OCR GCSE Ancient History – Rome Questions & Answers

Give the name and dates of Rome's first king - ANSWERSRomulus, 753-716 Give the name and dates of Rome's second king - ANSWERSNuma Pompilius, 715-673 Give the name and dates of Rome's third king - ANSWERSTullus Hostilius, 673-642 Give the names and dates of Rome's fourth king - ANSWERSAncus Marcius, 642-616 Give the names and dates of Rome's fifth king (1st Etruscan king) - ANSWERSLucius Tarquinius Priscus, 616-579 Give the names and dates of Rome's sixth king (2nd Etruscan king) - ANSWERSServius Tullius, 578-535 Give the names and dates of Rome's seventh and final king (3rd Etruscan king) - ANSWERSLucius Tarquinius Superbus, 535-509 In what year was the republic established? - ANSWERS509 In what year did the Roman-Etruscan (Porsennan) Wars begin? - ANSWERSc. 508 In what year was the role of dictator created? - ANSWERS501 In what year was the battle of Lake Regilius and the defeat of Superbus? - ANSWERSc. 496 In what year was the First Secession? - ANSWERS494 In what year was the Volero uprising? - ANSWERS471 Give the dates of the three-year period in which both Decemvirates and the second secession started and ended - ANSWERS451-449 How does Livy describe the accounts of history which he uses? What does he say about his methodology? - ANSWERS"mainly poetic tales, rather than reliable records of historical events" He had "no intention of challenging these tales", because the "ancients must be allowed to make the foundation of their city ... more impressive by adding the divine to human history" Livy used many sources. Who, however, was likely his most influential source? - ANSWERSFabius Pictor, a Roman historian writing at the end of the 3rd century, drawing together all available sources to create a timeline of Roman history. What was Livy's philosophy? - ANSWERSStoicism (virtue is based on gaining knowledge) What was Dionysus of Halicarnassus'saim? - ANSWERSTo emulate Herodotus, by demonstrating the influence of Greek ideas Why did early Greek and later Roman authors create Aeneas? - ANSWERSTo link the foundation of Rome with Homer's Iliad Describe Aeneas' marriage and the founding of the Latins - ANSWERSAeneas and his army were Trojan refugees. They arrived in Italy, stealing food to survive. King Latinus tried to drive him out of Italy, but formed a strong friendship with him after they fought together against the Etruscans. Aeneas married his daughter, Lavinia, and founded a city called Lavinium. Over time, the Trojan Lavinium united with local tribes from Latium, creating a group of people known as the Latins. Who founded Alba Longa? What were his descendants known as? - ANSWERSAscanius, the son of Aeneas, The Silvan Kings When did Aeneas supposedly found Lavinium? When was it actually founded and by what? - ANSWERS12th Century, the 10th-7th Century as part of the spread of the Villanovan civilisation Describe the legend of Romulus and Remus. - ANSWERSRomulus's grandfather, the Silvan king Numitor of Alba Longa, was ousted from power by his brother, Amulius. Amulius murdered Numitor's son (Romulus's uncle) and made his daughter Rhea (Romulus's mother) a Vestal Virgin to prevent her having children. Rhea Silvia gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus anyway. To avoid execution, she told Amulius that the god Mars had made her pregnant. Amulius imprisoned her and ordered the twins be drowned in the Tiber. Discovered by a she-wolf, they were nursed until a shepherd discovered them. The shepherd Faustulus and his wife Larentia suspected they were royalty, but raised them as their own. A gang of robbers ambushed them, Remus was captured and given to Amulius but Romulus escaped. Amulius worked out who Remus was, but Romulus organised an army, killed Amulius, restored Numitor to the throne, and freed Remus. What did Romans claim Romulus created? - ANSWERSAsylum, City walls for saftey, political representation with the patron-client system, the Senate Why is the story of Romulus inaccurate? - ANSWERSRome was likely founded in the 13th-12th century, whereas the Roman historians give the date of 21st April 753, chosen for religious reasons. Only four kings between 753-617 is very unlikely. Roman historians say no systems were removed, with the Republic just adding to Romulus' system. This is extremely unlikely. With which king does Romulus agree to share