Mizzou Ancient Romans Test #2

Based on Study Guide

Death of Tiberius Gracchus

133 BC

Revolt of Spartacus

73 BCE to 71 BCE

Julius Caesar’s Wars in Gaul

58 BC to 50 BC

Death of Pompey

48 BC

Battle of Actium

31 BC

Augustus’ Secular Games

17 BC

Death of Gaius Gracchus

121 BC

Cicero’s Consulship

63 BC

Death of Crassus

53 BC

Death of Julius Caesar

March 15, 44 BC

Augustus’ Triple Triumph

29 BC

Social War

91 BC to 87 BC

Conspiracy of Catiline

63 BC

Battle of Pharsalus

48 BC

Battle of Philippi

42 BC

Death of Cleopatra

30 BC

Pistoia

served as a strategic military outpost and supply center for Roman legions during their expansion into northern Italy. Its most significant historical event occurred in 62 BC, when it was the site of the Battle of Pistoria, the final defeat and death of the rebel conspirator Catiline.

Dyrrhachium

one of the most strategically and economically vital cities in the Roman world. Serving as the western terminus of the Via Egnatia, it functioned as the primary gateway between Rome and its eastern provinces in Macedonia and Greece. The city's significance peaked during the Second Roman Civil War as the site of a major confrontation between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great.

Thapsus

The Battle of Thapsus (April 6, 46 BC) was a decisive battle in Julius Caesar’s civil war, marking a major Caesarian victory over Republican forces led by Metellus Scipio and King Juba I. Located in modern-day Tunisia, this victory solidified Caesar’s control over the Roman Republic and decimated the opposition.

Perugia

the Bellum Perusinum (Perusine War). This was a conflict between Octavian and Lucius Antonius (the brother of Mark Antony). Lucius Antonius sought refuge in Perugia, leading to a long and harrowing siege by Octavian's forces that ended in surrender due to famine. In retaliation, Octavian plundered and burned the city to the ground in 40 BC, sparing only the temples of Vulcan and Juno.

Gaul

a feared land of "barbarians" to a strategic buffer and economic powerhouse that laid the foundations for modern France. After being fully conquered by Julius Caesar between 58 and 50 BCE, the region became one of Rome's most important imperial holdings, providing vast agricultural resources, wealth, and military recruits.

Pharsalus

The Battle of Pharsalus (48 BCE) was the decisive confrontation of Caesar's Civil War, marking a pivotal turning point that signaled the end of the Roman Republic and paved the way for the Roman Empire. Fought in southern Thessaly, Greece, the battle saw Gaius Julius Caesar decisively defeat the numerically superior senatorial forces led by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great).

Munda

The Battle of Munda (45 BC) was a decisive victory for Julius Caesar against Pompeian forces, ending the Roman civil war. As the final battle, it cemented Caesar’s undisputed dictatorship and absolute power, prompting reforms before his assassination. It was a brutal battle in southern Spain involving significant casualties for the Optimate party.

Illyricum

a Roman province created by Augustus in 27 BC to secure the northeastern Adriatic frontier.

Britain

Britain was invaded by Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC as part of the Gallic Wars

Alexandria

After defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC, Augustus (then Octavian) claimed Alexandria, marking the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the official annexation of Egypt as a Roman province. Alexandria was crucial to Augustus because it provided massive grain shipments to feed Rome, transforming it into a vital, strategically managed personal possession that secured his hold on imperial power.

Mutina

The Battle of Mutina in 43 BC was a critical civil war conflict where Octavian and Senate forces defeated Mark Antony, temporarily slowing his rise. The war's significance lies in propelling Octavian from an unknown heir to a major political power, enabling him to demand the consulship and eventually form the Second Triumvirate, fundamentally shifting Roman power after Caesar's death

Parthia

Marcus Licinius Crassus, seeking military glory to match rivals Julius Caesar and Pompey, led seven legions into Parthian territory without senatorial approval. The death of Crassus destabilized the First Triumvirate, leading directly to the civil war between Caesar and Pompey and the eventual collapse of the Roman Republic.

