In Roman religion what type of relationship existed between gods and humans? 

Gods and humans bound together, religion bound the gods to the state, and even to the people. 

Gods were not all-knowing, but knew more than people.

How do the terms paxdeorum and do ut des relate to the nature of Roman religion? 

Identify- 

numen or numina, genius, juno, Penates and Lares. 

Numen: spirit that controls objects, places, and even processes

Genius: the guiding spirit

Juno: god of babies, youth, looked after women

Penates: spirits that guarded the house

Lares: household gods, look after family when in home

Did the Romans practice human sacrifice? 

Identify anthropomorphism and syncretism and to relate them to Roman religion.

Anthropomorphism: Gods taken human form and personalities

- greek and etruscan influence

- temples come from this

Syncretism: Roman gods become associated with similar greek gods and take over their functions, personalities, and myths

- Venus: god of love (becomes more important)

-Mars: party god (becomes less dignified)

What exactly was a templum?  

- Auspices conducted a templum

- a sacred district or area defined and inaugurated by augur(s) 

- could be an area in the sky for viewing lighting or birds

- also could be a rectangular area on the ground

- Aedes: a physical structure constructed in a templum

What functions did a temple (aedes) have in Roman religion?

- different from templum. physical structure. 

- used for a temple or sanctuary, so it corresponds much more closely to the modern sense of the word 'temple'.

What was sought in taking the auspices, and what sorts of things were consulted?  

- determination of divine will by interpretation of signs

- based on day, time, history

- public auspices only taken by magistrate

- also based on timing

What were the Sibylline Books?  

- Oracles of the Sibyl of Cumae

- Guidance not predictions

- Consulted only by special board of priests at request of the senate

- Importation of several cults and certain ceremonies

- Original oracles destroyed in 83 

- Entire collection destroyed in the 5th century A.D.

What was required of most Roman priests?

- members of the ruling class

- importat to know ritual, not si much spirituality or holiness

- Not a seperate profession: part-time or spare-time position

- could hold another office at the same time

- appointed or elected as part of public career

- usually for life

Pontiffs

- college of priests

16 of them 

- originally appointed, eventually elected

- custodians and interpreters of sacred law and ritual for the community

- controlled the calendar

- advisory group (like senate)

What were extispicy and hepatoscopy?  

ways of divination, along with haruspices.

Extispicy: determination of divine will by examining internal organs of sacrificed animal

Hepatospcopy: divination focused on animals liver

How and when did one become a Vestal Virgin?

Only female priesthood

6

- chosen between ages 6 and 10 

- strict regulations, especially chastity

- unchaste vestals buried alive

- kept the temple and fire of Vesta

How long did they serve?  

What was their primary responsibility in addition to taking care of Vesta’s temple?  

Maintaining the sacred fire

To what do the letters "D M" refer?  

Dis Manibus

"sacred to the spirits of the dead"

- "di" manus: spirits of the dead

- "manes" without "di" came to mean also the soul of the deceased

How did the paterfamilias chase away the lemures?

Augurs

- a college

- experts in techniques and rules of interpreting the will of the gods (auspices)

- upheld augural doctrine that governed observation and application of the auspices 

- defined templa

Septemviri epulones

(seven men for ritual meals)

196

- originally 3 members

- arranged and organized, possibly just oversaw and advised, the Feast of Jupiter held at teh Roman and Plebian games, and possibly public banquets at some other festivals

- way of divination

- soothsayer

- expert at interpreting entrails, lightning, and prodigies

- looked at unnatural events seen as potential danger

What was the year of the battle of Cynocephalae, which country was Rome’s opponent, what military lesson did it teach?  

Fought by Flaminius in 197

Against Greece

What policy towards the Greeks did the Romans try after this battle?

Romans not interested in occupying Greece

 Greeks in Wurope and Asia freed

Flaminius makes dramatic announcement

What was the year and significance of the Battle of Magnesia?  

190

I think this is after Antiochus leaves Rome and moves into Asia minor, and Romans actually follow him and take over his empire. He still keeps the thrown, just doesn't own the land.

What change in finances occurred as a result of Rome’s victory in the Third Macedonian War?  

End of Taxes

Soon small farms can't sustain farmers, people move to cities for jobs. But there isn't enough money for building projects so those jobs aren't available. End of profitable wars. 

For what act is Attalus III of Pergamum known?

He wanted to save his people from a fight and eventual Roman intervention, so gives them the territory. Becomes basis for Roman province in Asia.

Rome now dominates the mediterranean.

How did politics and the upper-class social system fuel the political problems of the Republic’s last century?   

