西方文明史复习题sx大题

1.What polices and instructions help explain the Roman s’ success in conquering Italy?

Rome’s empire was built in three stages: the conquest of Italy, the conflict with Carthage and expansion into the western Mediterranean, and the involvement with and domination of the Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern Mediterranean. Much of their expansion was opportunistic; once involved in a situation that threatened their security, the Romans did not hesitate to act. And then they involved them in more conflicts as the threats raised. Romans liked to portray themselves as declaring war only for defensive reasons or to protect allies.

But indeed, it is a group of Roman aristocratic leaders who favored the glory, economic benefits and abundant slave labor supply it offered. Roman imperialism had become more arrogant and brutal as well. Roman’s foreign success also had enormous repercussions for the internal development of the Roman Republic.

2.What influence did the Etruscans and Greeks have on early Roman history?

Etruscans:By transforming villages into towns and cities, they brought urbanization to northern and central Italy.

Greeks: They cultivated the olive and the vine, passed on their alphabetic system of writing, and provided artistic and cultural models through their sculpture, architecture, and literature.

While Greek influence initially touched Rome indirectly through the Etruscans, the Roman conquest of southern Italy and Sicily brought them into direct contact with the Greeks.

3.What is the new constitutional order that Augustus created?

The basic governmental structure consisted of the princeps (Augustus) and an aristocratic senate. Augustus retained the senate as the chief deliberative body of the Roman state. Its decrees, screened in advance by the princeps, now had the effect of law. The title of princeps-first citizen of the state-carried no power in itself, Augustus held the office of consul, which gave him imperium, or the right to command. When Augustus gave up the consulship, he was granted maius imperium-greater imperium than all others. More over Augustus was given the power of a tribune without actually holding the office itself; this power enabled him to propose laws and veto any item of public business.

4.How did the geography of Greece affect Greek history?

Greece occupied a small area, a mountainous peninsula that encompassed only 45,000 square miles of territory. The mountainous terrain had the effect of isolating Greeks form one another. Consequently, Greek communities tended to follow their own separate paths and develop their own way life. Over a period of time, these communities became attached to their independence and were only too willing to fight one another to gain advantage. No doubt the small size of these independent Greek communities fostered participation in political affairs and unique cultural expressions, but the rivalry among these communities also led to the bitter warfare that ultimately devastated Greek society. The sea also influenced the evolution of Greek society. Greek topography helped determine the major territories into which Greece was ultimately divided.