CLA 219 Final Terms + Dates

AD 79

Date of eruption of Mount Vesuvius; destruction of Pompeii

alimenta

Child welfare scheme; developed by Trajan (giving bread to kids seen in triumphal arch); for freeborn children in Italian peninusla

amphitheater

Center of entertainment and games; beast hunts, gladitorial combat, etc. Notably in Pompeii

amphora

Containers for wine; stackable fo easy shipping; year marked on outside for specific vintages; different styles used in different areas --> indicate trade routes; Monte Testaccio made from amphora shards, changed topography of city of Rome

annona

Grain dole for citizens; started in republic; peaked 58B BC, 150k under Julius Caesar, 200k under Augustus; olive oil & pork added during 3rd century

Antinous

Hadrian's lover; drowns in river at 19; deified by Hadrian; has cult; cities, festivals renamed

Antonine Plague

First "global" pandemic; 165 AD; believed started when eastern army invaded temple of Apollo in Seleucia; 15-20% of army died; caused monetary crisis (silver mines stopped) and famine (farms stopped); some scholars say similar to smallpox

Antoninus Pius

138-161; Successor to Hadrian (adopted son); divinizes Hadrian; husband to Faustina, builds temple to her & column base after death; builds Antonine Wall in Scotland; boring and stable and good

Arch of Constantine

Built 315, commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge; used pieces from various other monuments made by "good" emperors; connected Constantine to those good emperors and solidified connection to Rome (where Maxentius had just come from --> establishing self in enemy stronghold)

Arch of Septimius Severus (Rome)

Depicted battles from Parthian campagins (first arch to show battles); asserts Septimius Severus' connection with Rome (from North Africa)

Arch of Titus

Built 81 to commemorate Titus's victory during the First Jewish War; awarded by Senate; deeply propagandic; depicted scenes from war, including Titus' trimpuh in Rome, parading with Jewish spoils of war (ex. menorah), and Titus in full military outfit

atrium

Center focal point of homes (esp. in Pompeii); open-air space with open roof, rainwater collecting pool, and colonnades around; clients wait in atrium to meet with patrons in the connected office

Aurelian Wall

Wall around Rome built by Aurelian in 271-275; no wall around Rome in 700 years, it was too powerful & no risk of invaders; but Crisis of 3rd century results in tribes posing risk to city; also economic issues, easier to control who's going in and out & tax imports/exports (lots of money for gov); incorperates existing projects like Praetorian Guard camp; also cuts off access, like to Palmyrene sanctuaries outside city

Bar Kokhba Revolt

Third Jewish Revolt; Hadrian banned circumcision, wanted to rename Jerusalem; Jews took over, minted own coinage; brutally surpressed, Judea devastated, Jerusalem banned to Jews --> Jewish diaspora

basilica

Ancient Roman court; notably Basilica Ulpia: in Forum of Trajan, enclosed Column of Trajan

Battle of the Milvian Bridge

Constantine faces Maxentius (Son of Maximian, co-Augustus with Diocletian) outside Rome; Constantine has religious experience, gains support of Christian God, wins battle

bioarchaeology

Study of human remains in an archeological context; notably includes Paradox of Paleopathology: healty people live longer lives and have more damaged skeletons; used when investigating impacts of Romanization and Urbanization, and the Antonine Plague

client

Supporter of a patron; gives loyalty, thanks, allegience in exchange for proteciton, money access; waited outside patron's house for morning salutatio

Cleander

Freedman; commanded Praetorian Guard; advisor to Commodus, "in the ear of the emperor", seen as corrupting influence; has Perennius (another bad advisor) killed; sold government offices to higest bidder; eventually killed in a mob led by a mime.