- govt was corrupt, people paid members to rule in their favor

- controlled by small circle of powerful families

- violence becomes deciding factor

- lack of real constitution and contradictory system of governance (assembles, senate, governors)

What flaw in the system of Roman government help to destabilize the state?  

Why did the Roman way of governing its provinces encourage corruption and abuse of power?  

What was causing problems for small farmers in the countryside? 

- small farms not enough to support the farmers

- move to cities for jobs, none there. turns to slums

- slave labor increasng relied upon in agriculture

- lots of slave revolts

What other major problem was associated with labor in the countryside?  Why was land reform a national security issue?  

- less money for building projects, terrible time for rural people to seek a better life in city

- end of profitable wars

- land reform national security issue because the army required a certain amount of wealth  to qualify for service. poverty meant fewer people qualified, fewer troops. 

- between 164-136 army loses about 19000 soldiers

What was the equestrian order?  

What did T. Gracchus’ legislation try to do and how did he break with tradition?

- essentially tried to help growing crime and urban slums

- took land reform bill (distributing land to the poor) directly to assembly without going through senate

- removed an obstructive tribune from office

- put himself on Agrarian Commission to carry out plan

- used assembly to usurp control over wealth of Attalus III of Pergamum (important precedent!)

- ran for a second term as tribune of the people

- "Res Novae": Revolution

In which year did Tiberius attempt his reforms? 

133...?

I know that's at least when he was killed

Which office did Gaius Gracchus turn into a powerful weapon? 

he becomes too powerful to live!

converts tribunship into an office more powerful than the consulship itself

What did G. Gracchus do to help farmers?  

- built roads employing and benefitting farmers

- fixed selling price of grains by govt to prevent price strikes, built warehouses for grain

- the grain price and fluctuating food prices changed with unemployment

- builds warehouses for grain and as public works employment

To stabilize grain prices?

To reduce the numbers of the urban poor?  

brings back colonies

also built more roads promoting and benefiting farmers

What did the senatus consultum ultimum authorize?

"final decree of the senate"

gives consulship permission to do whatever they feel is right

Optimates and populares

What was the main difference between them? 

NOT political parties.

P: "populists" members of ruling aristocracy, tended to be more for personal power. Aimed at helping the discontented and disadvantaged.

O: "the best people" relied on traditional ways to gain support and power. Wanted to maintain status quo.

What was the meaning of the phrase res novae?  

Political revolution 

(Optimates did not want this)

How was the war with Jugurtha relevant to the political scene at Rome?  

Marius, ruler during this war, could tell people were not happy about fighting. He goes to people to encourage them to write letters supporting the troops. 

War: 111-105

How did Marius portray himself to the people? 

How did Marius finally solve the manpower problem of the army, and what effect did his solution have on the last century of the Republic?  

Creates volunteer army

Each general rewards his own troops with land. Creates better bond between general and troops, rather government and men

What tactical change did he make to the organization of the legion?

Reorganizes them to a germanic formation. Dominates for a very long time. 

- more people, flexibitly, power, easier to control

Also had men carry their own packs "marasmule"

What was a novus homo?  

"new man"

What was the Social War, when was it fought, and what concession were the Romans forced to make to end it?  

90-88

- Assasination of Livius Drasus in 91 ends hope of citizenship for italian allies

- so italians rebel, and they have just as much experience as Romans, and were a big part of original roman armies

- citizenship for Italians ends war

- precedent of civil war

What was the controversy concerning the assignment of the command in the First Mithridatic War, and what flaw did it reveal in the political system?  

What precedent was set in resolving the political impasse over the assignment of the command?  

What were the proscriptions [or the proscription lists]?

What was unusual about the office Sulla assumed to enact his reforms and in what year was he given this office?  

Dictator for the Reconstruction of the Republic

- no time limit

- wants to restore power to the nobles in the senate

Which group did Sulla try to strengthen?

What reforms did he enact to do this (focus on the tribunate, magistracies, and the courts)?  

• Breaks power and attraction of the tribunate
• Sets minimum age for magistracies and makes "cursus honorum" mandatory (requires a 10 yr waiting period between consulships)
• Expands senate to 600
• Transfers trials from assemblies to seven permanent courts presided over by senators

What was the basis of Pompey’s fame?  

• Many military successes
• He built the type of career Sulla feared
• Very good military leader, not a politician

Why was his career at odds with the Sullan reforms? 

What was basis of Crassus’ fame?   

• Rival of Pompey
• Lacked military reputation
• Did favors and gave money to build supporters

Be able to identify Sertorius, Mithridates, and Spartacus. 

