IDENTIFICATIONS & QUESTIONS: WEEK V

IDENTIFICATIONS

Romulus and Remus*
Horatius Cocles*
Scaevola*
Cincinnatus
The Samnite Wars*
Pyrrhus
The Punic Wars* Concise
Hamilcar Barca
Hannibal* Concise
Scipio Africanus* Concise
Cato the Elder
The Wars with Macedonia
Philip V of Macedon
Scipio Aemilianus
Jugurtha
Marius*
*Sulla
Mithridates the Great
Pompey*
Julius Caesar*
Antony
Augustus*

LOCATIONS

Rome*
Carthage*
Macedonia*
Thessaly
Corinth*
Numidia
Pergamum
Pontus
Syria*
Gaul*

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Some have called Rome a "culturally imperialistic" society. What is the content of that statement?

What is the tone of Livy's Preface? Optimistic, pessimistic, or both? What are the purposes of his History?

What are the mechanics of declaring war under the Roman Republic? Is the method moral or formulaic, or both?

What is deditio? What are its potential uses in diplomacy and realtions with foreign powers? What role did deditio play in Roman expansion?

What is the stated reasons that Polybius gives for writing his History?

What empires does Polybius list to compare with Rome? In what ways does Polybius claim his History is special?

What comments does Polybius make at the outset concerning Roman imperialism? How does Fortune (Tyche) play a role here?

What theory does Polybius present regarding the constitution of Rome? Why does he dwell on the constitution?

What are Polybius' final attitudes towards the dominance of Rome?

Why does Polybius provide a description of the customs of the Romans? What role do those customs play in Roman imperialism?

How is Rome portrayed in the Letter of Mithridates? Why does Sallust insert such a letter in his History of Rome?