Unit 11 lesson five the Roman Republic unit review
1. What were the two main social classes in the Roman Republic?
The two main social classes in the Roman Republic were the patricians (wealthy landowning class) and the plebeians (commoners, including farmers, traders, and artisans).
2. What were the Twelve Tables and why were they important?
The Twelve Tables were a set of laws written in 451-450 BCE that were displayed in the Roman Forum. They were created to provide formal written laws that both patricians and plebeians could understand and follow. The Twelve Tables were important because they represented a major step towards equal rights and legal protection for all Roman citizens.
3. What were the Punic Wars and who was the famous Carthaginian general?
The Punic Wars were a series of conflicts between the Roman Republic and the city-state of Carthage in North Africa. The most famous Carthaginian general was Hannibal, who famously led an army, including elephants, across the Alps to attack Rome during the Second Punic War.
4. Who were the Gracchus brothers and what were their reforms?
The Gracchus brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, were Roman politicians who sought to introduce land reforms to help the plebeians. Tiberius Gracchus pushed for a law to redistribute public land to poor farmers, while Gaius Gracchus proposed reforms such as subsidizing grain, limiting the power of the Senate, and granting citizenship to allies of Rome.
5. Who was Julius Caesar and what happened to him?
Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the transition of Rome from a republic to an empire. He conquered Gaul (modern-day France) and became the most powerful figure in Rome. However, his growing power and popularity led to fears among the Senate, which ultimately led to his assassination in 44 BCE.
6. What was the significance of the Battle of Actium?
The Battle of Actium, fought in 31 BCE, was a naval battle between the forces of Octavian (later known as Augustus) and Mark Antony. Octavian emerged victorious, securing his position as the sole ruler of Rome and leading to the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
7. Who was Augustus and what were his accomplishments?
Augustus, originally known as Octavian, was the first emperor of Rome. He ruled from 27 BCE until his death in 14 CE. Augustus successfully consolidated power, brought peace to the empire (known as Pax Romana), reformed the tax system, and initiated massive building projects in Rome.
8. How did the Roman Republic transform into the Roman Empire?
The Roman Republic transformed into the Roman Empire through a series of political changes and conflicts. Julius Caesar's assassination led to a power struggle, eventually resulting in the rise of Augustus as the first emperor. Augustus centralized power and became the sole ruler, starting the Roman Empire.