Roman Society and Military Structure

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Roman society, military structure, and significant historical events.

Pater Familias

The senior male in a Roman family with authority over family members.

Parafamilia

The term used to describe a Roman family, including the pater familias, children, spouses, and slaves.

Patron

A powerful person who provides protection and support to their clients.

Client

A weaker person in a mutually beneficial relationship with a patron.

Clientage

The system of mutual dependence between patrons and clients.

Civic Duty

The responsibility of citizens to participate in societal functions, including military service.

Triumph

A celebratory parade awarded to generals for military victories.

Peasant Farmers

Self-sufficient farmers owning small plots of land in early Roman society.

Emergency Dictator

A temporary office granted to resolve a crisis in Roman government.

Ager Publicus

Public land owned by the state that can be distributed or auctioned.

Military Conscription

The drafting of eligible citizens into military service.

Latifundia

Large plantations in ancient Rome worked by slave labor.

Patricians

The elite class in Roman society, often wealthy landowners.

Plebeians

The commoners in Roman society, who had limited rights compared to patricians.

Senate

The political institution in ancient Rome that held significant power over legislation.

Gracchi Brothers

Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, reformers who advocated for land redistribution.

Legal Protection

Support provided by a patron in legal matters to their clients.

Economic Protection

Financial support offered by patrons to clients in need.

Carthage

A powerful Phoenician city-state that competed with Rome during the Punic Wars.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, resulting in Roman dominance.

Hannibal Barca

Carthaginian general known for his strategic military campaigns against Rome.

Social Mobility

The ability of individuals to change their social status, often through military success.

Military Expansionism

Policy focused on aggressive territorial expansion through warfare.

Urban Labor Market

The job availability in cities, impacted by landless peasants moving in after wars.

Clientele

A group of clients who support a patron, particularly in political matters.

Roman Army

The military force composed mainly of landholding citizens.

Mercenary Revolt

An uprising of hired soldiers, particularly notable in Carthage during the Punic Wars.

Legal Defense

Protection offered by a patron to their client when faced with legal issues.

Unemployment

The status of those without work, particularly in the context of the ancient Roman state.

Violence as Political Tool

The use of threats or acts of violence to achieve political goals, as seen in Roman history.

Cato the Elder

A Roman senator known for his insistence on the destruction of Carthage.

Battle of Zama

The decisive battle in the Second Punic War where Scipio defeated Hannibal.

Scipio Africanus

Roman general who defeated Hannibal in North Africa.

Roman Republic

The era of Roman history characterized by a republican form of government before the rise of emperors.

Social Disruption

Chaos and upheaval within society, particularly following the Punic Wars in Rome.

Agrarian Reform

Change in land ownership patterns, aimed at helping landless citizens.