DOCSLIB.ORG

Questions for Roman History

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Questions for Roman History www.YoYoBrain.com - Accelerators for Memory and Learning Questions for Roman history Category: Default - (50 questions) What was the diadem A symbol of royalty in the Greek world of Alexander and his successors. It was a simple purple ribbon tied around the back of the head with the ends falling over the neck. When was the Second Punic War 218 - 201 B.C. Who is Seutonius Wrote Lives of the Caesars which is a primary source for imperial biography meaning Roman word "virtus" meant "to be a man" When was the founding of the Roman 509 B.C. republic Who led the Romans in driving out the last Lucius Junius Brutus king When was the Gallic sack of Rome 390 B.C. Meaning of Roman phrase "vae victus" "woe to the conquered" - saying after Gallic sack of Rome; Those who are conqured lose all rights, even the right to survive. When did Rome become master of Italy and by 218 B.C. Sicily When was the First Punic War 264 - 241 B.C. When was Carthage founded around 750 B.C. What does Punic mean in Latin Phoenician Who was the supreme god of Carthage Baal - sacrificed first-born sons in fire of temple Who was the preeminant Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca (father of Hannibal) general in First Punic War When did Hannibal leave New Carthage to spring of 218 B.C. start Second Punic War How big was Hannibal's force before and 50,000 infantry, 9,000 calvary, and 37 after crossing the Pyrenees and Alps elephants arrived with 20,000 infantry, 6,000 calvary, but all 37 elephants First major victory of Hannibal Battle of the River Trebbia - December 218 BC 30,000 Roman troops killed or captured Second major victory of Hannibal Battle of Lake Trasimene 217 BC where he killed 15,000 Romans by lake led by Gaius Flaminius 3rd great victory Hannibal won Battle of Cannae - killed over 70,000 Romans What Roman general was able to outwit Publius Cornelius Scipio Hannibal 3 major battles Publius Cornelius Scipio won 1. Capture of New Carthage (chief in Spain against Carthage Carthaginian base in Spain) in 209 B.C. 2. battle of Baecula in 208 B.C. defeated Hasdrubal (brother of Hannibal), driving him out of Spain 3. Battle of Ilipa, completed conquest of Carthaginian Spain What battle did Publius Cornelius Scipio Battle of Zama in August 202 B.C. defeat Hannibal Who led Roman troops in destruction of Publius Cornelius Scipio (Scipio the younger) Carthage Who was Polybius a Greek historian who wrote The Rise of the Roman Empire was childhood tudor of Scipio the Younger (Publius Cornelius Scipio)lived 203 to 120 B.C. Who was Panaetius Greek stoic philosopher who was friends with Roman Scipio the Younger (Publius Cornelius Scipio) lived 180-110 B.C. What was the "equites" class in Rome wealthly businessmen who were not in the Senate. Literally means "the horsemen". Dates back to when specific Roman citizens were officially certified as being wealthy enough to maintain a horse, and thus serve in the calvary. What was the role of 10 tribunes of the Was to be the champion of the liberty of the plebes ordinary people. One tribune could bring the entire machinery of the Roman state to a halt through his veto power. What major policy did Tiberius Graccus push in 133 B.C. passed a land law. Its purpose through in Rome was to give land back to the ordinary Roman and restore the yoeman farmer. The means was to confiscate and redestribute large amounts of land held illegally by wealthy Romans. Was passed by direct vote of people (over Senate's head), and funded by kingdom left to Rome by King Attalus of Pergamum. He was killed by opponents when running for re-election. What was the policy of Gaius Gracchus He believed that the dictatorship was the only solution to Rome's problems. As tribune of people in 123 and 122 B.C. he sought to carry out reforms to create a political base for dictatorship. Failed and was murdered along with 3,000 of his supporters. Describe the Optimates and Populares Optimates - means "the aristocrats". political parties Believed that the Senate should govern Rome. Traditionalists. Populares - means the "People's Party". Championed the rights of the ordinary Roman, believed a dictatorship was needed to accomplish. What was the Triumvirate formed in 60 B.C. by Crassus, Pompey and Julius Caesar. A alliance that allowed them to wield power. Who was Crassus lived 115-53 B.C. Richest man in Roman Empire - wealth would have exceeded J.D. Rockefeller in relative terms. formed part of Triumvirate led seven legions (35,000) men to defeat at Carrhae against Parthian army in 53 B.C. and was killed there. Who was first Roman to use army to capture Sulla in 82 B.C. Rome Who led the Gallic rebellion against Julius Vercingetorix - supported by the