Download Early Rome, the Republic, Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus quiz

Early Rome, the Republic, Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus
quiz study guide
Refer to powerpoints and notes posted on the website for help
Early Rome:
Geography
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Italian peninsula
started as a city-state
influenced by Etruscans and Greeks; descended from Latins
o Etruscans taught architecture, engineering and religion
less rugged terrain than Greece; more farmland; easier to travel
Alps to the north, Appenines running down the middle
City of Rome built on 7 hills, the Tiber River going through the middle
Republic
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“Republic”=thing of the people
Etruscans defeated by Romans by 509BC
Patricians=rich, landowners.
Senate=representative Patricians that speak for the people
o 2 consuls head the Senate.
 Command armies
 Supervise business of g’vt
Plebians=poor people
Dictator given power temporarily in times of emergency
o Cincinnatus=famous temporary dictator who defended Rome and gave
up power after victory
Rome: Engineering an Empire video notes—see my webpage for answers to the
questions based on the video
Decline of the Republic
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 Civil Wars over who should hold power—Senate or the influential politicians
 Slave uprisings and revolts
 Legions loyal to commanders over Senate
JULIUS CAESAR
o Ambitious general
o Loved by his soldiers
o Caesar rises to power with Pompey and Cassius (The First Triumvirate)
o Caesar and Pompey struggle for power
o Caesar goes on a 9-year military campaign into Gaul, conquering
territories—“Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered)
o Pompey and Senate declare Caesar must disband his army because he
is too popular with them and they are too dangerous
o Caesar does not disband the army; he crosses the Rubicon and invades
Rome—“The die is cast!”
o Caesar’s reforms: jobs to the jobless, public land to the poor, Roman
citizenship more common, invented Julian calendar
o Assassinated in 44BC on the Senate floor (opponent’s worry Caesar is
too powerful)
CAESAR AUGUSTUS
o Octavian, the adopted heir of Julius Caesar fights against Marc Antony
for control of the Roman Empire and wins. Marc Antony commits
suicide with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
o Octavian receives title of Caesar Augustus (meaning the exalted one)
from the Senate. Augustus has absolute power.
o Augustus contributes
 A stable government by allowing self-governance of provinces
 The best man for the job gets it, regardless of social class
 Postal service
 A census and a tax system that is considerate of the poor
 Unemployed people put to work on building roads and temples
o Augustus has negative effects
Takes away power from the people by limiting Senate power
Sets precedent of absolute power, taken advantage of by
following corrupt emperors
 Rules with iron fist; merciless
Caligula and Nero = bad , probably insane, emperors
o Caligula appointed his horse consul
o Nero persecuted Christians harshly and probably was responsible for
burning most of the city down
Hadrian and Marcus Aerilius = good emperors
o Hadrian sets standard Roman law throughout the empire; built
Hadrian’s Wall in Britain to keep out attackers
o Marcus Aerilius was virtuous, noble and committed to duty. He read
philosophy when on his military campaign
PAX ROMANA (The Peace of Rome) 200-year period started by Augustus and
ending with Marcus Aerilius
o No wars in the Empire
o A good time to be a Roman citizen
o Stable government
o Empire stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia
Bread and Circuses
o Entertainment for the citizens, to keep minds off of real problems
o The Coliseum used for gladiator fights, naval reenactments, circuses,
feeding Christians to the lions, festivals
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