Rubicon River

In January 49 B.C., Julius Caesar defied Roman law by leading his army across the Rubicon River, the boundary between his province of Cisalpine Gaul and Italy proper. By crossing with the 13th Legion, Caesar effectively declared war on the Senate, igniting a civil war that ultimately ended the Roman Republic and led to the Roman Empire

Zela

primarily famous for the Battle of Zela in 47 BC, where Julius Caesar achieved a swift, decisive victory over Pharnaces II of Pontus. The battle is the source of Caesar's legendary report to the Roman Senate: "Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered"), intended to emphasize the speed and completeness of his triumph

Philippi

The Battle of Philippi was a climactic confrontation following the assassination of Julius Caesar. It pitted the Second Triumvirate, led by Mark Antony and Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus), against Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius

Actium

The Battle of Actium, fought on September 2, 31 BCE, was the decisive naval engagement that effectively ended the Roman Republic and led to the birth of the Roman Empire. Fought in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Greece, the battle saw the forces of Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) defeat the combined fleets of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt. This victory allowed Octavian to become the sole ruler of the Roman world, terminating a decade of civil war.

Forum of Julius Caesar

the first imperial forum in Rome, designed to relieve overcrowding in the Roman Forum and serve as a monument to Caesar’s power and divine lineage. It acted as a political and religious hub, centered around the Temple of Venus Genetrix

Temple of Mars Ultor

the centerpiece of the Forum of Augustus in ancient Rome, inaugurated in 2 BCE to fulfill a vow made by Augustus 40 years earlier. It stood as a monumental synthesis of religious devotion, military triumph, and imperial propaganda

Temple of Palatine Apollo

served as the cornerstone of Augustus's religious and political program, symbolizing the re-founding of Rome and the restoration of a "golden age" after years of civil war. It was vowed by Octavian following his victory over Sextus Pompeius at Naulochus (36 BC) and later commemorated his decisive victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium (31 BC)

Temple of Venus Genetrix

a central landmark of the Forum of Caesar in ancient Rome, serving as both a religious shrine and a powerful political proclamation of Julius Caesar's divine right to rule.

Campus Martius

"Field of Mars," was the primary military, political, and ceremonial space of ancient Rome, originally situated outside the city's sacred boundary (pomerium). Its significance evolved from a marshy military training ground in the Republic to a monumental district filled with theaters, baths, and imperial propaganda under the Empire

Ara Pacis

Altar of Augustan Peace, is a monumental marble altar commissioned by the Roman Senate in 13 BCE to celebrate the triumphant return of Augustus from campaigns in Hispania and Gaul. Dedicated in 9 BCE, it stands as a primary symbol of the Pax Romana (Roman Peace), an era of stability and prosperity established by Augustus after decades of internal civil war

Forum of Augustus

a monumental public space in ancient Rome that served as a central hub for imperial propaganda, judicial proceedings, and military ceremonies. Inaugurated in 2 BCE, it was designed to consolidate the authority of Augustus by linking his reign to Rome's divine origins and its most illustrious historical figures

Pantheon

the best-preserved monument of ancient Rome, serving as a unique bridge between pagan antiquity and continuous modern use. Its name is derived from the Greek words pan ("all") and theos ("gods"), signifying its original purpose as a temple dedicated to all Roman deities. Architecturally, it remains an unrivaled engineering feat, housing the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome for nearly 2,000 years

Latifundia

vast agricultural estates in ancient Rome, owned by wealthy elites and operated by large-scale slave labor or tenant farmers

Senatus Consultum Ultimum

the "Final Decree of the Senate," was an extraordinary resolution passed by the Roman Senate during times of extreme emergency to safeguard the state from internal threats. Formally known as the senatus consultum de re publica defendenda, it exhorted magistrates—typically the consuls—to take whatever measures they deemed necessary to ensure the Republic suffered no harm

Socius

a partner, ally, or comrade, specifically referring to the autonomous Italian tribes and city-states allied with Rome. They provided troops for the Roman army, shared in war spoils, and maintained internal autonomy. Not Roman citizens.