Circus Maximus

Oldest athletic venue (dated to Roman monarcy); home to charriot races; sat 150k-250k spectators; oval track divided by "spina" decorated with Egyptian obelisks and other art; had eggs and dolphins as lap markers (associated with speed); still visiible in modern Rome

Colonia Commodiana

Emperor Commodus' planned name for Rome (after himself); sign of narcisism that crossed a line for Romans, lead to his assasination

Colosseum

Flavian Ampitheatre; built 72-80 on former location of Domus Aurea (Nero's golden palace) to give space back to the people; named after colossal statue of Nero from palace nearby; hosted various games: gladatorial combat, sea battles, beast hunting, executions, etc; seating based off social hierarchy; open-air, but had giant awning system; intricate tunnels and drainage systems;

Column of Trajan

Built 113, final resting place of Trajan (ashes); originally surrounded by Basilica and library; features depictions of Dacian campaign; depicts Trajan, and clear differences between Romans and Dacians; very specific height measures height of dirt removed to create Forum of Trajan

Constitutio Antoniniana

Issued by emperor Caracalla; gave citizenship to every freeman in Italy; many recipients took name "Aurelius" because Caracalla adopted self into family of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Constantine

Emperor 306-337; named emperor of West by army; Tetrarchy colapses, defeats Maxentius (Maximian's son) at Battle of Milvian Bridge (312) with religious experience and support of Christian God; builds Arch of Constantine to celebrate victory (recycles old artwork); tries to unify empire; totally de-criminalizes & legitimizes Christianity with Edict of Milan; moves capital away from Rome to Byzantium (Constantinople); expands beurocracy; standardizes Christian beliefs with Council of Nicaea; baptized right before death

Constantinople

Constantine's new capital of the Roman empire; formerly Byzantium, located modern Turkey; Rome no longer strategic (not much expansion West possible, most threats in East); Constantine fully rebuilt, fresh start, make in his own image; policy of not forcing immigrants, but rewarding those who moved (like early Rome)

Crisis of the Third Century

Period of instability; caused by population decline (Antonine Plague), threats at borders (Sassian empire), position of empire sold through bribery/undermining succession, economic instability/debasement of currency (increasing pay for troops without increasing taxes, cutting silver content in coins, etc). ~25 emperors in 50 years, often caused by assasination

damnatio memoriae

"condemnation of memory"; Senate-approved erasure of past "bad" emperors; faces erased from reliefs and coins. Ex. Domitian, Geta

Dacian Wars

Tribes in modern Romania unionizing against Rome under Trajan; First (101-102) was Roman victory but appointed client king; Second (105-106) much more bloody; Dacians commit mass suicide, Dacia annexed as Roman province;

Diocletian

Emperor 284-305; tried to rectify problems from 3rd century; created Tetrarchy w/ Maximian; takes Eastern half w/ Galerius as Caesar on campaign; increased division between people and emperor, seen as more god-like; further subdivided administrative levels & created more minor goverment offices; tries tax reform and eliminate corruption, but leads to people paying more & revolting; passes Edict of Maximum Prices as attempt to cap prices; Edict of 303: Great Persecution ordered Christains to sacrifice to Roman gods, not very successful; Retires 305 to giant villa in Croatia

do ut des

"I give so that you might give"; Roman mindset of religion: give sacrifices so that the gods might give back; connected to orthopraxy (focus on doing things correctly), not orthodoxy (believing things correctly)

Dominus et Deus

"Master and Lord"; Domitian's nickname for self; shows self-obsession that led to legacy of being not well-liked and damnatio memoriae

Edict of Milan

313, formally legalizes Christainity; results in religious toleration for all religions; restored Christanity to proper public position and returned siezed property; not neccesarly establishes Christanity as state religion

equites

Equestrians; originally army cavalry, later class just below senate. Slightly lower property value requirements.

Faustina

Wife of Antoninus Pius; died young, memorialized w/ temple in Roman Forum & column base (depicting divinization)

First Jewish War

66-73; caused by Roman overstep & disrespect & misgovernance; Roman forces led by Vespasian & son Titus; Titus destroys the religoiusly significant Second Temple; stronghold of Masada falls in 73; Roman victory; punishments included tax originally for Second Temple now sent to Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus; furthered Jewish Diaspora; funded Vespasian's Temple of Peace; notably included Flavius Josephus fighting for Jews, switching to Rome with Titus

Flavius Josephus

Jewish man in First Jewish War; fortold Vespasian's ascention; started war on side of Jews, switched to Rome, fought with Titus; wrote and recorded a lot about life and war

freedman

Libertus/Liberta; emancipated (manumitted). Given citizenship, with some limits (couldn't run for office, but children could). Expected continued patron/client relationship.

