Ancient Rome Final Exam Study Guide

Flashcards for Ancient Rome Final Exam Review

Lex de Imperio Vespasiani

"Law of the Power of Vespasian" - Defines Vespasian's powers as emperor and serves as a precedent for future emperors.

Damnatio Memoriae

"Condemnation of Memory" - Erasing a person from public memory; a form of dishonor.

Stoic conceptions: happiness

A state of contentment achieved through virtue and reason, not external circumstances.

Stoic conceptions: impression

The initial mental image or sensation received, which must be assessed by reason.

Stoic conceptions: indifferents

Things neither good nor bad in themselves; their value depends on how they are used.

Stoic conceptions: reason

The guiding principle for making virtuous decisions and understanding the world.

Stoic conceptions: virtue

Moral excellence and the highest good, the goal of Stoic philosophy.

Roman Forum

The central public space in Rome, used for political, religious, and social activities.

Circus Maximus

A large Roman stadium primarily used for chariot races.

Colosseum

A large amphitheater in Rome used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles.

Column

A structural element used for support and decoration in Roman architecture.

Concrete

A building material developed by the Romans, enabling large and complex structures.

Marble

A metamorphic rock used for building and sculpting.

Rostra

A speaker’s platform in the Roman Forum, decorated with the prows of captured ships.

Porticus

A colonnaded walkway or porch, often found in public spaces.

Basilica

A large public building used for law courts and other civic functions.

Satire

A literary genre that uses humor and irony to criticize individuals or society.

Epigram

A short, witty poem or saying.

Roman Verse Satire

Satire written in verse form, a popular genre in Roman literature.

Menippean Satire

A type of satire that mixes prose and verse, often with philosophical themes.

Apocolocyntosis

A satirical work mocking the deification of Claudius.

Biography as Genre

A literary genre focused on the life of an individual.

History as Genre

A genre focused on writing about past events.

Religion

A system of beliefs and practices related to the sacred.

Religio (Roman Conception)

The Roman understanding of religion, emphasizing ritual and duty to the gods.

Persecution

The mistreatment or punishment of a group based on their beliefs.

Tetrarchy

A system of government with four rulers, established by Diocletian.

Equites

The equestrian class in Rome, ranking below senators but above plebeians.

Praetorian Guard

The emperor's personal bodyguard, playing a significant role in politics.

Tiberius

Roman Emperor after Augustus; known for his reclusive nature.

Caligula

Roman Emperor known for his alleged cruelty and erratic behavior.

Claudius

Roman Emperor known for his intelligence and administrative skills.

Nero

Roman Emperor known for extravagance and persecutions.

Vespasian

Roman Emperor who restored stability after the year of the Four Emperors.

Titus

Roman Emperor who ruled during the eruption of Vesuvius.

Trajan

Roman Emperor known for his military campaigns and building projects.

Zeno of Citium

Founder of Stoic philosophy.

Catullus

Roman poet known for his love poems and epigrams.

Martial

Roman poet known for his witty epigrams.

Juvenal

Roman satirist.

Suetonius

Roman biographer, author of "The Lives of the Caesars."

Domitian

Roman Emperor, son of Vespasian, known for his autocratic rule.

Constantine

Roman Emperor who legalized Christianity.

Hadrian

Roman Emperor known for building Hadrian's Wall.

Pliny

Roman author and naturalist.

Diocletian

Roman Emperor who divided the empire into eastern and western halves.

Constantinople

The capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Visigoths

A Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in 410 CE.

Vandals

A Germanic tribe known for sacking Rome in 455 CE.

Honorius

Western Roman Emperor during the sack of Rome by the Visigoths.

Ludi

Public games and festivals in ancient Rome.

Munera

Gladiatorial combats in ancient Rome.

Great Fire of 64 CE

A devastating fire in Rome, often blamed on Nero.

Edict of Thessalonica

Established Nicene Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Third Jewish-Roman War

Also known as the Bar Kokhba revolt, a major Jewish uprising against Roman rule.