CLA 2103 LEC 8

What does "Lex Licinia Sextia" refer to?

A law that mandated at least one of the two annually elected consuls must be a plebeian

What is "Nexum"?

Roman debt slavery

What does the term "Populus" refer to in the early Republic?

The combined warrior class of both plebeians and patricians

Who were the "Patres"?

The "fathers" or elders who made up the early Roman Senate

What was a "Praetor Maximus"?

The highest-ranking praetor, effectively acting as a dictator

What virtues does the legend of Cincinnatus represent in Roman culture?

Humility, virtue, piety, and hard work

Why is the story of Cincinnatus likely historical fiction?

He is portrayed as a humble, poor farmer, but a dictator legally had to be a wealthy patrician and paterfamilias

Why did Cincinnatus's entry into Rome for his Triumph require special Senate permission?

Because it was highly illegal to enter the pomerium (sacred city boundary) with an armed military force

How long did Cincinnatus hold his absolute dictatorial power before surrendering it?

6 months

What phrase translates to "The Senate and the People"?

Senatus Populusque

Why was Syracuse so wealthy during the Pyrrhic War?

It was a major shipping hub and taxed grain as the "breadbasket" of the region

Why did Carthage survive Pyrrhus's land invasion of Sicily?

Their Sicilian allies took shelter in the mountains, where Pyrrhus's rigid Macedonian Phalanx could not fight effectively

Why did the Latin League remain loyal to Rome despite Pyrrhus's victories?

The alliance was mutually beneficial; Rome provided military defense, and allies gained land through newly established coloniae

Why did Pyrrhus finally withdraw from Italy?

A rival prince (Antigonus) was threatening his throne back in Macedon

What happened to the Italian mainland in 272 BC?

Tarentum fell to a siege, bringing the mainland almost entirely under Latin League control

Which faction suffered the greatest territorial and economic losses during the Pyrrhic War?

Carthage (their cities were sacked and their Sicilian foothold was damaged)

How did Pyrrhus of Epirus die?

He was struck by a roof tile thrown by an old woman while fighting in the streets against Antigonus