?

The commander of a century.

What was the Centurion responsible for in the army?

Ensuring all were disciplined-- they could beat soldiers brutally with vine canes

Who was the Signifier?

Looked after the standards which entailed their military emblem, which was typically a set of medallions hoisted on a pole and was in charge of pay and saving.

Who was the Optio?

Responsible for training.

Who was the Tesserarius?

Organised the guards and communicated passwords.

Who was the Legatus?

Commander of the legion; he was of Senatorial rank and appointed by the emperor.

Who was the Camp Prefect?

The most senior professional soldier in the legion who was responsible for all equipment and transport.

Who was the Aquilifier?

Protected the legion’s Aquila and carried it into battle.

What was the Legionary Fortress?

Headquarters of the legion, built in wood originally, but from the second century AD they were built of stone.

What was the Via Praetorian?

Led to the main buildings, including the headquarters (principia).

What was the Via Praetorian, in relation to the Legionary Fortress?

Met the main cross-street of the fortress – the via principalis – which ran from one side gate to the other.

What was the Via Quintana?

Crossed the fortress on the other side of the main building.

What was the Principia?

Administrative heart of the fortress.

What was the Praetorium?

The private quarters of the legatus.

Where was the legionary fortress at Chester located?

Wales and Brigantia.

Why was becoming an auxiliary favored?

Offered skills that the legionary army did not have in abundance and were often sent into battle first.

What were the main duties of the Roman navy?

Transporting land troops, supporting land campaigns, protecting coastal settlements, suppressing piracy and supporting merchant shipping.

What plate armour did roman soldiers use?

The lorica segmentata.

How would a legionary begin a battle?

Would throw his spear to kill or disable soldiers from the opposition, before advancing with his sword and shield.

What was the testudo battle tactic?

A group of soldiers would place their shields over their heads – except from those at the front – bringing them to head height. They would move forward with protection from artillery.

What was the ballista?

Functions like a crossbow and fired iron darts with accuracy.

What was the onager?

Fired rocks and stones.

What type of rowers did the quadrireme ships have?

Had two banks of rowers with two men to an oar.

What qualities did Vegetius highlight that men needed to have?

The qualities that men needed:

• To keep his head upright at all times
• Broad-chested
• Muscles and strong arms
• Long finger
• A flat stomach and lean bottom
• Tough

What did training focalise around for the Roman army?

Marching, swimming, riding, running and jumping.

What did Auxiliaries form when training like legionaries?

They formed the backbone of the cavalry squadrons.

Who was the first emperor to create a professional army in the first century BC?

Augustus.

What was the main target for auxiliaries and sailors?

The incentive of becoming a Roman citizen.

What plagued throughout Rome in the first century BC?

Civil conflicts.

After Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44BC who aimed to continue Caesar's legacy?

Mark Antony and Caesar’s great nephew Octavian-- they formed the Second Triumvirate.

Why did the Roman people and Senate declare war on Egypt and Cleopatra?

Antony was portrayed as a traitor whilst Cleopatra was shown to be a with-- the Roman people and Senate declared war on Egypt and Cleopatra.

What was build at the side where Octavian and his troops had camped before battle?

Nikopolis, meaning ‘city of victory.’

Who was Trajan?

Trajan was the Roman Emperor from 9 AD, until his death in 117 AD-- who was born in Italica to his father serving as consul.

His two great conquests involved Dacia and Parthia as these were the years in which the Roman Empire reached its largest extent in its history. Dacia was fully incorporated as a province of the Roman Empire-- What were the two great conquests?

Dacia and Parthia.

Trajan is remembered as one of the best Roman emperors so much so that every new emperor was welcomed by the Senate with the wish for what?

That he be 'luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan'.

Which people were a great danger to the people of Rome during the first century AD?

During the first century AD, the barbarian peoples across the Rhine proved to be a great danger to the people of Rome but over time, the people of Danube became more hostile.

why did Trajan launch his first military campaign against the Dacians?

Trajan launched his first military campaign against the Dacians. The war was fought in the need for frontier security.

Why did Trajan launch the campaign against the Dacians in 101 AD?

Trajan launched his first military campaign against the Dacians. The war was fought in the need for frontier security.

Did the barbarian peoples across the Rhine or the people of Danube become more hostile over time?

The people of Danube. Domitian chose to make peace with the Dacians, a people based half-way along the Danube.

Pluasible reasons Trajan needed: Wanted and needed to make his mark as an emperor, and his inspection of the northern frontier was an attempt to look for what?

His inspection of the northern frontier was an attempt to look for the best place to launch a successful campaign.

After Trajan launching his first military campaign by crossing the Danube in the summer of 101, the Dacians engaged in a battle where?

Tapae.

What did Trajan return to war wanting to in beginning with the construction of a huge bridge across the Danube so that his army could cross?

Reduce Dacia to a full province of the Empire.

Which material sources contains from the monuments built and comes from the and largest body of evidence?

Monuments built to commemorate both victories and Trajan’s achievements in general.

Trajan saw the Dacian conquest as his what, Trajan needed to promote this and improve the city's infrastructure?

Trajan saw the Dacian conquest as his key military triumph and wished to promote this to the Roman people. He instigated a large building project in the centre of Rome to improve the city’s infrastructure, which also allowed his reign to be commemorated/ this included the construction of a new forum, the Trajan Markets (the world’s first shopping centre), two libraries and Trajan’s Column.