Driuds, he Caesar created an army of 80,000 crack troops. Who was Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey the 106 to 48 B.C. Most famous general of his Great) day. Prominate role in putting down the slave rebellion of Spartacus, cleaned up the pirate problem, getting rid of King of Pontus who had been killing Roman citizens. Formed part of Triumvirate. Fought against Julius Caesar on side of The Optimates. Lost at Battle of Pharsalus in 48 B.C., fled to Egypt where he was killed. Office of Aedile Roman magistracy in charge of the care and upkeep of the city of Rome. 4 elected annually. Traditionally, aediles entertained the Roman people with gladiatorial games, making this appointment an important step in a political career. Office of augur A member of a priestly board at Rome, charged with interpreting the manifestation of the will of the gods through divine signs. Like other Roman priesthoods, it was held by laymen. Office of consul Chief magistrate of the Roman Rupublic. 2 consuls were elected annually by the Assembly of the Roman people. In addition to their civil authority, the consuls served as commanders-in-chief of the Roman army. Office of Preator Roman magistracy, second only to consul in importance. Had the authority to lead an army. Their primary functions were judicial. In the first century B.C., 8 praetors were elected annually. Define: Praetorian Guard The bodyguard of the emperor, established by Augustus and number 9,000 troops. Office of quaestor Roman magistracy, primarily concerned with finances. in the first century B.C., 20 were elected annually. After finished, usually elected to the Senate. Describe Social War From the Latin term socii, meaning "allies", it was fought between 90-88 B.C. between Rome and their Italian allies. Rome won but granted citizenship to the allies. This profoundly effected Roman politics. Who led the assasination of Julias Caesar Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus Who was Marcus Cicero great lawyer who held many public offices. Lived 106 - 43 B.C. Wrote On Moral Obligations (De Officiis) as a moral guide to his son. Outlined Stoic philosophy. One of the most influential books ever written. Who succeeded Julius Caesar as next his great-nephew Gaius Octavius who emperor of Rome became. Caesar Augustus Who was Livy wrote History of Rome - one of the most influential historical works ever written. Who was Epictetus 50-120 AD Famous Roman stoic. Born a slave in Phrygia (in the interior of modern Turkey). Philosophy is available in The Discourses a book compiled by a student, and Enchiridion (Handbook) Who was Apuleius lived (125 to 170 A.D.) Wrote a novel Metamorphoses or Golden Ass Abouta man who is transformed into an ass. An allegory for human condition. Our beautiful soul is trapped in our body, longing for salvation. Who was Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus 50-130 A.D. Wrote Lives of the Twelve Caesars Who was Publius Cornelius Tacitus Roman historian. Wrote Annals and Histories which trace the story of the principate from Augustus to the death of Domitian..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Suicide of Lucretia Though I Absolve Myself of Wrongdoing, I Do Not Exempt Myself from Punishment
    ART AND IMAGES IN PSYCHIATRY SECTION EDITOR: JAMES C. HARRIS, MD The Suicide of Lucretia Though I absolve myself of wrongdoing, I do not exempt myself from punishment. Nor henceforth shall any unchaste woman continue to live by citing the precedent of Lucretia. Livy, History of Rome1(p81) Poor hand, why quiver’st thou at this decree?/Honor thyself to rid me of this shame;/For if I die, my honor lives in thee;/But if I live, thou livest in my defame. Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece2(p28) HE VIRTUOUS LUCRETIA WAS RAPED BY SEXTUS tians have no authority to commit suicide under any cir- Tarquinius, the son of the tyrannical king of cumstances. He condemned Lucretia’s suicide, recasting Rome, in the 6th century BC.3 Afterwards, al- it as response to her shame and not to the high value she though she was the victim, Lucretia commit- placed on chastity. Echoing Lucretia’s father and hus- Tted suicide. Fearing posthumous disgrace when Tar- band, and citing 300 nuns who were raped during the sack quin threatened to kill both her and a male slave and make of Rome and who did not commit suicide, he wrote that it appear that she had been caught in adultery with the there is no unchastity when a woman is ravished against slave, she yielded her body to him but not her mind. Her her will. Projecting a subjective Christian sense of guilt suicide was motivated by shame, not guilt; she felt anx- on Lucretia, he states that if she were indeed innocent, she ious about how others might interpret her behavior if she should not have taken her own life.
