Theater History Test 1

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Performative elements

Back 1

time, place, participants (players/audience), scenario (agenda/goal/text/rules), clothing (uniform/costume//mask/makeup), sound (speech/music), movement (gesture/pantomime/dance), function or purpose

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Joseph Campbell

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Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 31, 1987) was an American mythology professor, writer, and orator best known for his work in the fields of comparative mythology and comparative religion.

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Abydos Passion Play

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The most important Egyptian drama, concerning the story of Osiris, enacted at the most sacred place in Egypt: Abydos- the burial site of Osiris, performed annually from 2500 to 550 B.C.. the first of its kind ever recorded and is the first example of theatre.

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Memphite Drama

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recounting the story of the death and resurection of the god Osiris, and the coronation of his son Horus.

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Ikhernofret (stone)

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Some information of the proceedings of the Passion Plays of Wesir can be gleaned from a Middle Kingdom stela, which describes how a high official by name of Ikhernofret is given the task by the King to organize the Festival processions. 


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Herodotus

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was a Greek historian, regarded as the "Father of History" visited Egypt, commented that Dionysus was another version of Osiris

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Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

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Homer

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author of the early Greek poems the Iliad and the Odyssey.

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polis

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a city, a city-state and also citizenship and body of citizens.

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Dorian

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were one of the principal ancient Greek tribes with Sparta and Corinth as the major cities

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Ionian

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one of the four great divisions of the ancient Greek people, represented by Athens and the cities of Asia Minor

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Theatre of Dionysia

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named after the god of wine, one of the greatest events of the year was performed. It was a religious festival held in honor of the gods. For ten days, Athenians filled the theatre to watch plays performed by their favorite poets and playwrights. They consisted of either three tragedies or three comedies followed by a short satyr farce. The actors were all men. Women were not allowed to participate. They wore large masks and elaborate costumes while performing both male and female roles. The cost for entrance to the theatre was two obols. Those who did not have the money to pay were allowed in at no cost.

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City Dionysia

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large festival which was to be the major home of drama

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Thespis

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is claimed to be the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor in a play

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“goat song”

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a tragedy, "song for the goat", is any event with a sad and unfortunate outcome, The word's origin is Greek tragōidiā "goat song" from tragos = "goat" and aeidein = "to sing"

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Aristotle

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was a Greek philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote on diverse subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry (including theater), Along with Socrates and Plato, he was among the most influential of the ancient Greek philosophers,

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Dithyrambs

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was originally an ancient Greek hymn sung to the god Dionysus

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Arion of Corinth

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Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb. Called his work, tragikon drama

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Tragoidoi

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The name given to those who performed in Arion’s tragikon drama

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Coryphaios

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The leader of the chorus ("Coryphaios") was in the middle of the first row. Coryphaios was a professional dancer and singer.

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Hypocrites

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“interpreter” or “answerer”

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Horace

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leading Roman author, lyric poet

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Dionysus

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the Greek god of wine and fertility

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Aeschylus

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an ancient Greek playwright./dramatist/actor. First to add a second actor to the stage, creating face-to-face conflict, credited with adding third actor, 15 member chorus and use of scene painting

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Sophocles

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was the second of three great ancient Greek tragedians. He was preceded by Aeschylus, and was followed by or contemporary to Euripides. Emphasized individual characters and reduced role of chorus.

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Euripidies

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was the last of the three great tragedians of classical Athens. thru plays, questioned traditional values. It is thought he had written ninety-five plays, Eighteen of Euripides' plays have survived complete.

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Prologue

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provides information of events that have occurred prior to the opening of the play. Most tragedies begin with a prologue

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Parados

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entrance of the chorus. If there is no prologue, the parados begins the play

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Exodus

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concluding scene, includes the departure of all the characters and the chorus

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Satyr plays

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an ancient Greek form of tragicomedy. They always featured a chorus of satyrs and were based in Greek mythology and contained themes of, among other things, drinking, overt sexuality (often including large phallic props), pranks and general merriment.

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Silenus

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the teacher and faithful companion of the wine-god Dionysus. A notorious consumer of wine, he was usually drunk and had to be supported by satyrs or carried by a donkey. Silenus was described as the oldest, wisest and most drunken of the followers of Dionysus

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Phallic rites

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comedy grew out of improvisations by the leaders of phallic songs. Allowed opportunity for considerable byplay and mockery between participants

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Epicharmus

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wrote plays between c. 485 and c 467 b.c.e. He was a Greek dramatist and philosopher often credited with being one of the first comic writers

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Aristophanes

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early comic dramatist, thought to have written 40 plays. Eleven survived. He is also known as the Father of Comedy

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Old Comedy

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all written while Athens was in a war against its greatest rival Sparta. Many written by Aristophanes

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“Happy idea”

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farfetched theme (ie: sex strike to bring an end to war)

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parabasis

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choral ode in which the audience is addressed directly

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komos

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the final scene, ends with reconciliation of all the characters and their exit to a feast or revels

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Lenaia

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held in the region of Attica (Athens was principle town) one of the four festivals with a dramatic competition held in honor of Dionysus.

