Roman History Exam 1

Romulus

the founder and first king of Rome, who established the Senate and welcomed outsiders to grow the population. He is known for the Rape of the Sabine Women and co-ruled with Titus Tatius after the Sabine War. His mysterious disappearance and deification emphasize his lasting cultural and religious significance in Rome.

The Sabine Women

abducted by Romulus during a festival to become wives for Roman men, an event known as the Rape of the Sabine Women. This act sparked a war between the Romans and the Sabines. Their intervention eventually brought peace, uniting the two groups and helping Rome grow.

Hannibal

a Carthaginian general and one of the greatest military commanders of the ancient world. He famously led his army, including war elephants, across the Alps to attack Rome. His campaigns brought Rome to the brink of destruction, showcasing his strategic brilliance.

Scipio Africanus

a Roman general who defeated Hannibal during the Second Punic War. He turned the tide of the war by invading Africa and threatening Carthage directly. His victory secured Rome’s dominance and earned him lasting fame as a military strategist.

Tiberius Gracchus

a Roman politician who proposed agrarian reforms to redistribute public land to landless citizens. His efforts faced strong opposition from the Senate. He and about 300 of his followers were killed in a riot, highlighting the intense political conflict in Rome.

Marius

a Roman general whose military reforms reshaped the late Republic. He allowed landless citizens to enlist, creating a professional standing army. His rise to power shifted loyalty from the Senate to military leaders, changing Roman politics.

Sulla

a Roman general who distinguished himself in the Jugurthine and Social Wars and served as consul twice. As leader of the Optimates, he revived the office of dictator under his control. He was the first Roman general to march on Rome, setting a precedent for military intervention in politics.

Pompey the great

raised a private army in Picenum and fought for Sulla. He defeated Sertorius’s revolt in Hispania, helped crush Spartacus’s slave rebellion, cleared Mediterranean pirates, and defeated Mithridates VI of Pontus, annexing Syria and Judea. These victories made him one of the most powerful men in Rome.

Julius Caesar

served in Asia and Cilicia, where he defeated local tribes in Lusitania. These campaigns earned him wealth and a strong military reputation. He was celebrated with a triumph, marking his rise as a prominent Roman leader.

Cicero

studied philosophy, rhetoric, and oratory in Greece and Asia Minor. He opposed Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and later challenged Mark Antony. As Consul in 63 BCE, he was executed in 43 BCE during the Second Triumvirate.

753 BCE

traditionally considered the year Rome was founded by Romulus. This date marks the beginning of Roman history and monarchy. It set the foundation for Rome’s growth into a powerful city-state.

146 BCE

marks the year Rome destroyed Carthage and won the Battle of Corinth. Rome gained control over Northern Africa and solidified its dominance in the Mediterranean. These events expanded Rome’s territory and influence significantly.

133 BCE

marks the murder of Tiberius Gracchus, the first major outbreak of political violence in Rome. His death set a precedent for using violence in politics. It highlighted the growing tensions between the Senate and reformers.

31 BCE

marks the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of Augustus’s rule. This year followed the Battle of Actium, which solidified his power. It started the era of the Roman Empire.

The Latin War

happened because of growing tensions between Rome and the Latin League over control in central Italy. Rome defeated the Latin forces and dissolved the League. Latin towns kept local autonomy but had to supply soldiers and could not make independent treaties, setting a model for future Roman expansion.

The Pyrrhic War

began when the Greek city of Tarentum called King Pyrrhus of Epirus for help against Rome. Pyrrhus brought war elephants and a professional Hellenistic army, but Rome adapted and learned new tactics. Eventually, the Romans defeated Pyrrhus, marking a key step in their rise as the dominant power in the Italian peninsula.

First Punic War

began over conflict between Rome, Carthage, and Syracuse for control of Messina. Rome ultimately gained control of Sicily. Carthage was forced to pay a large indemnity, marking Rome’s first overseas victory.

Social War

occurred because Rome’s Italian allies, who had fought alongside Rome and supplied troops, lacked Roman citizenship. After the assassination of Marcus Livius Drusus, several allied communities revolted, forming the state of Italia with its own government. Although Rome suffered heavy losses, it regained control and granted citizenship to allies who did not revolt or surrendered, eventually giving most Italians citizenship.

