Ancient Rome Vocabulary

Christianity

Religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth.

Pantheon

Religious building in Rome; "Temple to all Gods".

Tiber River

River running through Rome.

Sicily

Rome and Carthage fought over this island during the first Punic War.

Dome

Rounded roof; architectural contribution/achievement.

Barbarians

"Uncivilized" persons who fought against Roman Empire.

Consuls

Two elected leaders of the Senate during the Republic.

Pax Romana

Two hundred years of Roman peace; started with Octavian.

Arch

A curved support; architectural contribution/achievement.

Hannibal

Carthage general who fought with elephants in the Second Punic War.

Carthage

City which lost the Punic Wars.

Plebian

Common person in Rome.

Etruscans

Early peoples who lived in the northern Italian Peninsula.

Greeks

Early peoples who lived in the southern Italian Peninsula.

Latins

Early peoples who lived on the Tiber River (where Rome is today).

Tribune

Group elected to protect the interests of the plebeians.

Triumvirate

Group of three rulers (for example, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus)

Paul

He spread Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Senate

In the Roman Republic, a representative group of patricians.

Assembly

In the Roman Republic, a representative group of plebeians.

Peninsula

Land with water on three sides.

Bishop

Leader of early Christian community.

Romulus and Remus

Legendary founders of Rome.

Veto

Means "I forbid" in government, stops a law from happening.

Concrete

New material used for building, instead of using stone; Roman contribution.

Ides of March

On this day in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was assassinated.

Colosseum

Place where the gladiators fought - "Bread and Circuses".

Roman Civil War

Problems during the Republic because of the gap between the rich and poor.

Octavian

The first Emperor of Rome Empire; part of the second Triumvirate.

Patrician

Wealthy land owner in Rome.