Roman Republic to Empire

History 120 Exam 2 terms

Gaius Marius

An ambitious new leader that emerges to subvert the senate by harnessing the power of the soldiers. Eliminates property requirement to be in Roman Legion, recruitment of capite censi (head count), creates army of client. Serves as consul 7 times! Establishes “Roman Warlord Culture”.

Trajan

Adopted heir, 1st non-Italian emperor. Great general/popular commander. Wants Rome to win again - conquests. Emphasizes military might of Rome. Begins public works program - Trajan’s Column. Empire reaches greatest extent. Becomes 2nd most popular emperor. Overstretches Rome’s resources/military.

Battle of Actium

The Final War, Antony & Cleopatra get trapped in Greece. They fail to break blockage and lose 5,000 men. They flee the battle and the army abandons Antony. Failed resistance in Egypt lead to suicides. Octavian annexes Egypt as private provinces and murder Caesarion. This ends Ptolemies & Hellenistic Era.

Tiberius

Senator and Commander in Spain who notices plight of Roman soldiers. Decided to protect veterans through land reform. Elected as Tribune of the Plebs and redistributes illegally held public land using the money from the end of the Attalid Kingdom. Murdered in a public brawl.

Julius Caesar

Statesmen that gained consulship through the First Triumvirate. Gained governorship of Cisalphe Gaul, conducts conquest of Gaul. Wins the Battle of Alesia. Defeats Pompey in Greece at Battle of Pharsalus. Uses forgiveness > vengeance to heal Rome. Declared dictator for life. Killed by conspiracy formed by Brutus.

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

1st Ruling Dynasty of Rome. Tiberius carried on Augustus’ policies. Ruled by Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, & Nero.

Romulus

First king of Rome (Found Rome). Twin son of Mars, kills twin - Remus.

Tribune of the Plebs

Plebian Council forms. Creates & elects new representative officials for protection. Expanded to 10 “sacrosanct” (untouchable) representatives.

Optimates

Political party - The Best Men

Battle of Zama

Scipio Africanus opens multiple fronts, recalling Hannibal. 40,000 carthage vs 35,000 Romans. Leads to 34,000 carthage casualties vs 4,000 Roman. Carthage surrendered, leading to a huge fine, the end of navy, and cedes land outside of N. Africa. Rome dominates the Mediterranean.

Claudius

Caligula’s uncle, proclaimed emperor by Praetorian Gaurd. Handicap, but capable administrator/commander. Orders Roman occupation of Britian, returns peace to Rome, easily manipulated, marries neice, Agrippina - posioned by her. Ex-wife had sleep-off (24 bodies)!

Plebeians

Everyone that isn’t an elite (patrician), common people in Rome.

Gauls

Celtic peoples from Po River Valley. Skilled warriors that sacked Rome in 390 BCE.

First Triumvirate

Informal working arrangement of Crassus, Pompey, & Caesar (Money/Power/Legitimacy) Strongest faction in Rome until Crassus dies in battle vs Parthians.

Cornelius Sulla

Aristocratic ally of nobiles, political rival of Marius (leads to Marian VS Sullan factions). Gains but loses a major military appointment to Marius. Marches on Rome twice (88 & 82 BCE), wins Civil War. Slaughters the Marius faction. Establishes himself as Dictator for 2 years to “fix” Rome (illegal).

Pater Familias

Father in families. Control all legal rights - marriage, careers, money, lives. Male dominated.

Gravitas

Seriousness. Value of Roman identity, great men of Rome master it. Applies to family, state, and Gods.

Augustus

“Illustrious One” in 27 BCE. The first Roman Emperor and absorbs power of top government. Preferred the title Princeps. Established a professional army as a patron. Establishes praetorian Guard. Monopolizes power.

Scipio Africanus

Roman statesman/general that opens multiple fronts in Spain and Africa. Leads Battle of Zama.

Pietas

Faithfulness - Roman Core Value.

Pyrrhus of Epirus

2nd greatest general of antiquity. Wins 2 battles against Southern Greeks. Eventually defeated, returns to Greece. Rome unites Italy.

Battle of Philippi

Caesareans seek destruction of conspirators. 24,000 Roman casualties and suicide of Brutus. Proscriptions were issued and Caesareans gain vast wealth from the rivals that they killed.

Virtus

Manliness. 1 of 4 Roman core values.

Third Servile War

Greatest rebellion that began in Capua. Led by Spartacus, captured Thracian warrior. Romans train slaves to kill for entertainment. Spartacus uses skilled fighters - Gladiatores. 120,000 freed slaves (army) defeats 2 Roman armies.

Manipular Legion

Roman Heavy infantry maniples. Fight in 3 ranks (10 maniples each), based on economic status/age, ~5,000 men. Flexible and adaptive army that fought with Greek-style hoplite warfare.

Cleopatra VII

Ptolemaic Queen with great lineage. Creates alliance with Caesar & Antony. Becomes Caesar’s baby momma - Caesarion. Antony falls in love with Cleopatra, abandoning his Roman family for her and has 3 kids. Antony defeated by Parthians, losing 50k soldiers and becomes dependent on Cleo. Gets trapped in Greece and commits suicide.

Consuls

2 men that are elected annually. They hold executive authority. Military commanders and govern Rome.

Princeps

“First Citizen”. Octavian prefers this title as emperor.

Damnatio Memoriae

The erasing of memory. Happened to Caligula & other emperors.

Crassus

Richest politician in Rome. Romans desperate to defeat Sparatus & turn to him. Creates a personal army of 40,000 men to stop the rebels. Slow and difficult campaign; Pompey is sent to help & steals Crassus’ thunder. Crassus crucifies 6,000 captives to get his thunder back.

Band, Song, Subject Matter?

Ex Deo, “I, Caligula”, Corruption of Augustus’s Principate