Ancient Rome

Pax Romana

200 year period of peace in Rome. Roman Peace. There were 5 important rulers during this time (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius).

synagogue

A Jewish place of worship; a temple.

disciple

A follower.

Republic

A government where some citizens have the right to vote.

gladiator

A prisoner, criminal, or slave who served as a professional fighter in Rome. The most famous place they fought at, was the Colosseum.

dictator

A ruler with total control over the peopld. Example: Julius Caesar.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Patrician

A wealthy, land-holding, upper-class, group of powerful Romans, that made up the Senate in Rome.

barbarians

A word that Romans used to refer to anyone outside the empire who did not share in the Greek or Roman cultures. Some barbarian tribes were the Vandals, the Visogoths, the Ostrogoths, the Huns.

catacomb

An underground room used as a burial place.

Hannibal

Carthaginian military commander who, in the Second Punic War, attempted a surprise attack on Rome, crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.

Constantine

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)

Julius Caesar

He was made dictator (absolute ruler) in 45 BC. He realized Rome needed reforms, so he gave land to the poor and increased the Senate to 900 members. By increasing the Senate, he weakened the power of it. He was assassinated by some senators 44 BC.

triumvirate

It is a government by 3 (tri) people with equal power.

peninsula

Land surrounded by water on three sides.

Mediterranean Sea

Large body of water that touches borders of northern Africa, Europe, & Asia Minor.

The Etruscans

Lived in the northern part of Rome, and soon controlled it by 650 BC. They turned Rome into a huge city. They introduced the toga and the Roman army borrowed their military organization.

vandal

Someone who destroys (vandalizes) property.

polytheism

The belief in or worship of many gods and goddesses.

Plebeian

The common, regular people of Rome. They were the farmers, artisans, and merchants who had little wealth or power. They elected tribunes to represent them in government.

The Ides of March

The day Julius Caesar was assassinated, March 15th. "Beware, the Ides of March". The word "ides" means the 15th day of March, May, July, or October and the 13th day of every other month. They believe the word is an Etruscan word....interesting, right?

Twelve Tables

The earliest written collection of Roman laws, drawn up by patricians. These twelve codes became the foundation of Roman law. The laws talked about property, crime, family, theft, marriage and inheritance. They were engraved on tablets of metal and put on display at the Forum in the city of Rome, so that everyone could see them.

Senate

The governing "body" of Rome. Made up of 300 members from the upper-class Patricians. They interpreted the laws and were the most powerful.

paterfamilias

The head of the family or household in Roman law -always male- and the only member to have full legal rights. This person had absolute power over his family, which extended to life and death.

Pope

The leader of the Roman Catholic church.

The Alps

The mountain range in northern Italy. They run E to W and W to E.

The Appennines

The mountain range running down through Italy. They run N to S and S to N.

Tribunes

The people who represented the Plebians (common people) in government. They had "veto" power.

veto

The power to stop a law from passing.

Tiber River

The river where Rome was founded.

emperor

The ruler of an empire.

caesar

The title given to a Roman ruler.

Consuls

The two officials (people) that were elected by the Senate. One manages the government, while the other one commands the army.

The Latins

They lived in a region of Latium, spoke Latin, were herders and farmers. They were soon taken over by the Etruscans.

The Greeks

This group settled in southern Italy and Sicily. They influenced the peoples of Rome. They passed things to the Romans such as knowledge of growing olives and grapes, the alphabet, sculpture and architecture. Culture diffusion!

persecute

To punish people for their beliefs.

pillage

To rob.