    [Show full text]
  • Aguirre-Santiago-Thesis-2013.Pdf
    CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS: TYRANNICIDE AND VIOLENCE AS POLITICAL TOOLS IN REPUBLICAN ROME A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts in History By Santiago Aguirre May 2013 The thesis of Santiago Aguirre is approved: ________________________ ______________ Thomas W. Devine, Ph.D. Date ________________________ ______________ Patricia Juarez-Dappe, Ph.D. Date ________________________ ______________ Frank L. Vatai, Ph.D, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii DEDICATION For my mother and father, who brought me to this country at the age of three and have provided me with love and guidance ever since. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for all the sacrifices that you have made to help me fulfill my dreams. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I want to thank Dr. Frank L. Vatai. He helped me re-discover my love for Ancient Greek and Roman history, both through the various courses I took with him, and the wonderful opportunity he gave me to T.A. his course on Ancient Greece. The idea to write this thesis paper, after all, was first sparked when I took Dr. Vatai’s course on the Late Roman Republic, since it made me want to go back and re-read Livy. I also want to thank Dr. Patricia Juarez-Dappe, who gave me the opportunity to read the abstract of one of my papers in the Southwestern Social Science Association conference in the spring of 2012, and later invited me to T.A. one of her courses.
    [Show full text]
  • Marcus Junius Brutus David B
    History Publications History 2007 Marcus Junius Brutus David B. Hollander Iowa State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/history_pubs Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, and the Political History Commons The ompc lete bibliographic information for this item can be found at http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ history_pubs/6. For information on how to cite this item, please visit http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ howtocite.html. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in History Publications by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Marcus Junius Brutus Abstract Marcus Junius Brutus (BREW-tuhs) came from noble stock. His reputed paternal ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus, helped overthrow the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, in 510 B.C.E. and then became one of the first two consuls of the Roman Republic. His mother, Servilia Caepionis, was descended from Gaius Servilius Ahala, who had murdered the would-be tyrant Spurius Maelius in 439. Disciplines Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity | Political History Comments "Marcus Junius Brutus," in Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives, ed. Carl L. Bankston III, Salem Press (2007) 146-148. Used with permission of EBSCO Information Services, Ipswich, MA. This article is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/history_pubs/6 Great Lives from History: Notorious Lives Marcus Junius Brutus by David B.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 33 33.4 the Plebeians Rebel Rome Was Now a Repub- Lic, but the Patricians Held All the Power
    CHAPTER In the Roman republic, elected senators debated and interpreted the laws. The Rise of the Roman Republic 33.1 Introduction In the last chapter, you learned about Etruscan and Greek influences on Rome. Early Rome was ruled by Etruscan kings from northern Italy. In this chapter, you will learn how the Romans overthrew the Etruscans and created a republic around 509 B.c.E. A republic is a form of government with elected leaders. Ancient Romans told an interesting story about the overthrow of their Etruscan masters. One day, two Etruscan princes went to see the famous oracle at Delphi, in Greece. A Roman named Lucius Junius Brutus traveled with them. At Delphi, the princes asked the oracle which of them would be the next king of Rome. The oracle answered, "The next man to have authority in Rome will be the man who first kisses his mother." Hearing these words, Brutus pretended to trip. He fell on his face, and his lips touched the Earth, "the mother of all living things." Back in Rome, Brutus led the revolt that drove out the Etruscan kings. He became one of the first leaders of the new republic. In this way, the oracle's mysterious words came true. The Romans were now free to govern them- selves. But not all Romans were equal. Power in the early republic belonged to rich men called patricians. The majority of Romans, the plebeians, had no say in the government. In this chapter, you will see how a long strug- gle between patricians and plebeians shaped the government of Rome.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of the Roman Republic
