Download Topics 7-14 Study Guide Topic 7: Roman Military Wedge

Topics 7-14 Study Guide
Topic 7:
Roman Military
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Wedge- forms a triangle and split the sides apart. This military strategy stops a big line.
The Tortoise- protective shell that covers all of them except their legs from arrows. This
military strategy stops a big line with arrows.
Repel Cavalry-men kneel on one leg in front, holding shields and arrows. The other side
cannot do anything. This military strategy is used for horses.
The Orb-circular formation where everyone is facing outward to protect each other, or
they had someone in the center they were protecting. This was used as a last resort.
Topic 8
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1st Punic War – Fought over Sicily dispute, won with corvus- a bridge that attaches to a
boat so Romans could cross over and reach the Carthaginians, Rome wins Sicily and
other nearby islands; Carthage leader Hamilcar
Cause- Rome is expanding and feels threatened by Carthage-both want Sicily
Fought-naval battle- copy Carthagian ship design= corvus- rotating bridge which drops
onto deck of opposing ship, allows army to board ship
Results-Carthage offers Rome a deal; Rome gets Sicily, and takes Sardinia, and Corsica
Carthage limits navy to 100 ships
2nd Punic War – Hannibal travels through Southern Europe & Alps with war elephants,
destroys crops, Rome gets Hannibal to leave by attacking Carthage; Rome wins Spain
and other Carthaginian territory; Hannibal had motivation for war since father lost the
1st Punic War
Cause-Carthage rebuilds strength and attacks Spain (Roman allies)
Hannibal hates Rome and wants revenge
Fought- land battles-Hannibal leaves to defend
Results-Carthage pays Rome a huge sum of money
Rome gets Spain
3rd Punic War – Carthage has no army, but Rome scared of threat, strengthening the
economy of Carthage; Rome destroys Carthage and salts the fields
Cause-Carthage regains strength and Rome feels threatened
Fought-Rome attacks and destroys Carthage
Results-Carthage is done, Rome defeats the Greeks, and Rome is number one in the
Mediterranean
Topic 9
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Rome extremely powerful from Carthage destruction, but also way too confident
Rich/poor gap widens, as tribunes are killed and the rich rebuild the land that Hannibal
destroys
Some generals begin getting too powerful (Sulla, etc.) and seem to be ignoring the
republic system a little more.
Internal struggle-everyone wants more money and power, generals have too much
wealth and power.
Too many slaves to control, and Rome underestimates – Spartacus revolt is put down by
Roman army (Crassus) after almost destroying Rome
Slaves-poor conditions, treated awfully by Patricians. Training was intense, difficult, and
nonstop. Leads to slave revolt.
In the movie, Spartacus was crucified in real life he died in battle. Most other men were
crucified based off of Roman religion.
Topic 10
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General power strengthens – Rome agrees to have three powerful generals lead Rome;
this leads to the 1st Triumvirate- 3 powerful leaders (Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar)
Crassus extremely wealthy gives Julius Caesar money
Crassus dies conquering; Julius Caesar chases Pompey – killed in Egypt (is beheaded,
men who do this are killed=disrespect for Roman general)
Julius Caesar makes alliance with Cleopatra, Egypt ruler; returns to Rome and declares
dictator for life (dictator usually would only take place for 6 months – and in case of
extreme emergency)
Julius Caesar is well –liked by plebeians. He held gladiatorial games, great military
leader, had a lot of money, began as a tribune and lost money.
Know how Julius Caesar was killed; reasons why senators Brutus, Cassius planned
attack-Senators did not like that he was not following the Roman Republic and declared
himself dictator for life. Thought they needed to help protect Rome, hard decision
because so many people like Julius Caesar.
Topic 11
After Julius Caesar killed, his three close advisors take down Cassius/ Brutus. They form
the 2nd Triumvirate.
2nd Triumvirate (Octavian – Adopted Son; Mark Antony – Leading General; Lepidus –
General) runs Rome. Lepidus discounted early – weak. Antony chased down in Egypt ,
where he was ignoring leadership and hanging out with Cleopatra
Octavian gives power to the Senate, who in turn gives him power as Emperor. Rome
now an Empire. His new name is Augustus, which means “revered one.”
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Augustus rational leader, focused on leadership. He begins the Pax Romana-period of
Roman peace, a 200 year period of relative peace in Rome.
Know what the role of the Senate is when Emperors existed
Augustus- revered one
Topic 12
 Over the course of time, good leadership and bad leadership directs the course of
Rome.
 Items constructed that you should know include:
Colosseum- Vespasian- it held naval battles here, recreate war stories, about 50-60
thousand citizens mostly plebeians entertained here
Pantheon-1st free standing dome-place where Roman gods were worshipped
Circus Maximus- (Nero’s big palace) - chariot races were held
Forum- gave speeches, talked politics
Hadrian’s Wall- protects Rome and stabilizes the border, built to keep invaders out
Arch of Constantine-to announce something successful you did, emperor would express
military accomplishments
 Know what key emperors are known for. For example: Augustus (1st emperor); Nero
(blamed for burning Rome); Commodus (end of Pax Romana); Diocletian (Rome split)think Diocletian-“divide”; Constantine (Acceptance of Christianity); Hadrian-walls;
Vespasian-colosseum; Claudius- gave plebeians more rights ;Marcus Aurelius-wrote
books and helped protect German frontiers in battle; Tiberius- mean/ ruthless,
managed money well, made favorite horse a senator
Topic 13
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Be able to describe what a Roman town is like; why were people trapped? Why weren’t
people afraid of the volcano?
The city of Pompeii was covered in ash, people were buried alive. They did not think the
eruption would be so severe so people did not evacuate.
Topic 14
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Identify reasons for the fall of Rome – we just did this, so you should already have a
good idea of key reasons
-Bad emperors
-Diseases/ Plague
-Expanding –a lot of territory to control
Final Emperor – Romulus Augustulus; Official Fall of Rome (476 CE); the Eastern part
keeps going with the capital of Constantinople for about 1000 more years. Eastern part
renamed as “Byzantine Empire”