Lex Gabinia

law proposed by Tribune Aulus Gabinius that granted Pompey the Great an extraordinary, three-year command (maius imperium) to wipe out Mediterranean piracy.

Stoicism

an adapted Hellenistic philosophy focusing on personal virtue, duty, and emotional resilience to achieve tranquility amidst chaos. It teaches that while external events are outside our control, we can govern our internal reactions, adopting Stoic virtues—wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance—to live a tranquil, rational life

Lyric Poetry

short, highly polished poems, adapted from Greek lyric meters, that shifted from musical accompaniment to recitation. Centered on personal expression, emotion, and subjective experience, it was perfected by poets like Catullus and Horace, transitioning from traditional song to a refined, reader-focused art form.

Otium

a purposeful, "productive" leisure

First Triumvirate

an informal, private political alliance formed in 60 BCE between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus to dominate Roman politics

Imperator

"commander" or "leader,". In the Roman Republic, it was an honorary title proclaimed by troops for a victorious general. Later, it became a permanent title for Roman emperors, signifying supreme military authority,

Elegy

to express intense personal feelings, transforming it from a general form of lament into a genre centered on "love as the sole experience that gives life meaning"

Annals

chronological, year-by-year records of historical events, specifically the annual public tablets (Annales Maximi) maintained by the Pontifex Maximus in ancient Rome. They served as foundational historical records for Roman state activities, later used to describe chronological historical works.

Novus Homo

a Roman citizen who was the first in his family to serve in the Senate or reach the consulship. Lacking hereditary noble status, these individuals achieved high office through personal merit, talent, or military success rather than family lineage

Proscriptions

official, public lists of Roman citizens declared outlaws and enemies of the state during the late Republic. Victims faced immediate forfeiture of property, loss of legal protection, and state-sanctioned execution—often for monetary rewards—with their sons prohibited from holding public office

Pilum

The standard, heavy-throwing javelin used by Roman legionaries, primarily during the Republic and early Empire.

Lex Manilia

a Roman law proposed by tribune Gaius Manilius that granted Pompey the Great supreme command in the Third Mithridatic War. It replaced Lucullus with Pompey, giving him control over Roman forces in Asia and authority to manage eastern provinces.

Epicureanism

a philosophical system advocating the pursuit of pleasure, defined primarily as the absence of pain and mental anxiety (ataraxia), attained through a simple life, friendship, and the removal of fear regarding death or the gods

Epigram

a short, concise poem—often utilizing elegiac couplets—characterized by wit, satire, or a sharp, unexpected turn of thought

Negotium

business, work, or public/private affairs, literally meaning "not-leisure"

Second Triumvirate

an official, legally sanctioned three-man dictatorship formed by Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus to govern Rome following Julius Caesar's assassination. Established by the Lex Titia, it legalized their power to punish Caesar’s murderers, redistribute land, and stabilize the state, directly causing the transition from Republic to Empire.

Summi Viri

("highest/greatest men") refers to a collection of over 100 statues of illustrious Roman figures—spanning from the Republic's founding to Augustus—displayed in the Forum of Augustus. These statues,, with accompanying inscriptions, were designed to create a "Hall of Fame" that highlighted continuity, provided moral exemplars, and legitimised Augustan power.

In Medias Res

is a Latin phrase meaning "in the midst of things," describing a narrative technique where a story begins in the middle of the action rather than at the chronological beginning. Coined by Roman poet Horace in Ars Poetica, it advises skipping initial exposition to plunge the audience directly into crucial conflicts, later revealing backstory via flashbacks or dialogue

Monographic History

monograph (or monographic tradition) refers to a specialized historical work that focuses on a single, specific topic, event, or person, rather than providing a comprehensive, year-by-year chronicle from the founding of Rome (which is known as the annalistic tradition).

Populares

(Latin for "favoring the people") were a political faction during the late Roman Republic (c. 133–27 BC) that sought to gain power by championing the interests of the plebeians (commoners) and urban poor, often through grain subsidies and land redistribution.