    The Rise of the Roman Republic 33.1 Introduction In the lastchapter, you learnedabout Etruscan and Greek influences on Rome.Early Romewas ruledby Etruscankings fiom northernltaly. In this chapter,you will learnhow the Romansoverthrew the Etruscansand created arepublic around 509 s.c.e.A republic is a fbrm of governmentwith electedleaders. AncientRomans told an interestingstory about the overthrowof their Etruscanmasters. One day,two Etruscanprinces went to seethe famous oracleat Delphi, in Greece.A Romannamed Lucius Junius Brutus traveled withthem. At Delphi,the princesasked the oraclewhich of them would be the next ng of Rome.The oracleanswered, "The next man to haveauthority in will be the man who first kisses mother."Hearing these words, tuspretended to trip. He fell on his , andhis lips touchedthe Earth, motherof all living things." Backin Rome.Brutus led the revolt droveout the Etruscankinss. He one of the first leadersof the republic.In thisway, the oracle's riouswords came true. The ns werenow free to sovernthem- ves.But not all Romanswere equal. r in the earlyrepublic belonged richmen called patricians. The iorityof Romans,the plebeians, no sayin the government.In this , you will seehow a long strug- betweenpatricians and plebeians the governmentof Rome. The Riseof theRoman Republic 317 33.2 Patricians and Plebeians Under Etruscan Rule Between616 and 509 s.c.e.,the Etruscansruled Rome. Senate a groupof 300men During this time, Romansociety was dividedinto two classes, electedto governRome in the patriciansand plebeians. I RomanRepublic Upper-classcitizens, called patricians, camefrom a small I consul oneof two chief group of wealthy landowners.Patricians comes from the Latin ( leadersin the Roman Republic word patres,which means"father." The patricianschose the I "fathersof the state,"the men who advisedthe Etruscanking.
    [Show full text]
  • Hamlet Is Not the Only Shakespearean Character Who Evinces the Desire to Impart Narrative Coherence to His Life in the Final Moments of Ebbing Consciousness
    CHAPTER 8 “AFTER YOUR WAY HIS TALE PRONOUNC’D”: THE APPROPRIATION OF STORY IN SHAKESPEARE Hamlet is not the only Shakespearean character who evinces the desire to impart narrative coherence to his life in the final moments of ebbing consciousness. Nor is Hamlet the only play in which it is the final words pronounced by the protagonist that reveal his deep concern with story, his awareness of the degree to which identity is bound up with narrative. In trying quite literally to get their stories right in the final instants before their deaths, a number of Shakespearean personages reveal the extent to which they have always conceived their lives as story, endeavouring to establish their identities through means that are, in the last analysis, narratological in inspiration. As the example of Hamlet’s postmortem transformation at the hands of Fortinbras illustrates, however, the conception of life as a deliberately fabricated story, and of identity itself as a function of that story, is not in the least an unproblematic one. Since there exists no one in whom narrative authority is vested in any exclusive or definitive sense, the identity of an individual constructed by narrative means is inevitably vulnerable to the caprice of anyone who happens to be endowed, for whatever reason and with whatever object in view, with the power to tell stories that pre-empt all alternatives. As is perhaps only to be expected, the personages in Shakespeare who are most susceptible to manipulations of this kind are those who are most overtly disposed to perceive themselves in narrative terms in the first place, who in one way or another consciously interpret their own lives on analogy with stories.
    [Show full text]
  • < ;-Thames & Hudson
    Philip Matyszak and Joanne Berry OF THE ROMANS With 217 illustrations, 135 in color -<�;- Thames Hudson & HALF-TITLE Bronze bust of (1616). Decius Mus typified the Augustus, formerly Octavian, warrior aristocracy of the early 27-25 BC. Republic, when Roman leaders FRONTISPIECE Fourth-century were expected to command from mosaic of a house on a lake. the front. PREVIOUS PAGE Bust of Lucius OPPOSITE Romulus and Remus Cornelius Sulla, 138-78 BC. being suckled by the wolf, thought BELOW Decius Mus addressing the to be an Etruscan statue of the sth Legions, by Peter Paul Rubens century BC. © 2008 Thames & Hudson Ltd, London All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. First published in 2008 in hardcover in the United States of America by Thames & Hudson Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10110 thamesandhudsonusa.com Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2008901001 ISBN 978-o-soo-25144-7 Printed and bound in Singapore by Tien Wah Press (Pte) Ltd 5 I BRUTUS LIBERATOR OF ROME The history of the Roman Republic both begins and ends with a Brutus. Marcus Brutus assassinated Julius Caesar soo years after Lucius Brutus expelled Rome's last king and established the Republic which Caesar over­ threw. Both Marcus and Lucius Brutus were known and trusted by the autocrats they destroyed. Lucius Junius Brutus was part of the royal family.