Carthage

a powerful North African city-state and Rome’s main rival in the Punic Wars. It controlled much of the western Mediterranean. Carthage was ultimately destroyed by Rome in the Third Punic War.

Syracuse

a wealthy Greek city in Sicily, important for trade and grain supply. It was captured by Rome during the Punic Wars, and the mathematician Archimedes was killed. Rome gained control of Sicily as a result.

Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, Book 1, Chapters 21, 46, 60;

Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita recounts key events in the early history of Rome, including the founding of the city, the reign of Romulus, and the conflicts with neighboring peoples like the Sabines. It highlights Rome’s early political and social structures, such as the establishment of the Senate and the integration of outsiders to grow the population. Contextually, these chapters illustrate the legendary origins of Rome and set the stage for its expansion and the development of Roman identity and institutions.

Polybius, Histories, Book 6, Chapters 4, 53-54.

Polybius’ Histories analyzes the structure and functioning of the Roman Republic, focusing on its mixed constitution and the balance of powers among consuls, the Senate, and popular assemblies. Polybius emphasizes how this system promoted stability, prevented corruption, and allowed Rome to expand effectively. Contextually, it explains Rome’s political resilience during the Republic, helping to account for its dominance in the Mediterranean by the 2nd century BCE.

Cicero In Catilinam 1

Cicero’s In Catilinam 1 is a speech denouncing the conspiracy led by Catiline to overthrow the Roman government. Cicero exposes Catiline’s plans, appeals to the Senate, and emphasizes the threat to the Republic’s stability. Contextually, it highlights the political tensions and use of oratory in late Republican Rome to defend the state against internal threats.

mos moaiorum

the unwritten code of traditional Roman values and social norms. It guided behavior, duty, and respect for family, community, and ancestors. Following it helped maintain social order and Roman identity.

Patricians

wealthy landowners from Rome’s oldest families who could trace their ancestry to the city’s founding. They held the highest social status. Patricians dominated politics, religion, and society in early Rome.

tribune of the plebs

represented the plebeians and was elected by the Plebeian Assembly. There were 10 tribunes serving one-year terms. They had the power to veto actions by magistrates or the Senate to protect plebeian interests.

consul

represented all of Rome and was elected by the Centuriate Assembly. Two consuls served one-year terms as the top executive and military leaders. They held imperium, giving them authority over military and governmental decisions.

provincia

a Roman territory governed by a magistrate with imperium. Provinces were required to pay taxes or tribute and provide troops. This system extended Rome’s control and resources beyond the city.

dictator

a temporary magistrate granted full powers during a crisis. Appointed by consuls with the Senate’s approval, they could serve for a maximum of six months. They held complete military and judicial authority to resolve emergencies efficiently.

ager publicus

was land owned by the Roman state. It could be leased or distributed to citizens. Control of this land was central to agrarian reforms and social conflicts.

populares

Roman leaders who sought power by appealing directly to the people. They advocated for land redistribution, grain subsidies, and expanded rights. Despite championing the common citizens, they were not usually poor themselves.

first triumvirate

an informal political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. It was formed to bypass the Senate and advance their mutual interests, leading to Caesar’s consulship, land reforms, and command in Gaul. The alliance weakened after Julia’s death in 54 BCE and Crassus’s death, escalating the rivalry between Caesar and Pompey into civil war.

second triumvirate

an officially recognized alliance of Mark Antony, Octavian, and Marcus Lepidus, formed by the Lex Titia and granted extraordinary powers for five years. Its main goal was to avenge Caesar’s assassination. They proscribed enemies, seized wealth to fund their armies, and defeated Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi.

How did the Romans of the late Republic use accounts of their distant past to articulate their identity? That is, what ideas about themselves as a group did they put into narrative form through mythologies of their early history?

Romans of the late Republic used accounts of their early history to define their identity, emphasizing virtues like courage, duty, and loyalty. Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita recounts Romulus founding Rome, the Rape of the Sabine Women, and early wars, showing Rome’s ability to integrate outsiders and persevere through challenges. These stories served as moral examples, demonstrating virtus and pietas for later generations. By linking themselves to these myths, Romans framed their people as resilient, innovative, and morally upright amid political and social turmoil.