The World of Ancient Rome Notes Review

where is rome located

in the center of the italian peninsula

how did romes location benefit them

they could easily expand throughout the rest of italy and beyond

what mountain range runs down the center of italy

the apennine mountaisn

fertile plains supported ___________

growing population

where did the ancestors of the romans settle

along the tiber river

what is the mythical version of the beginning of rome

the founders were twins (romulus and remes) that were abandoned. then they were founded and raised by a she-wolf, then were found and raised by a shepherd. they decided when they grew up to build a city, had an argyment, and romulus killed remus.

who was rome named after in the mythical version

romulus

what is the historical version of the beginning of rome

lation people settled on the palentine hill in rome, estruscans conquered the latins,, rome was ruled as monarchy for over 200 years, romans overthrew the estrucscan kings and established a republic in 509 BCE

what was family like in roman society

male was head of household with absolute authority

what were women like in roman society

women gained greater freedoms over the centuries, some ran businesses but most worked at home and raised families

what was education like in roman society

education was highly valued, both girls and boys learned to read and right

what was religion like in roman society

gods and goddesses resembled those of greeks and etruscans, had religious festivals, built many temples of worship

why was romes expansion into italy successful

skilled diplomacy, loyal and well trained army, treated defeated enemies fairly, gave rights to conquered people

rome was protected by an advanced army that was divided into groups of 5000 soldiers called what?

legionsc

legions were divided into smaller groups of 80 people called a __________

century

what happened after the romans threw out the etrustcan king

they set up a republic

after rome was set up as a republic, it was ruled by its ______________

senate and its assembly

how long did consuls elected for

1 year terms

what did the consuls do in office

they initiated legislation, served as head of the judiciary and the military, served as chief priests to the nation.

what were proconsuls

they were also consuls, but their terms were extended due to military campaigns

what were the two financial advisors called

quaestors

what was the praetor

the military officed

what did the two censors do

they drew up rle of citizens in order to assess taxes

where was power concentrated in the roman republic

it was concentrated in the hands of the patricians who elected the consuls, quaestor, praetors, and censors from their own class

what kind of people was the senate comprised of

patricians and were the principal power in rome

why did the plebeians resent the patricians

because the patricians dominated roman law, finances, and foreign policy

what happened for the plebeians after years of conflict

they won the right to assembly, headed by tribunes, which could veto any decision by a roman official and could veto anything passed by the senate

what happened in 450 BC

the law of the 12 tables formalized and codified roman law and its constitution

what were some of the rights given to the roman citizens

equal treatment, punished for actions and not thoughts, right to marry, innocent til proven guilty, right to marry, serve int he army for ten years, pay taxes

who was fighting in the first punic war

rome and carthage

what did rome do to carthage in the first punic war

took its cities on sicily and destroyed their navy

what was a result of the peace treaty signed between rome and carthage after the first punic war

rome took the island of corsica from carthage

what happened in the second punic war

carthage retaliated under the leadership of hannibal by crossing the alps to the north to invade italy

who won in the second punic war

the romans

the second punic war turned rome from a __________ __into a__ _____________

regional power, international power

what happened in the third punic war

the romans attacke the city of carthage, destroying the city and its harbor and sold their citizens into slavery

romans followed a policy of _________________

imperialism

what were some places placed under roman rule

carthage, macedonia, greece, and parts of asia minors

what did julius caesar do to the senate

he forced them to make him dictator

how was caesar killed

he was killed by his enemies

what did caesar do when he became dictator

he instituted reform to try to solve romes many problems

octavian killed _____________ in a struggle for power

mark antony

the roman senate gave octavian the title of _______________ and declares him frst citizen

augustus

augustus laid the foundatuon for a stable gov. that would function well for 200 years. This period was called

pax romana

what were some things augustus did for rome

created efficient civil service to enforce laws, opened up high level jobs to men of talent, ordered a census to make the tax system more fair, employed the jobless.

how were different religions seen in rome

as long as they honored roman gods, they were allowed to worship other gods

why did the romans make an exception or the jews when they invaded judea

they believed in one gods only

what happened when the empire began to decline adn was threatened by the sassanid empire in persia

a lot of people converted to christinity in larger numbers which threatened roman leadership

why did christians become martyrs in rome

roman officials persecuted the christians and idolized people who died for the christian beliefs

what were some of jesus’ teachings

belief in one god, ten commandments, mercy and sympathy for the poor and helpless

what were some of jesus’ new beliefs

called himself the sun of god, proclaimed that he broght salvation and eternal life to anyone who would believe in hom, jesus also emphasized gods love and taught the need for justice, morality, and service for others

the apostles and disciples preached only in ___________

judea

how did christianity spread throughout rome

disciples began to preach to jewish communities throughout rome, and the jews who accepted the beliefs of jesus became the first christians

who spread chrisitanity beyond the jewish communities to non jews

paul

what were some roman advances in tech

built roads, bridges, harbors, aqueducts

what were some roman advances in science

ptolomy proposed that earth was the center of universe, galen used experiments to prove a conclusion

what were some roman advances in art

sculptors, artists used mosaics and frescoes

what were some roman advances in architecture

emphasized grandeur, improved columns and arches, developed rounded dme

roman laws and principles inspire many of the principles in legal systems where?

in europe and the americas

what were some political problems in rome

emperors repeatedly were overthrown and assassinated

what were some economic and social issues

high taxes to support the army hurt businesses and people and farmers, poor farmers were forced to work and live on wealthy estates, farmland lost its productivity

how many pieces was the empire divided into under constantine

three parts for his three sons

after much fighting, ______________ united the empire and made christianity the state religion

theodosius

how did theodosius divide the empire once it was united again

into two parts for his two sons

who conquered the roman empire by dislodging germanic peoples

the huns

in 410 BC, _________________ sacks rome further weakening the western empire

the visigoth leader, alaric

from 451 to 453, the ____________, under the leadership of__ __________, overruns teh western empire

huns, atilla

what were some military causes for the fall of rome

germanic invasions, weakened roman legions

what were some social causes for the fall of rome

erosion of traditional values, self serving upperclass what

what were some political causes of the fall of rome

oppressive government, corrupt officials, divided empire (west and east portions make up the byzantine empire)

what were some economic causes of the fall of rome

heavy taxes , population decline

what did jews refer to their god as

yahweh (Ya-way)

what did constantine do (emperor of rome) regarding christianity

he converted to christianity

what happened when constantine converted to christianity

rome stopped killing and persecuting christians

where was power concentrarted

in the hands of the patricians

the patricians elected their very own

quaestors, praetors, and censors from their own class

when was the law of the 12 tables formalized and codified

450 BC

why was the codifying of the Law of the 12 tables important

it was a victory for the citizens under the law

roman persecution of christians increased under which rulers

nero, domitian, and marcus aurelius

whenw as the largest and bloodiest persecution of christians

303-311 under Diocletian