Spart: won many battles against Roman forces

Mith: became king by killing brother and imprisoning his mother. Attacks wealthy province, then enters it as a savior, then massacres 80000 people. Pompey drove him out, and Mith commits suicide

Sert: great military commander, known for battles against rome for Hispana

Who defeated Spartacus, and who got credit for defeating him?

Marcus Licinius Crasus

- some experience in civil wars under sulla in the 80s

- he restored discipline to the Roman forces

- used "decimatio": punishment of every 10th man

- pompey takes credit for killing sparticus

What dramatic display after the Slave War was intended to discourage another rebellion?   

Catiline and the man most responsible for stopping him

What did Cicero envision in his concordia ordinum?

To what famous recent Roman leader was Caesar related?

How did Pompey try to manage the areas in the East that were under Rome’s control but were not provinces?  

Drove mithridates out, he kills himself. So then is able to organize the east.

resuts in 20000 talents of gold and silver to roman treasury and increases rome's annual income from 50 mil to 135 mil 

- he returns to rome in 62 with plans for the east that the senate must approve. land for veterans to settle. Senate refused.

Who received credit for defeating Mithridates?

What problems caused Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar to form the First Triumvirate?  

Cato was shitting on everything they wanted to do

pompey- give land in east to veterans

crassus- relieve taxes from companies in Asia

caesar- wants to be allowed to declare candidacy for consulship

60

Caesar makes consul in 59, brings in pompey and crassus for unofficial arrangement

How did Caesar build his power during the 50s, and in contrast, what was Rome like in the presence of Pompey?   

He wrote books and had people publish them so people knew what he was doing during the Gallic War (58-51)

Pompey let Rome go into political chaos. Then his wife dies, who was also daughter to Caesar in 54. Then Crassus dies in 53, increases upset from Caesar. Uneasy alliance of pompey and the optimates

What involvement did Cato the Younger and Clodius have in the fall of the Republic?  

How, where, and when was Crassus removed from the triumvirate?

What was the significance of crossing the Rubicon?

In which battle did Caesar defeat Pompey, and what was the year?  

How did Caesar treat former political enemies?  

How did Caesar try to reduce the influence of the old Roman aristocracy?

What seems to have been his goal in dealing with the people of Italy and the empire?  

What did Caesar do to address the economic problems of the poorer people of Rome?

tax reforms done more locally

public works employs a lot of people, beautifies city, and promotes caesar

What was his longest lasting reform?  

Solar calendar

365 1/4 days

What big political mistake did Caesar make in his exercise of power?  

Too open about absolute power

- wore a special robe

- had special chair

- too "king" like

overt autocracy not a solution

In what year was Caesar assassinated?  

In what year did Latin literature begin?  

Founded by Livius Andronicus

greek slave captured in 272

first plays were comedies!

performed in 240

What precedent did Livius Andronicus set for Roman literature?  

What is the relationship between the writer Naevius and free speech on the Roman stage?  

According to Ward, which literary genre was Rome’s most important contribution to Western literature?  

What does fabula palliata mean in regards to setting and costume?   

What two traditions came together in fabula palliata?

became known as roman comedy

1) greek new comedy: domestic, hetero love with middle class men who act eccentric and grouchy. loved rude soldiers

- also stock characters

2) Italian improv performances: informal songs and dances. in groups. fescinnine (obscene lyrics) and satura (duets)

How did Roman comedy differ from Greek New Comedy? 

roman comedy based on greek originals, added music, gave emphasis to the character of clever slave

Who produced the plays of Roman comedy and when?

was part of state religious festival or big event (triumph, funeral)

191

How does Plautus describe his audience?  

Compare the characteristics of the works of Plautus and Terence  

Plautus: entertainment > storyline

exaggerates

slapstick comedy

clever slaves galore

38% play dialogue, music important

Terence: not as creative

way less music

emphasis on character and storyline

no random scenes

Why is the prologue of Terence’s Hecyra important?  

puts it on 3 times, always bad

insults audience in prologue

What accusations were made against Terence?  

contaminatio: added material from another play

furtum: used scene from play already traslated

Lucretius wrote to spread the teachings of which philosophy?  

What was his purpose in writing?  

What was his basic message?  

atomic theory

all things die

gods unconcerned

seek serenity

For what characteristic and for which works is Catullus best known?  

For what characteristic of his works is Caesar known?  

Who is considered the greatest prose stylist of the Latin language? 

Cicero

Aside from the writing, why are this author’s letters and speeches important?