Roman History Flashcards

Emperor Diocletian

  • Came into power in 254 CE.

  • Ordered price limits, workers to stay at jobs until death, and sentenced people to death.

Constantine

  • 1st Christian Emperor who takes the place of Diocletian.

  • Edict of Milan: Stated to treat Christians nicely within the Empires.

  • Changed the Capital of Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople.

Fall of Western Roman Empire

  • Germans invaded due to Roman wealth and escaping the Huns.

  • Emperor Augustulus was defeated in 476 CE.

  • The Eastern Roman Empire continued for another 1000 years, becoming the Byzantine Empire.

  • Byzantine Empire fell in 1453 after the Ottoman invasion.

  • Ottoman Empire ended in 1922, becoming modern-day Türkiye.

Roman Contributions to Art

  • Painting, pottery, mosaics, & sculpture.

Roman Contributions to Laws/Citizenship

  • Republics, equal justice, & legal code.

Roman Contributions to Language

  • Latin language, the root of the English language.

Roman Contributions to Christianity

  • Helped its population increase, as it was the official religion.

Ides of March

  • Julius Caesar was assassinated (stabbed 23 times). It's the 7th day on the Roman Calendar.

Rome's Golden Age

  • Reached its height around 300 CE.

  • Decline started around 180-200 CE.

Factors Contributing to the Fall of Rome

  • Over-expansion made it difficult to control territory.

  • Poor leadership weakened the government, leading to corruption.

  • Economic issues: Farmers losing land/crops, money lost value, extreme taxation, government put less gold in coins.

  • Social issues: People lost trust in the government, too much slavery, plague spreads (killed many people), people joined military for money, unable to stop border invasions.

Expansion of Rome

  • Began with trade & conquest.

  • By 265 BC, Rome had conquered all of Italy.

  • Etruscans settled in the North, Greeks in the South.

  • Aimed to control the middle of the Mediterranean for trade.

Punic Wars

  • Carthage challenged Rome over control of the Mediterranean.

  • Lasted from 264 BCE to 146 BCE.

    • 1st Punic War: Over control of Sicily & Western Mediterranean, Rome won.

    • 2nd Punic War: Hannibal invaded Italy but was forced to retreat by Scipio.

    • 3rd Punic War: Rome attacked Carthage, burning the city. Remaining citizens were enslaved, and the land became Roman territory.

  • Results: Rome became the ultimate power in the Mediterranean, gained resources, and had confidence to expand.

Lasting Architectural Contributions

  • Cloaca Maxima, aqueducts, public baths & fountains

Lasting Engineering Contributions

  • Concrete/Cement, Roads, Arches, Bridges, Tunnels, Mills, water moving devices, & new weapons

Assemblies

  • Gained the ability to make their own decisions, showing a more democratic side of the Republic.

The Twelve Tables

  • Created in 451 BCE by the Senate.

  • Rome's first legal code, hung in the Forum.

The Triumvirate

  • Julius Caesar, Pompey, & Crassus came together to rule Rome and succeeded.

Julius Caesar

  • Earned the title of dictator by winning the civil war with Pompey.

  • Expanded Rome and changed it from a Republic to an Empire.

  • Assassinated by the Senate (stabbed 23 times) due to fears of gaining too much power.

Caesar Augustus

  • Great-nephew of Caesar elected as Emperor, serving from 27 BC to 14 AD.

Similarities between Roman Republic & US Government

  • Both had 3 branches, were against a single high power, & valued the military.

  • All Land owning citizens had to serve in the Roman military

  • Anyone who wished to be in office had to serve in the military for 10 years first.

Roman Military Organization

  • Organized into large units (legions), divided into cohorts, and further divided into centuries.

Patricians

  • Made up about 15-20% of Rome's population.

  • Claiming ancestry gave them the right to develop Rome's laws.

Plebeians

  • Commoners who made up the majority of the population.

  • Had voting rights but could not hold important political offices.

  • Eventually developed the Tribune to protect themselves from Patrician neglect.

  • Were forced to serve in the military.

Roman Republic

  • Consisted of Consuls, Senate, Dictator, & Assemblies.

Consuls

  • 2 individuals elected to lead the military & government.

  • Served one-year terms and couldn't rerun for 10 years.

  • One consul could always veto the other.

Senate

  • Aristocratic branch of government.

  • Covered Legislative + Administrative functions.

  • Consisted of 300 members who were all Patricians.

  • Had great influence over Foreign & Domestic Policy.

Dictator

  • Appointed in times of emergency or war (Consuls choose, Senate elects).

  • Had absolute power to command the army & make laws.

  • Served 6-month terms.