Civ 1. CHAPTER 5

Pax Romana

"Roman peace"; the era of Roman control over the Mediterranean basin and much of Europe between the start of the reign of Augustus (27 BCE) and the death of Marcus Aurelius

Julius Caeser

(100-44 BCE) Roman patrician who formed The First Triumvate, with Pompey and Crassus; emerged as the victor in Rome's second civil war.

Hagia Sophia

(HAH-gee-yah soh-FEE-yah) Greek name ("Holy Wisdom") of the cathedral in Constantinople, built under the Emperor Justinian; later made into a mosque by Ottoman Turkish conquerors in 1453..

Pope

(fr. Ltn. Papa) The historic Bishop of Rome and the acknowledged pastoral head of the Roman Catholic Church.

patricians

(patres) Upper governing class in ancient Rome; represented in the Senate.

plebians

(plebs) The common people of ancient Rome; represented by the Assembly.

Augustine of Hippo

Bishop of Hippo (north Africa) and chief theologian of the Western Latin Church; his two principal writings are the Confessions, a spiritual autobiography, and the City Of God

Battle of Zama

Decisive battle of the Second Punic War, Roman victory (Roman General Scipio over Hannibal) in 202 BCE was followed by absorption of most of the Carthaginian Empire in the Mediterranean. Three wars (264-02 BCE)

Constantine I "The Great"

Emperor of Rome, best known for issuing the Edict of Milan that reversed Diocletian's persecution of the Christians and proclaimed religious toleration throughout the Roman Empire.

Eusebius of Caesarea

Fourth century church historian, traditionally regarded as the "father of Church History." Wrote a Ecclesiastical History of the Church in the first three centuries, a biography of the Emperor Constantine, and served as chief secretary of the Council of Nicea

Constantinople

Greek colony that became the official residence of Constantine and remained the capitol of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empires.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jewish rabbi believed by his followers, believed to be the One foretold in the Old Testament, as "the anointed" priest, prophet & king (Heb., Messiah; Grk., Christos) in the future Kingdom of God.

censors

Officials with great powers of surveillance during the Roman republic

proconsuls

Provincial governors and military commanders in ancient Rome.

Carthage

Rival city-state and Empire in the Mediterranean basin to Rome in the last centuries, BCE before ultimate defeat

Diocletian

Roman Emperor, known for his conquests and reforms, chiefly the creation of a Tetrarchy, which divided the Roman Empire into western and eastern halves, under an Augustus (senior emperor) and a Caesar (junior emperor or successor), respectively.

Tetrarcy

Rule of four; a system of monarchic rule established by Roman emperor Diocletian at the end of the third century c.e.; failed to achieve its goals.

Milvian Bridge

Scene of famous battle in 312 CE, at which Constantine had his vision according to Eusebius of Caesarea. He defeated his more powerful rival Maxentius, which led to his triumphal entry into Rome, and proclamation as the Emperor in the West.

Edict of Milan

The Roman Emperor Constantine published the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which ending the persecution of Christians and established religious toleration. Made Christianity the principal religion of the Empire.

Byzantine Empire

The continuation of the Roman imperium or rule in its eastern provinces until it's fall to the Muslim Turks in 1453; named after the capital city, Byzantium

Battle of Actium

The decisive 31 BCE battle in the struggle between Octavian Caeser and Mark Antony, in which Octavian's victory paved the way for the Principate

Council of Nicea

The first Ecumenical Council held in 325 CE in Nicea, called to resolve controversies over doctrine, specifically, the divinity of Christ. Presided over by Emperor Constantine; published the Nicene Creed as statement of Faith.

Praetorian Guard

The imperial bodyguard in the Roman Empire and the only armed force in Italy.

Punic Wars

Three conflicts between Rome and Carthage the ended with the destruction of Carthaginian Empire, and the extension or Roman control throughout the western Mediterranean.

Corpus Iuris

better known as Code Justinian, which was the codification and streamlining of all Roman codes into one; published under the direction of Emperor Justinian in the mid-500s CE

consuls

chief executives of the Roman republic; two chosen annually in Senate

tribunes

the chief representatives of the plebians during the Roman Republic; elected annually by the Assembly of the Plebes.

Etruscans

the pre-Roman rulers of most of northern and central Italy and cultural models for early Roman civilization. Influenced religion and architecture primarily.

Principate

the reign of Augustus Caesar from 27 BCE to 14 CE; Augustus preferred title of Princep ('first citizen"), from which we derive the word, "Prince"