Questions about the period of ancient Roman civilization when the government operated as a republic from 509 BC to 27 BC.
8
votes
3answers
169 views
At the Battle of Zama, was the Roman army more “native” than the Carthaginian?
At the battle of Zama, which army had a higher proportion of native troops? Within the context of this question consider troops to be either "native" or "mercenary". Native troops serve out of ...
7
votes
1answer
176 views
Did the Romans “copy” their political system from the Greeks?
This is an outgrowth of the discussion here. My sense is that the Romans developed their system autochthonously, probably with some influence from their Etruscan neigbours and one-time-overlords.
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5
votes
1answer
189 views
What role did Jews play in the Punic Wars?
There were Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean at the time of the Punic Wars? What role if any, did jews play in these wars?
6
votes
1answer
391 views
“No sane man will dance.”? When / where / about-what did Cicero say this?
I hate quotes out of context, even great lines like "No sane man will dance." -- which was allegedly uttered by Cicero. But every time the quote is used, context is omitted. Was Cicero really ...
1
vote
2answers
165 views
What was the source of the idea of a republic?
Where did the Greeks or the Romans find the idea of a "Republic"? What was the source of the idea? Did the idea come from philosophers, or citizens, etc.?
5
votes
1answer
124 views
Did the Carthaginians have the option of sending Hannibal to Sicily?
Sicily was a major focus of the First and Second Punic Wars. The first Punic war ended with Carthage handing over major grain-growing areas on the island, and the port of Lilybaem to Rome as spoils of ...
7
votes
1answer
439 views
What kind of siege weapons were used during Punic wars
I would like to know which kind of siege weapons were used during Punic wars on both sides, there is not wery much information around.
6
votes
2answers
280 views
Who proposed the motion that gave Gaius Julius Caesar the title Augustus?
In 27 BC, the Senate gave Gaius Julius Caesar the title Augustus. I am assuming that as the senate gave him that title, the motion must have been proposed by someone at the senate floor. Do we know, ...
9
votes
1answer
64 views
In which direction does the thumb point in the “pollice verso?”
Pollice verso was the gesture used to indicate death by roman crowds in the arena. However, wikipedia notes some debate over the exact gesture indicated by the phrase.
Has there been any relevant ...
10
votes
1answer
205 views
Short or long Roman numerals?
TL;DR: Is 1995 correctly written as MVM, or as something more like MCMLVL? MCMVC? MCMLXLV? MCMLXXXXV?
From what I recall from my Latin classes (European highschool...), you are not supposed to write ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Any suggestions on a book about the Roman conquest of Greece [closed]
I have read lots on the period of around the Punic war and the period during the civil war, but I have yet to read a good modern book on the Romanization of the east. I have read some of the ...
14
votes
2answers
423 views
What form of home address did Romans use?
Were the buildings in an ancient Roman city numbered, named or something else? How would they tell each other where they lived? Were the numbers painted on the walls? Did they have apartment numbers? ...
14
votes
1answer
316 views
What did the Romans do for Judea?
I watched The Life of Brian and I heard this quotation:
And from our fathers' fathers' fathers.
Reg: Yes.
Stan: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers' fathers.
Reg: All right, ...
12
votes
5answers
671 views
How well can cavalry fight infantry?
In the Battle of Pharsalus, Caesar's infantry won by throwing their spears at the horsemen's faces.
So how come in Battle of Zama and many other battles, including the battle where Khalid ibn ...
3
votes
3answers
411 views
In Battle of Zama, how did Hannibal's use of war elephants lead to a Roman Victory?
Why did Hannibal attack with elephants from the front? Why not from side?
Also why did the elephants just keep walking through the small gap? Why not wreak havoc in the middle of Roman troops? (like ...
7
votes
2answers
196 views
Did the Gallic army besieged in Alesia conduct itself well when expecting relief?
During a Gallic revolution against Rome, a Gallic army of some 80,000 men took shelter in the fortress town of Alesia, where they were besieged by some 50,000 Romans under Julius Caesar. (His army may ...
10
votes
1answer
147 views
What were the rights of various classes of people in the Roman Republic?
Ancient Rome is often cited as a republic/democracy, and one of the earliest examples of a civilisation enforcing some degree of human rights. However, it's no secret that slavery was present in Rome. ...
12
votes
2answers
359 views
What factors contributed to earlier democratic states failing?
Conventional wisdom says that democracy is the superior form of government.
If this is true, then factors might have contributed to earlier democratic states like Athens in 500 BCE and the Roman ...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Why was Caesar at the Rubicon?
«Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος» (anerriphtho kybos, lit. Let the die be cast) was attributed by Suetonius to Caesar when it was reported that some legionaries cross the Rubicon. Why did Caesar move to the Rubicon ...
10
votes
4answers
184 views
What is considered to be the pivotal battle between Caesar and Pompey?
Caesar and Pompey's forces battled with one another on numerous occasions during the Fall of the Roman Republic. What is the earliest battle that is commonly accepted as the one where it became clear ...