Optimates

("best men") were a conservative political faction in the late Roman Republic (c. 133–36 BC) that aimed to maintain the traditional power of the Senate, elite aristocrats, and the mos maiorum (ancestral customs)

Cohort

the standard tactical military unit of a Roman legion, typically composed of 480 to 600 soldiers. As the fundamental unit of the army from the late second century BC, a legion was usually composed of ten cohorts

Ataraxia

a state of profound mental calmness, serenity, and freedom from emotional disturbance or anxiety.

Hedone/Voluptas

he Roman goddess and personification of sensual pleasure, delight, and enjoyment, directly corresponding to the Greek goddess Hedone. Daughter of Cupid (Eros) and Psyche, she represents the bliss born from love and soul.

Princeps

Latin term meaning "first citizen," "leader," or "first in order," officially adopted by Roman emperors from Augustus to Diocletian (27 BC–AD 284) to define their authority. It indicated a "first among equals" position, designed to mask autocratic rule under Republican traditions.

Principate

the first period of the Roman Empire, spanning from Augustus (27 BC) to the Crisis of the Third Century (c. 284 AD), defined by a, military dictatorship veiled in republican, form. The system was characterized by a single emperor, or princeps ("first citizen"), who held supreme de facto power while maintaining the , facade of the Senate, and traditional institutions

Statio

an ancient Roman waystation or "stopping place" on established roads, serving travelers and messengers with lodging and horse changes

Pax Augusta

the era of stability, internal order, and prosperity initiated by Emperor Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE). As part of the Pax Romana, it established a 200-year period of relative peace across the Mediterranean, focusing on strengthening borders rather than expansion

Aetiology

the study or investigation of the causation, origins, or reasons behind why things are the way they are.

Lucrertius, De Rerum Natura

("On the Nature of Things") is a 1st-century BCE didactic poem by Lucretius that outlines Epicurean philosophy to dispel superstition and fear of the gods/death. It posits a materialistic universe composed entirely of atoms and void, emphasizing that the soul is mortal and the world is formed by natural, not divine, intervention.

Catullus

pioneering intensely personal, passionate, and sometimes vulgar lyric poetry. As a leader of the poetae novi (new poets), he rejected grand epics for short, polished poems focusing on intense emotion, including his famous love affair with "Lesbia"

Horace, Secular Hymn

a Latin hymn by Horace, commissioned by Emperor Augustus for the 17 BC Secular Games. Sung by a chorus of 27 boys and 27 girls, this prayer to Apollo and Diana celebrated the new era of peace (pax Augusti), honoring Roman tradition, prosperity, and Augustus's reign.

Aeneas

a Trojan hero in Greek and Roman mythology, best known as the protagonist of Virgil’s Aeneid. As the son of Anchises and the goddess Venus, he escaped the fall of Troy, leading survivors to Italy to become the ancestor of the Roman people, embodying virtues of pietas (duty/piety).

Turnus

primary antagonist in the second half of Virgil's Aeneid, serving as the king of the Rutuli in Italy and the main rival to Aeneas. As Lavinia's preferred suitor, he leads the Latin forces against the Trojans, driven by rage, divine intervention (Juno), and a desperate defense of his homeland, ultimately dying at Aeneas's hand.

Ovid, Metamorphoses

chronicles the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar, linking over 250 Greek and Roman myths through the theme of physical transformation

Livy, From the Founding of the City

142-book history of Rome written between 27 and 9 BC, covering Rome's journey from its mythical foundation (753 BC) to Augustus's reign.

Epicurus

founded Epicureanism, a school focused on achieving a tranquil, pain-free life (ataraxia) through simple pleasures and friendship.

Julius Caesar, Gallic Wars

an eight-book, firsthand account of his campaigns (58–50 BC) to conquer Gaul.

Propertius, Elegies

cornerstone of Roman love poetry, chronicling the speaker's volatile, obsessive, and often desperate affair with a mistress named Cynthia

Dido

legendary Phoenician founder and first Queen of Carthage in Roman mythology, famously depicted in Virgil’s Aeneid as the tragic lover of Aeneas. Fleeing her murderous brother Pygmalion in Tyre, she founded Carthage in North Africa. Her story represents a, doomed love, ending in her suicide after Aeneas abandons her to found Rome

Ovid, Amores

a three-book collection of elegiac love poetry focusing on the witty, often cynical, and tumultuous love affair between the poet-speaker and his mistress, Corinna

Echo

a talkative mountain nymph cursed by Juno (Hera) to only repeat the last words spoken by others. After being rejected by the vain Narcissus, she pined away in grief until only her voice remained.

