Key Concepts of the Roman Republic

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on the Roman Republic.

Republic

The Roman system of government from 509–27 BC, where power rested with elected officials and representative institutions rather than kings.

Tarquin the Proud (496BC)

The last king of Rome; overthrown in 509 BC for tyranny, ending the monarchy.

Lucretia 509BC

Noblewoman whose assault by Tarquin led to her suicide and the revolt of the founding of the Republic.

nefas

An act forbidden by divine law; a moral or religious taboo.

Lucius Junius Brutus 545-509BC

Leader of the revolt against Tarquin; one of the first consuls of Rome.

Magna Graecia

‘Great Greece’; southern Italy and Sicily settled by Greek colonists.

imperium

Supreme power to command armies and enforce law.

fasces

A bundle of rods with an axe, symbolizing a magistrate’s power and authority.

Senate

Council of Roman elders and former magistrates; advisory and ruling body.

patricians

The aristocratic ruling class of early Rome.

plebeians

Common people who fought for and gained political rights.

consul

Two annually elected chief magistrates who led the army and state.

veto

Power to forbid or block official action; used by consuls and tribunes.

praetor

Judicial magistrate overseeing courts and provinces.

collegiality and annuality

Roman principles that offices were shared (collegiality) and limited to one year (annuality).

censors

Officials in charge of the census and public morals.

dictator

Emergency magistrate with total authority for up to six months.

gloria

Glory or fame earned through service to the Republic.

The Twelve Tables (451-450BC)

The first written code of Roman law (451–450 BC).

The Struggle of the Orders (495-287BC)

Conflict between patricians and plebeians for equality in rights and power.

proletaria, proles

The poorest citizens, contributing only their offspring (proles) to the state.

Council of the Plebs

Assembly of plebeians whose resolutions became law for all Romans.

tribune

Elected plebeian magistrate protecting common citizens with veto power.

sacrosanctity

Legal protection making tribunes’ persons inviolable.

mos maiorum

‘Custom of the ancestors’; traditional Roman moral values.

patron-client

Mutual support system between a wealthy patron and his clients.

familia

Household unit including family member, clients, patrons, and slaves.

patriapotestas

Legal authority of the male head of family over all members.

toga, togata

Roman citizen’s garment symbolizing civic identity.

gens, gentes

Clan or extended family with shared ancestry and name.

imagines

Wax ancestor masks kept by patricians to honor lineage.

exempla

Historical examples teaching moral lessons.

virtus

Courage, excellence, and manly virtue in service of Rome.

auctoritas

Moral influence or prestige gained through service.

Cicero (106- 43BC)

Orator, statesman, and philosopher defending the Republic’s ideals.

cursus honorum

Sequence of offices: quaestor → aedile → praetor → consul → censor.

aedile

Official in charge of public buildings, games, and markets.

quaestor

Financial administrator; entry-level magistrate.

dignitas, gravitas

Personal reputation (dignitas) and seriousness/self-control (gravitas).

decorum

Proper behavior fitting one’s role and status.

honor

Public esteem gained through moral and civic virtue.

political judgment

Wisdom in balancing duty, morality, and the public good.

wisdom

Knowledge and prudence in leadership and law.

orator, oratory

Public speaker; art of persuasive speech central to politics.

libertas

Freedom from arbitrary power; cornerstone of the Republic.

Publius Decius Mus 340BC

Consul famed for self-sacrifice (devotio) to ensure Roman victory at the Battle of Vesuvius.

devotio

Ritual act of a commander dedicating himself and the enemy to the gods.

Great Latin War 340BC

Rome’s victory that secured dominance over Latium.

citizenship without suffrage

Partial citizenship without the right to vote.

Latin Rights (338BC)

Legal privileges allowing intermarriage and trade with Romans.

Carthage, Tyre

Phoenician-founded cities; Carthage was Rome’s Punic rival.

Hannibal Barca

Carthaginian general who invaded Italy during the Second Punic War.

