Lesson 14: The Hellenistic Era to the Roman Republic

Cassander

One of Alexander the Great’s four generals, became king of Macedonia, killed Alexander’s heir

Selucus

One of Alexander the Great’s four generals, founded the selucid empire

Lysimachus

One of Alexander the Great’s four generals, became king of Thrace

Ptolmey

One of Alexander the Great’s four generals,

Hellenistic Age

Takes place after the death of Alexander the Great; explosion of Greek cultural influence due to the expansion of Alexander the Great’s kingdom and its dispersement between his generals following his death

Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Great Library of Alexandria

An abundant Library founded by Ptolemy I during the Hellenistic Era; scholars collected from a variety of cultures all the knowledge they could

Carthage

Originally founded by the Phoenicians, built their own empire once the Phoenicians were conquered by the Greeks, one of Rome’s greatest rivals and a very successful sea-power

Etruscans (Etruscan Empire)

Ancient Italian Empire whose culture and inventions influenced a lot of Roman society

Fasces

An Etruscan invention, a bundle of sticks surrounding an axe—integrated into Roman society (and later became the symbol for Fascism)

Founding of Early Rome

April 21, 753 BC

Romulus

One of the founders of Rome, forced to killed his brother, Remus

Remus

One of the founders of Rome, killed by his brother, Romulus

Camillus

A Roman general in Early Rome who faced an invasion from the Gauls. The Gauls demanded gold from him, and Camillus stalled them long enough to receive back-up and defeat them

Tarquinius Superbus

One of the 7 Roman kings, is overthrown by Lucius Brutus, leading to the start of the Roman Republic

Lucius Brutus

Overthrows the Roman King, Tarquinius Superbus, and establishes the Roman Republic

Era of the Roman Republic

509-27 BC

Plebians

Working class, poor people of the Roman Republic

SPQR

Senate People of Rome; Acronym for the Roman government

Consul

Executive branch of the Roman republic, two consuls acted as kings for the Roman Republic, each received a legion of troops, and one would stay in the Empire while the other would go fight and expand the empire

Senate

The Roman Republic’s legislative branch, made up of 300 Patricians

Tribunes

Branch in the Roman Republic made up of representatives picked by the Plebians

1st Punic War

264-241 BC, First of three wars between Rome and Carthage, fought for control over Syracuse/Sicily, the Romans trained their navy on land and were victorious

2nd Punic War

218-201 BC, Carthage wants revenge, Carthaginian general Hannibal tries to take the war to the Romans, but the Romans evade him for years, and suddenly seek him out, catching him off guard and defeating Carthage for the second time.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general during the second Punic War

3rd Punic War

The third and last war between Rome and Carthage that resulted in Carthage’s complete destruction

Macedonian Wars

Part of the 3rd Punic War; series of wars where Rome conquers Greece/Greek kingdoms, results in a surplus of intelligent Greek slaves who take the jobs of Roman soldiers who are out at war. Many soldiers were forced to move into the cities.

Tiberius Gracchus

135-133 BC, A tribune who advocated for limiting the power of the Patricians to preserve the land of the poor, specifically veterans. As a patrician, other patricians saw him as a traitor and executed him

Gaius Marius

157-86 BC, Roman general who created the Roman legions, which guaranteed a retirement plan for all Roman veterans

Populares

A political faction that formed due to the influence of Tiberius Gracchus, favored the Plebians

Sulla

A roman general and statesman who was the leader of the Optimates, marched on Rome in 82 BC and again, more violently, in 83 BC to seize political power and make himself a dictator, where he rewrote the constitution for the Roman Republic.

Optimates

A political faction that favored the Patricians