Roman Britain

Agricola

Biography written by Tacitus during the first century about Agricola, a Roman general sent to Britain to pacify the natives. He is portrayed in a favorable light (because his son in law wrote it). Used as a critique of emperors during the first century, particularly Domitian

Sulla

Dictator; censored the Roman senate by issuing proscriptions, which essentially dictated who was to be killed. People were rewarded for killing the people he was pissed at.

• Roman Republic vulnerable to private armies

legionaries 

citizen armies; allowed to be at the back of the Roman army formation. Cash bonus upon retirement. 

auxiliaries

non-citizen armies; placed at front of Roman army formation. Citizenship upon retirement after 25 years of service

Augustus

established permanent Roman army and the concept of a single emperor as leader

• Cesar’s nephew 

• Second triumvirate 

• Conquers large swathes of land and expands empire to breaking point 

army after Augustus

police force rather than invading force; maintains roads/public works, collect taxes, put down rebellions.

legates

individuals leading army in emperor’s name

decurions

local elite that collected taxes in the name of the Roman Empire; regarded as political power in localities by Romans 

Centuriation

process of dividing territory into grids to create roads around the settlements 

Claudius

emperor under whom Roman Britain is created; conquers southern part of territory

Athens

intellectual power of Greece

Sparta

martial power of Greece

hoplite phalanx

Greek battle formation (experienced at front) that is adapted by the Romans (experienced at back). Good for land battles 

Battle of Syracuse

Athenians defeated by Spartans in naval battle in which Spartans break through blockade around Sicility with the help of the Persians (once a common enemy)

• happened in part because Athenians did not have effective leadership after death of Pericles 

Pericles

leader of Athens until died of plague; left Athens without effective leadership, leading to in-fighting

Hadrian (117 AD)

puts limits on borders based on what is most effectively administered to; bartered to establish new borders; patron of the arts; organizer of Roman games

• Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

tax barrier, symbol of Roman power, defensive fortification

Vindolanda (90 AD)

fort in the middle of Hadrian’s wall; not a lot of fighting occurred here, seems a place of leisure. 

Flavius Cerialis

prefect at Vindolanda; loved hunting; was a former auxiliary of Belgian origin