Questions and Answers
What did the Romans call the Mediterranean Sea?
Mare Nostrum
In what year was the city of Rome founded?
753 BC
According to legend, what two brothers founded Rome?
Romulus and Remus
What were the two main social classes of ancient Rome?
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What became the symbol of the king's authority in early Roman society?
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In what year was the Roman Republic founded?
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What was the most powerful body within the governmental structure of the republic?
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What power did tribunes get to exercise over unjust acts of patrician officials?
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What was the name of the Roman law that was written down and placed in the Roman forum?
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What was the name of the plebeian assembly that gained the power to pass laws binding on all the people of Rome?
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What man led the defense of Greek colonies against Roman expansion in southern Italy?
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List the differences between Carthage and Rome at the outset of the Punic Wars.
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What famed Carthaginian leader invaded Rome by an unexpected march over the Alps into Northern Italy?
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At what battle during the second Punic War did the Roman general Scipio decisively defeat the Carthaginians?
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Over what island was the first Punic War fought?
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What responsibility did the Publicans have in Roman society?
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What were the names of the two brothers who became spokesmen for reform in the later days of the republic?
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Who were the two generals who fought in the First Civil War?
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Who were the three rulers of the triumvirate?
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At what place and in what year did Octavian defeat Antony in the Third Civil War?
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Who was the sole authority over his family and controlled every aspect of family life in early Roman society?
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What was a number of families from a common ancestor called?
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What was a number of clans united by common beliefs and living in a particular region called?
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What was the name of the league the seven villages formed in the eighth century BC?
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What tribe came to Italy between 900-800 BC and established one of Italy's first civilizations?
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What were the three governing branches in the Roman Republic?
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What were the resolutions passed by the Council of Plebeians called?
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The Council of Plebeians elected ten men to the office of _____
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In _____ the plebian assembly, now called the _______ ____________ gained the power to pass laws binding upon all the people of Rome.
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What power in the Western world was Hannibal from?
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The rivalry between _______ and __________ was built upon jealousy and fear, and led to a series of wars known as the _____ wars.
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In what year during the first Punic War did Carthage sue for peace and pay for Roman losses?
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Carthage attacked a Roman ally in _____ that started the second Punic War.
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What was the name of the battle where the Romans suffered one of their worst defeats to Hannibal?
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What Roman had daring strategy that became the turning point in the Second Punic War?
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What Roman senator aroused the Romans to take action against Carthage fifty years after the Second Punic War?
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Did Marius and Sulla fight in the Punic Wars?
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Did Hannibal and Scipio fight in the Punic Wars?
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What is the Ides of March?
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What event took place on the Ides of March in 44 BC?
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What Egyptian Queen did Marc Antony fall in love with?
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Who was Caesar's ambitious nephew who divided the Roman territory with Marc Antony?
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How old was Octavian when he became the sole ruler of the entire Roman world after the Battle of ______?
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What was the title given to the commander of a victorious army?
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Study Notes
Ancient Rome Overview
- Romans referred to the Mediterranean Sea as Mare Nostrum.
- 753 BC marks the founding year of Rome, according to historical consensus.
Founding Myths and Social Structure
- Legend attributes the founding of Rome to Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by a she-wolf.
- The social hierarchy consisted of Plebeians (commoners) and Patricians (aristocrats).
Early Roman Symbols and Governance
- Fasces, a bundle of rods, symbolized the king's authority in early Roman society.
- The Roman Republic was established in 509 BC.
- The Senate emerged as the most powerful governmental body within the Republic.
Legal Framework and Assemblies
- Tribunes had the power to veto unjust acts of Patrician officials, safeguarding Plebeian rights.
- The Law of the Twelve Tables was Rome's first codified law, made publicly accessible in the Roman Forum.
- The Tribal Assembly, a plebeian assembly, gained the authority to pass laws binding on all Romans.
Military Leaders and Conflicts
- Pyrrhus led Greek forces against Roman expansion in Southern Italy.
- The Punic Wars ignited rivalry between Rome and Carthage, characterized by contrasting strengths:
- Carthage excelled at sea with foreign troops, while Rome dominated land with native troops and a robust political system.
Key Figures of the Punic Wars
- Hannibal, a Carthaginian general, famously invaded Italy via the Alps.
- Scipio defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama, solidifying Roman control over the western Mediterranean.
- The first Punic War was primarily fought over Sicily.
Political Dynamics and Civil Strife
- Publicans were responsible for tax collection in Roman society.
- Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus emerged as important reformers advocating for the Plebeians.
- The First Civil War highlighted tensions between Marius (supported by the Tribal Assembly) and Sulla (backed by the Senate).
Formation of the Triumvirate
- The Trumvirate was composed of Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Caesar.
- In 31 BC, Octavian defeated Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium, becoming the sole ruler.
Family Structure and Clans
- The pater (father) held unilateral authority over Roman families.
- Clans were groups of families sharing a common ancestor, while tribes represented larger social units united by shared beliefs.
Etruscans and Italian Civilization
- The Etruscans, an early civilization in Italy, emerged between 900-800 BC, becoming trade competitors with Greek colonies.
Legislative Framework
- The structure of the Roman Republic included three branches: the consuls, the Senate, and the assemblies.
- Resolutions passed by the Council of Plebeians were known as plebiscites.
- In 287 BC, the plebeian assembly gained the power to enact laws affecting all Romans.
War and Assassination
- Carthage sought peace in 241 BC, concluding the First Punic War by compensating Roman losses.
- The second Punic War began when Carthage attacked a Roman ally in 219 BC, leading to notable defeats such as the Battle of Cannae.
- Cato, a Roman senator, inspired action against Carthage decades after the Second Punic War.
- The Ides of March refers to March 15, when Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC.
- Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen, was romantically linked with Marc Antony.
Final Ascendancy
- Octavian, Caesar's ambitious nephew, later consolidated power following the civil wars, becoming the ultimate ruler of Rome after his victory at Actium.
- The title imperator denoted the commander of a victorious Roman army.
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Description
Explore the foundations of Ancient Rome, including its founding myths with Romulus and Remus, the social structure of Plebeians and Patricians, and the establishment of the Roman Republic. This quiz delves into the early symbols of authority, fundamental legal frameworks, and the powerful role of the Senate.