power? - ANSWERSThe Sabine king Tatius Describe Romulus's religious initiatives - ANSWERSLivy: Adopted the customs of local cities, e.g. AL Dionysus: Assessed Greek practices and chose the best Livy: Built a temple to Jupiter to commemorate military success, was influenced by the Greek legend of Heracles, and transformed into a god with his disappearance Describe Romulus's military initiatives - ANSWERSMilitary Tribunes organised the call to arms for each tribe Centurions commanded each unit, called a century, made of 60-100 men Celeres were the most loyal soldiers, and acted as the bodyguard for Romulus. They were drawn from the equites class Describe the rape of the Sabine women - ANSWERSRomulus needed women for his new city. He appealed to his neighbours to help him arrange marriages between his leading men and their women. They all refused. He organised a festival with games, inviting the Sabines. During it, Romans abducted many young Sabine women, raping them. Eventually, the women settled. The Sabine king, Titus Tatius, spent 9 months making allies and preparing for war, just enough time for the Sabine women to have children. One of his allies, the city of Caenina, did not wait and plundered the outskirts of Rome. Romulus massacred their army, marching into Caenina. Romulus began the tradition of spoila opima, building the temple of Jupiter Feretrius. The Sabines invaded and took much of Rome. Rome's leading general, Hostius Hostilius, was murdered and there was panic. Romulus prayed to Jupiter and retook the citidael. The Sabine women entered the battlefield and pleaded for the fighting to stop (if Rome wins, orphans, if Sabines win, widows). Romulus agreed to share power with Tatius, building the Forum to cement it. How did Romulus die? - ANSWERSHe was killed by a mob of anger senators. Supposedly he was taken up to heaven in a storm cloud while reviewing his troops. Describe the transition between Romulus and Numa - ANSWERSThe senators murdered Romulus, and attempted to rule by themselves for a year, known as the interregnum. There was unrest as the patricians did not serve the plebeians well. To end disorder, the Senate chose Numa, a Sabine noblemen with a reputation for piety and justice. Describe Numa's religious initiatives - ANSWERS- Married a goddess named Egeria, who advised him how to govern Rome with religion - Created a priesthood for Mars (Father), Romulus (Son), and Quirinus (Divine spirit of Romulus). The idea of the trinity would be borrowed by other religions, e.g. Christianity - Flamen Dialis created for Jupiter by Romulus. He also made sure the king performed his sacred duties, even during times of war - Pontiff created by Numa, chosen from the Senate as an official to look after religious practices in Rome - Introduced Vestal Virigns, set aside public funds for the upkeep - Some archaeological evidence that Etruscan ideas began to influence Roman religion around 50 years after Numa's death, but sketchy - Created a lunar calendar Describe Numa's diplomacy - ANSWERSPoor men from the asylum were planning a revolt. Numa gave them some of Romulus's land to end the conflict peacefully. This story is anachronistic, suited more to Conflict of Orders Divided Rome into districts with an official to inspect them, reporting workers that were negligent so the king could intervene peacefully. Construction of Temple of Janus, doors were always left open except after the 1st Punic war, after the Augustan civil war, and during Numa's reign. Tullus Hostilius shook Rome from what? - ANSWERS"idleness" Describe the battle of Tullus Hostilius against Alba - ANSWERSThe Romans and Albans had been close allies for a while, but the Alban king Gaius Cluilius wanted compensation for damage caused by Roman border cattle raiders. The Albans set up camp on the outskirts of Rome, but their king died, and was replaced with the dictator Mettius. Mettius attempted diplomacy, reminding Tullus of their common Trojan heritage. Mettius and Tullus agreed to avoid war, but wanted to still see conflict, so organised a fight between the Horatii and Curiatti triplets. Two of the Horatii were quickly killed, but each of the Curiatti were wounded different amounts. The last Horatii ran away, and the Curiatti pursued at different speeds due to their wounds, so he could kill them one by one. Rome therefore won, and took control of Alba