Geta

Son of Septimius Severus with Caracalla; wanted to rule jointly; Geta was mom's favorite; did not get along with Caracalla, physically divided palace; Caracalla murders Geta & supporters with Proscriptoins; extremel damnatio memoriae throughout empire

Great Persecution (Diocletian)

Edict of 303; empire-wide systematic persecution; led to destruciton of curches, imprisonment of clergy, penalty of death for Christians; not enforced evenly and dropped within 18 months

Hadrian

Emperor 117-138; adopted by Trajan on deathbed; govorner of Syria; fond of Greek culture; lover Antinous dies young: deified, given cult, renamed cities and festivals; consolodated border (Hadrian's Wall in Britain); initiated 3rd Jewish War by banning circumciison and renameing Jerusalem; builds giant Villa; relied on members of his court over the Senate;

Hadrian's Villa

300+ acre villa just outside of city; taking public architecture & making private; space for Imperial Court; unified architectural/artwork design; Philosopher's Hall as entrance to Villa, conducted imperial business (private version of Basilica Ulpia); symbolizes "rome is where the emperor is"

honestiores / humiliores

Upper classes (equites + senators) and lower classes (everyone else) respectivly; economic class division; recieved different legal treatment in Roman legal system; words used by jurists

jurists

Legal experts that made up of emperor's court; helped him make legal dicisions; like Ulpian during Severus; Justininan (Byzantine Emperor 6th Century) published Collection of Opinions of Jurists (Digest)

Jupiter Optimus Maximus

Most important temple in Rome; on Capitoline Hill; destroyed Year of Four Emperors & rebuilt using taxes from First Jewish War

Julia Domna

From Emesa; Wife of Septimius Severus; mother of Geta and Caracalla; favored Geta; "mother of the army camps" & other prominent, public roles

Julia Maesa

Sister of Julia Domna; "emperor-maker", gets numerous family members into emperorship; grandmother of Elagabalus; continues Severan line

lararium

Household shrines; had lares, Genius, local spirits; important part of domestic religion

Lucius Verus

Co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius (161-169); raised in Imperial Court, seen as #2; insisted on co-emperorship by Marcus Aurelius, as Hadrian wanted; focused on war (MA stayed in Rome)

ludi

Games; gladiator fights, sea battles, beast hunts, and executions at the Colosseum; charriot racing at Circuses (Maximus and Domitian)

Macrinus

Severan Emperor after Caracalla (217-218); named Emperor in the East and never saw Rome; didn't pay the army as much as Caracalla --> killed by them

Macromanni

Tribe on the Danube; attacked Rome during reign of Marcus Aurelius; pushed all the way to Italian peninsula, miracle thunderstorm pushes tribes back to Danube; forced migration by Roman government

manumission

Emancipation for slaves; freedman. Given citizenship and almost all rights (can't run for office, but kids can).

Marcus Aurelius

Emperor 161-180; served with Lucius Verus until his death; raised in court of Hadrian, selected to be future emperor; stayed in Rome while LV went on campaign; rules during Antonine Plague, does public sacrifice in effort to stop it; built column base to honor dead wife Faustina; known for stoic philosophy seen in The Meditations; succeeded by Commodus

military diploma

Certificate of benifits for veterans; given after 25 years of service; carried around for on-hand proof

Mithras

Center of Mithraic cult; big with Roman soldiers; sites found in caves alongside Rhine; showed slicing neck of bull; religion offered salvation and social mobility

munera

Gladiatoral combat; two fighting, refferee judging; fight to just before death blow; editor (sponsor, often emperor) decides if loser lives or dies; gladiators often prisoners, criminals; lost a lot of legal abilities (vote, run for office, give legal testimony, write will)

naumachiae

Sea battles; recreated historical events; filled with actual violence and death; required complex hydraulic infrastructure in Colosseum

Nerva

Emperor 96-98; succeeded Domitian; elected by Senate; gives lots of money to Praetorian Guard; political background, no military experience; focused on setting up empire for succession; sets up "alimenta" food distribution service; lots more power to emperor: Tribunicia Potestas + title of Caesar; succeeded by Trajan

orthopraxy

Roman religion's focus on practicing/doing things correctly, not necessarily believing the right things (as per orthodoxy); contractual (do ut des) & sacrificial

