Classics Final Exam

Augustus

Roman emperor who ruled for 40 years and attempted to maintain power through propaganda while making people forget he rose to power during civil war.

Princeps

Latin term meaning 'first in line', denoting Augustus's position as the first citizen of Rome.

Imperator

Title used to denote an emperor.

Primus inter pares

Latin for 'first among equals', a term used to describe Augustus's claimed position of leadership.

Second Settlement (23 BCE)

A period when Augustus resigned the consulship but retained significant powers without formal office.

Tribunicia potestas

Power associated with being tribune of the plebs, held by Augustus without the actual office.

Imperial cult

A religious practice in the Roman Empire where emperors were worshiped as gods, marking a shift in Roman religious practices.

Divus Julius

Deified form of Julius Caesar, who was worshiped as a god after his death.

Christianity and Rome

The rise of Christianity in Rome faced resistance due to its newness and decentralized nature.

Diocletian

Roman emperor known for his persecution of Christians and for dividing the empire into a tetrarchy.

Five Good Emperors

A term referring to the five Roman emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius) noted for their effective governance.

Alimenta program

Public welfare initiative started by Nerva that increased grain distribution and offered tax breaks to families.

Commodus

Son of Marcus Aurelius and a notorious bad emperor who ended the legacy of the Five Good Emperors.

Barracks Emperors

Period marked by political instability with many military leaders claiming imperial power, leading to chaos in governance.

Council of Nicaea (325)

The first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, leading to the establishment of certain Christian doctrines.

Edict of Toleration (313)

Legislation that granted religious freedom to Christians in the Roman Empire, issued by Constantine.

Theodosius I

Roman emperor who banned paganism and made Christianity the state religion, solidifying its place in Roman society.