    [Show full text]
  • J198/02: the Foundations of Rome: from Kingship to Republic, 753–440 BC
    Qualification Accredited GCSE (9–1) Candidate style answers ANCIENT HISTORY J198 For first assessment in 2019 J198/02: The Foundations of Rome: From Kingship to Republic, 753–440 BC Version 1 www.ocr.org.uk/classics GCSE (9–1) Ancient History Candidate style answers Contents Introduction 3 Question 1 4 Question 2 6 Question 3 8 Question 4 11 Question 5 15 2 © OCR 2019 GCSE (9–1) Ancient History Candidate style answers Introduction OCR has produced this resource to support teachers in interpreting the assessment criteria for the new GCSE (9–1) Ancient History specification and to bridge the gap between new specification’s release and the availability of exemplar candidate work following first examination in summer 2019. The questions in this resource have been taken from Section A of the J198/02 Rome and its neighbours specimen question papers, which is available on the OCR website. The answers in this resource have been written by students in Year 11 and a senior examiner. They are supported by an examiner commentary. Please note that this resource is provided for advice and guidance only and does not in any way constitute an indication of grade boundaries or endorsed answers. Whilst a senior examiner has provided a possible level for each response, when marking these answers in a live series the mark a response would get depends on the whole process of standardisation, which considers the big picture of the year’s scripts. Therefore the levels awarded here should be considered to be only an estimation of what would be awarded.
    [Show full text]
  • The Government's Attempt to Train Enlightened
    ‘REAPING THE HARVEST OF THE EXPERIMENT?’ THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTEMPT TO TRAIN ENLIGHTENED CITIZENS THROUGH HISTORY EDUCATION IN REVOLUTIONARY FRANCE 17891802 Matthias Meirlaen ‘Revolution starts when the tyrant ends’,1 the young Jacobin revolu- tionary Louis Antoine Simon de Saint-Just argued on 27 December 1792 at the trial of Louis XVI. With these words, he voiced the politi- cal feelings that had gained the upper hand aft er three years of revo- lution. Since the downfall of the absolute monarchy, it was no longer considered possible to reconstruct contemporary society in a moder- ate way by making laws based on the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. A totally new order had to be established, and before this could be done, tabula rasa had to be made with the ‘old regime’. Th e mistaken past had to be erased from the public scene literally as well as symbolically. All statues that once had been set up by the Bourbons were destroyed, churches were closed, street names that referred to monarchy, feudalism or religion were replaced by names that refl ected the revolutionary ideals, and so on. Only aft er this destructive action, could be given birth to a new Republican era. In order to herald the advent of a new age, a new secular calendar was invented.2 But—paradoxically—the revolutionaries’ desire to break with the past did not imply the end of the historical revival that had been devel- oping all over western Europe since the middle of the eighteenth cen- tury. Th e least one can say is that the way the revolutionaries dealt with the past was ambiguous.