Ostia

Port city down the Tiber from Rome; had Forum in city center based on Roman Forum; had temple at center modeled after Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus; also had Temple of Roman and Augustus; lots of temples to Mithras

Paleopathology

Study of ancient bacteria; looking at ancient bodies, paradox: healthier people survive longer, skeleton is more banged up; used when looking at Antonine Plague and ancient Roman populations

Palatine

Hill in Rome; location of emperor's rule; tons of buildings built by Domitian, esp. Palace of Domitian, place of Imperial business

Palmyra

Roman city in East; ruled by King Odaenathus and then wife Zenobia after death; expands borders, takes over Egypt; ultimately defeated by Aurelian and demolished

patron

Supporter of clients; gives protection, money, access in exchange for loyalty, thanks, allegiance. Clients wait outside Patrons' houses for morning salutatio

Paul of Tarsus

Originally Saul; very Jewish, converted to Christianity after seeing vision; spread religion around Christianity; wrote lots of letters

Pertinax

Emperor first months of 193; first in Year of Five Emperors; son of freedman; stylizes self like Marcus Aurelius on coins; old man (66); does not give gifts to Praetorian Guard, murdered; following death, position of emperor auctioned off.

Portus

Port on Tiber for large ships coming into Rome; Founded by Claudius, expanded by Trajan; Artifically built in hexagonal basin; Ensured steady grain supply; very expensive

praetor

Run Rome while Consuls/emperor are away; provintial govorners; re-elected every year

Romanization

Spread of Roman culture and religion; resulted in international shipping, lower disease, but also Antonine Plague

Romanità

Idea of "Romanness" associated with Mussolini; lots of excavations, historical restoratoins, and museums

Sassanian Empire

Eastern empire (replacing Parthians) involved in conflict with Rome during Crisis of 3rd Century; take Syria and Antioch;

Second Sophistic

Cultural and intellectual movement; obsession with Greek language and culture; notably Marcus Aurelius & stoic philosophy

senatus consulta

Senate's power to make laws; abbrivated S.C. on coins (ie, senate approves of the currency)

Septimius Severus

Emperor 193-211; took office at end of Year of 5 Emperors; came from Danube; defeated other contenders; sacks Parthian capital; returns to Rome in 195; retcons self into Roman history, takes Marcus Aurelius family name Antonius, deifies Commodus; builds Arch of Septimius Severus to assert connection with Rome & display battles from Parthian Empire (first arch with battles); succeeded by Caracalla

servus

Enslaved man; 10%+ population of Rome; not racially motivated, but slaves did come from outside of Rome; no rights, social death: no property, contracts, marriage; caused by imperial expansion, debt, abandonment, birth into slavery; Rural, imperial, and domestic; only had single name, descriptive & Greek

Sol Invictus

"The Invincible Son"; Originally associated with Elagabalus, but rejected; repackaged to be more friendly to Romans by Aurelien; picked above all others, gateway to monotheism; succeeded through Roman rebranding; occasionally depicted with Constantine before Christianity;

Temple of Peace

Funded by First Jewish War, ironic naming; close proximity to other Forums; beautiful artwork and military spoils on display

Tetrarchy

Established by Diocletian; two Augusti are emperors of East and West, two Caesars are their seconds; allowed Augusti to handle big problems with empire as Caesars went on war campaign; depicted in famous scultpure of Augusti hugging, represented different areas, but unified government

Trajan

Emperor 98-117; successor of Nerva; emphasized stability; from prominent family from Spain; popular general, surpressed rebellion in Germany & settled borders; reign marks high point of empire: peaceful, good relationship with army and senate; expands borders to Dacia & eastern frontier, adds new provinces; wins both Dacian wars (modern Romania); builds Forum of Trajan in Rome, with Basilica Ulpia, Column of Trajan; adopts Hadrian as successor

Vesuvius

Volcano near Pompeii; erupted 79 AD, comvered Pompeii in ash, preserved city

venationes

Animal hunts; led by Bestiarus, trained animal specialist; fought wild and exotic animals; happened in Colosseum

Vindolanda

English military camp; anerobic bog, preserved well; has wooden tables with birthday party invite and funerary inscripton from Palmyra

Zenobia

Queen of Palmyra; expands borders to Egypt, controls Roman grain supply; styles self as Augustus; ultimately defeated, camptured, dies during time of Aurelian