Sallust, Catiline’s War

(c. 42 BC) is a historical monograph detailing the 63 BC conspiracy led by noble Lucius Sergius Catilina to overthrow the Roman government. Catiline, driven by debt and extreme ambition, rallied disaffected citizens, but his plan was thwarted by Cicero.

Callimachus

a highly influential Greek poet and scholar from Cyrene who lived in Alexandria. He championed a "slender muse," prioritizing short, polished, and learned poetry over long epics, famously stating "a big book is a big bore". His aesthetic profoundly shaped Roman poets like Catullus, Propertius, and Ovid

Horace, Odes

four books of lyric poems celebrating love, friendship, wine, nature, and philosophical moderation (the "golden mean"). Blending Greek meters with Roman life, Horace promotes Epicurean tranquility and Stoic virtue, famously urging listeners to "seize the day" (carpe diem) while praising Augustan moral rejuvenation.

Virgil, Aeneid

12-book Latin epic detailing the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan prince who escapes the fall of Troy to establish a new city in Italy, fulfilling his destiny as the ancestor of Rome.

Anchises

a Trojan prince and lover of Aphrodite (Venus in Roman mythology), is best known as the father of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Roman ancestry.

Ovid, Ars Amatoria

a witty, three-book didactic poem functioning as a guide to seduction and romance in ancient Rome. Books 1 and 2 instruct men on finding, winning, and keeping lovers, while Book 3 offers similar advice to women, covering topics from appearance to maintaining interest

Narcissus

a famously handsome youth who rejects all lovers, only to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool. Cursed by Nemesis for his vanity and cruelty, he wastes away, unable to leave his reflection, and is transformed into the narcissus flower

Tiberius Gracchus

a Roman tribune whose radical agrarian reform proposals—aiming to redistribute public land from wealthy elites to landless citizens—marked a turning point in the Roman Republic. His bypassing of the Senate and subsequent murder introduced political violence into Roman politics, signaling the beginning of the Republic's decline

Jugurtha

The King of Namidia who exposed the deep-seated political corruption of the Roman Republic and catalyzing the military and political rivalries that eventually led to its collapse. His defiance sparked the Jugurthine War, which served as the proving ground for Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, whose later civil wars shattered the Republic's foundations.

Pompey the Great

a pivotal Roman general and statesman who transformed the late Republic through massive territorial expansion in the East, eradicating Mediterranean piracy, and forming the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Crassus. Known as Magnus (the Great), he was a dominant military figure whose career signaled the transition from Republic to autocratic rule, eventually fighting Caesar in a defining civil war

Lucius Licinius Lucullus

a prominent Roman general, politician, and consul (74 BC) who played a pivotal role in the Third Mithridatic War. Known for his strategic genius, he secured Roman dominion in the East, significantly weakened Mithridates VI, and introduced Eastern luxury to Rome, leading to his reputation for immense wealth and lavish patronage of arts and philosophy.

Cicero

He rose through the cursus honorum to become consul, during which he exposed and thwarted the Catiline conspiracy, a plot to overthrow the Senate. Opposed Caeser, was executed by the Second Triumvirate.

Julius Caesar

general, politician, and dictator whose actions led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. He famously conquered Gaul, formed the First Triumvirate, crossed the Rubicon, and was assassinated on the Ides of March in 44 BC

Marcus Brutus

a leading assassin of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, 44 BC, aiming to save the Roman Republic from dictatorship. As a trusted friend turned betrayer, he represents a complex blend of virtue and treachery, ultimately failing to prevent the Republic's collapse and prompting the rise of the Roman Empire.

Mark Antony

As Julius Caesar’s loyal ally and later a member of the Second Triumvirate, his rivalry with Octavian and alliance with Cleopatra. Defeated by Augustus at Actium.