Second Punic War (218BC)

Rome’s war with Carthage; ended with Hannibal’s defeat at Zama.

P Cornelius Scipio ‘Africanus’ (236-183BC)

Roman general who defeated Hannibal at Zama.

Third Punic War (149- 146BC)

Rome destroyed Carthage, ending the Punic threat.

Mago of Carthrage 550 BC

Hannibal’s brother and Carthaginian commander.

Agrarian Crisis (235-284BC)

Widening gap between rich and poor as small farms vanished.

latifundia

Large estates worked by slaves; displaced small farmers.

chattel slavery

Ownership of slaves as property without legal rights.

public land (ager publicus)

State land often seized by wealthy elites.

Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (163-133BC)

Tribune advocating land reform; killed for challenging elites.

Cornelia (110BC)

Mother of the Gracchi brothers and daughter of Scipio; model of Roman virtue.

Gaius Sempronius Gracchus (153-121BC)

Younger Gracchus; advanced reform efforts; died in conflict.

Lucius Opimius (121BC)

Consul who crushed Gaius Gracchus’s movement; used senatus consultum ultimum.

senatus consultum ultimum

‘Final decree of the Senate’; granted consuls emergency powers.

Livia (59BC- 29AD)

Wife of Augustus; influential imperial matron.

virago

Woman showing masculine courage or assertiveness.

Soranus (98-138AD)

Physician who wrote on women’s health and gender roles.

gender continuum

Belief that masculine and feminine traits existed on a sliding scale.

pudicita, fides

Chastity and faithfulness; core female virtues.

Rape of the Sabines 753-509BC

Legendary abduction of women that secured early Roman families.

Cleopatra (69-30BC)

Egyptian queen; ally of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

matron

Married woman of high virtue and social standing.

populares

Politicians appealing to popular assemblies for support.

optimates

Aristocratic conservatives defending Senate power.

amicitia

Political alliance or friendship among Roman elites.

dynast

Powerful leader acting like a monarch within the Republic.

Jugurtha (104BC)

King of Numidia; fought Rome and exposed elite corruption.

gens Metelli

Influential patrician family producing many consuls.

Gaius Marius (157-86BC)

General and reformer; reorganized army; rival of Sulla.

L Cornelius Sulla (138-78BC)

General turned dictator; strengthened Senate’s authority.

The Social War (91-87BC)

Italian allies revolted for citizenship; Rome granted it after victory.

Mithridates of Pontus 63BC

Eastern king who fought three wars against Rome.

First March on Rome

Sulla’s seizure of Rome with his army in 88 BC.

Second March on Rome

Sulla’s return in 83 BC to retake control.

proscriptions

Lists of enemies marked for death and property confiscation.

privatus cum imperio

Private citizen granted military command authority.

Gn Pompeius Magnus (106-48BC)

Brilliant general; member of the First Triumvirate; rival of Caesar.

Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44BC)

Military and political leader; became dictator for life; assassinated.

M Calpurnius Bibulus 102-48BC

Caesar’s co-consul; opposed his reforms.

First Triumvirate (60-53BC)

Political alliance of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

Marc Antony (83-30BC)

Caesar’s ally; defeated by Octavian; lover of Cleopatra.

dictator perpetuus

Title of ‘dictator for life’ held by Caesar before assassination.

Ides of March

March 15, 44 BC — date of Caesar’s assassination.

Gaius Octavian (63BC -14AD)

Caesar’s adopted heir; became Augustus, first emperor.

Second Triumvirate (43BC)

Legal alliance of Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus after Caesar’s death.

imperator caesar divi filius

‘Commander Caesar, son of the divine Julius’; Octavian’s title.

Battle of Actium 31BC

Octavian’s victory over Antony and Cleopatra.

princepts

‘First citizen’; Augustus’s preferred title as ruler.

13 January 27

Date marking Augustus’s formal start of the Principate.