    [Show full text]
  • Before There Was the Empire, There Was the Republic
    Before there was the Empire, there was the Republic. THE RISE OF ROME LECTURE I KINGS, THE FOUNDATION OF ROME LECTURE II THE REPUBLIC, AN INFANT DEMOCRACY LECTURE III THE ROAD TO EMPIRE LECTURE IV POLITICIANS, GENERALS, AND THE MOB LECTURE V CONQUEST AND IMMIGRATION LECTURE VI WHY THE DEMOCRACY FAILED Copyright © 2011 by Dr. William J. Neidinger, Stylus Productions and The Texas Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research KINGS, THE FOUNDATION OF ROME I. INTRODUCTION - history of the Roman Republic studied by Founding Fathers of the American Revolution, French Revolution, Renaissance Italian city-states - case study in the failure of democracy - Roman Republic as a case study since Polybius (ca. 200- ca. 115 BC) - analysis of Rome’s rise to power - strength of the Roman “constitution” > empire - ancient Roman authors of Empire theorized about what went wrong with Roman Republic 1. historical narrative 2. ever-changing machinery of the democracy of Roman Republic 3. compatibility of democracy and empire 4. changes Roman Republic underwent as Republic conquered, absorbed and was changed by her subjects 5. reasons for the failure of the democracy of the Roman Republic II. ITALY IN THE 8TH CENTURY BC - Italy < Italia < Itali = people inhabiting Cape of Bruttium when Greeks arrived - ever-expanding geographical scope of “Italy” - ca. 1000 BC “invasion” / “migration” of Italic peoples into Italy - Italic peoples settled from Alps to Apulia and Calabria - various Italic peoples distantly related linguistically (IE), culturally, racially
    [Show full text]
  • Discussion Questions for the Shakespeare Play Julius Caesar and Plutarch’S Life of Julius Caesar
    Discussion Questions for the Shakespeare play Julius Caesar and Plutarch’s Life of Julius Caesar A definition of some of the terms relating to Roman authorities may be helpful. Aedile – officer in charge of public works, games, and police Censor – inspector of morals and conduct Consul – one of two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic Lictor – official who bore the fasces (a bundle of rods and axe that symbolized the authority of the magistrate) and accompanied consuls in their duties Pontiff – the titular head of the priests of Rome Praetor – a magistrate below the level of the consuls and having judicial responsibilities Quaestor – treasury official Tribune – protector of the rights of plebeians and opposed to the rights of the patricians Notes: Caesar believed that Brutus might have been his son through a relationship with Brutus’ mother, Servilia, who was in love with Caesar Rome was in theory, a republican form of representative government, with senators elected to represent the rights of the people. For the first several hundred years of its founding, Rome was a monarchy. The monarchy was overthrown by Lucius Junius Brutus, around 500 B.C. Marcus Brutus was believed to be descended from Lucius Junius Brutus Caesar never actually declared himself king, but was appointed lifetime dictator by the Senate, a title that was usually reserved for a person given absolute authority in times of war The following passages in the play can be traced to Plutarch’s Life of Caesar and/or Life of Brutus Act I, ii., lines 158-161 Act I, ii, lines 192 -195 Act I, ii, lines 220-223 Act I, ii, “He fell down in the marketplace.
    [Show full text]
  • Polybius & Livy
    CC200: Roman Republic: Polybius and Livy, Republican history and values The enclosed passages reveal some essential values of importance to the Romans during the Republic and how historians presented those values. The passages are excerpted from the works of two historians, the Greek Polybius and the Roman Livy (Titus Livius). Polybius ἱστορίαι (historiai, or “Histories”) For I maintain that by far the most essential part of history is the consideration of the remote or immediate consequences of events and especially that of causes (3.32). [T]hose who study history are, we may almost say, provided with a method for dealing with any contingency that may arise (9.2). Polybius, a Greek general and statesman, was taken to Rome as a hostage in 167 BCE when Rome was conquering Greece. He then became a tutor (and later companion) to the future conqueror of Carthage and Spain, Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus, and part of Scipio’s literary circle. Polybius’ Histories, written in Greek, was a pragmatikê historiê or “pragmatic history” of Rome’s conquest of the Mediterranean. The following excerpts come from books 1, 3, and 6. Readings #1: Polybius, history and methodology 1.1 Had previous chroniclers neglected to speak in praise of History (historia) in general, it might perhaps have been necessary for me to recommend everyone to choose for study and welcome such treatises as the present, since men have no more ready corrective of conduct than knowledge of the past. But all historians, one may say without exception, and in no half-hearted manner, but making this the beginning and end of their labor, have impressed on us that the soundest education and training for a life of active politics is the study of History, and that surest and indeed the only method of learning how to bear bravely the vicissitudes of fortune, is to recall the calamities of others.
    [Show full text]