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Rural Dionysia

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held in the region of Attica (Athens was principle town) one of the four festivals with a dramatic competition held in honor of Dionysus. By the late fifth century, drama was added to Rural Dionysia.

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Archon eponymos

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the principal civil magistrate of Athens. Supervised the City Dionysia fesival

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Choregoi

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chosen by archon, underwrote the training and costuming of the chorus, paid the musicians and the actors and supplied properties. (modern day producer)

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Plato

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an ancient Greek philosopher, believed art was disgraceful and should be banned, finds art subversive to nature. Believed people should be involved in reality.

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Didaskalos

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actor/playwrite’s key role – Teacher- considered to be the instructor of both the performers (during process of play production) and the audience (thru the finished product)

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Chiton

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robes, traditionally worn for tragedy, sleeved, highly decorated tunic, usually floor length

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Chlamys

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short cloak

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Himation

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long cloak

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Theatre at Thorikos

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has a rectangular orchestra with only its corners rounded.. This theatres unique features included wooden seats and an elipsoidal orchestra.(www,isos.net) The theatron curves around to enclose the orchestra. it is not certain that the Theatre at Thorikos was used as a space for performing drama, or just a public meeting ground

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Orchestra

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Earliest feature of the Theatre of Dionysus, also known as “the dancing place” often circular and approx. 66 feet in diameter

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Thymele

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a table or altar located in the orchestra, no specific location on stage

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Skene

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the scene building, originated after orchestra. Skene- literally “hut” or “tent” intended originally as dressing room but later incorporated into the action

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Odeion

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built by Pericles, first known Roofed theatre

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Pinakes

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painted panels similar to modern flats, could be attached to the scene building and changed as needed, created physical exterior for temporary skene

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Periaktoi

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triangular prisms sides, later, mounted on pivots and revolved to show the appropriate side, unknown use

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Logeion

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Greek word for stage

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Ekkyklema

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a device for revealing tableaux, most often the bodies of characters killed offstage, a platform that could rolled out from skene

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Machina

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or crane, was used to show characters in flight or suspended above the earth

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Dues ex machina

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“hand of god”/ literally ‘god from the machine’ that fixes everything in the end

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Parodoi

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audience entrances into the orchestra at either side of the auditorium

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Theatron

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“seeing place” Greek word for theatre

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Middle Comedy

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lasted from 404bce to 336bce. Peleponesian war to Alexander the Great. Essentially a transitional type moving away from personal …..most don’t include a chorus

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New Comedy

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of the Hellenistic Period

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Menander

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a playwrite, over 100 fragments of plays. Only one surviving play.

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Thyromata

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mini opening on stage where penakai are located, where scenic elements are set

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Poetics

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written by Aristotle, famous work often referenced by artists

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Hellenistic Theaters

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Paraskenia

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the scenic wall in front of the skene

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Proskenion

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top of paraskenia, second level of skene (scenic building)

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Episkenion

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the façade of the second story (skin – epidermous-outside layer)

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Onkos

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high headdress of the costume

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Greco-Roman Theaters

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part Greek part Roman

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“mime”

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short satirical treatments of everyday domestic situations which supposedly first appeared in Megara, possible source of Dorian influence on Athenian comedy

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phlyakes

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the actors that perform the “mime”

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Athenaeus

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The historian who gathered the records of festivals, put into library of Egypt, library later burned

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Chapter 3 Terms

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Chapter 3 Terms

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Fescennine Verses

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people hired to shout obscenities and (throw shit) at weddings

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Etruria

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country where Etruscan’s come from

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Histroines

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the Etruscan actors of the Etruscan Theater

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Tarquin

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Established Ludi Romani. Etruscan leader

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Ludi Romani

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ludi:Festival, Roman Festival, most important in which Greek Drama was first introduced, chariots, boxing, circus, stolen from Greek festival of Dionysis

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Atellan farce (fabula Atellana)

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short pieces after plays including fighting, violence and sex

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The Republic

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of Rome, senators, democracy, central government until Empire took over

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“Republican Values”

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discipline, economy , endurance, military precision, and loyalty to family and state: made possible for Rome to become a world power

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The Empire

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republic broke and moved out to conquer land and became Roman Empire

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Livius Andronicus

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created Roman literature

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Gnaeus Naevius

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native born dramatist, who excelled in drama but wrote comedy