Everything you need to know about Rome!

veto

"I forbid" - to forbid/prevent a law from going into effect. Consuls could veto each other's laws.

Cicero

(106-43 BC) Roman orator and philosopher, tried to stop the chaos in Rome's government by encouraging Romans to limit the power of generals, give more support to the Senate, and restore checks and balances on government

Pompey

(106-48 BC) Roman general, he was an ally of Caesar but later the two went to war and Pompey was defeated in Egypt.

Cleopatra

(69-30 BC), Egyptian queen, she became a devoted ally of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. After Marc Anthony (her lover) was defeated by Octavian, she committed suicide.

Hadrian

(76-138) Roman emperor, he conquered most of Britain and built a huge wall across the northern part of the island to keep barbarian invaders from the north out of Roman territory.

Marc Anthony

(c. 82-30 BC) Roman general, he fought against Octavian after the death of Julius Caesar. Antony was allies with Cleopatra of Egypt, but was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.

Pax Romana

200 year period of peace in Rome. Roman Peace, a period of general peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire that lasted from 27 BC to AD 180

Republic

A government where some citizens have the right to elect their leaders. From "Res Publica" - people's thing.

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); Rome won all 3 wars and Carthage was destroyed. Rome became the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.

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.

Magistrates

An elected official in Rome, councils that led the government, judged court cases and led the army. Served for one year. Had power over all citizens.

The leader of the Huns

Attila

Who was born Octavian but given a new name by the Roman Senate in 27 BC?

Augustus

Hannibal

Carthaginian military commander in the 2nd Punic War. Attempted a surprise attack on Rome by crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.

Plebeians

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. (They were the poor people of Rome.)

Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity and made it a legal religion

Constantine

Roman Emperor who moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium

Constantine

What is "cultural diffusion"?

Cultures sharing and blending ideas

Which Roman Emperor split the Empire into two parts?

Diocletian

Pink = Greek

Eastern Empire spoke mostly

T/F: After Marc Antony became emperor, the Roman Empire grew politically and economically and life improved for the Roman people.

False

T/F: Rome was the center of the Roman Empire, but it was not the largest city. That honor went to Pompeii, which may have had more than a million residents at its height.

False

How long did the senate serve?

For life

How long did the magistrates serve?

For one year

Roman cities had a _____________ for markets and public gatherings

Forum

Aeneaus

Founded Rome and his alliance was Latins

Barbarians that invaded Rome and contributed to it's Fall

Germanic Tribes (Vandals, Goths, Visagoths, Franks, Ostrogoths), Huns

Roman architecture borrowed heavily from

Greece

Cinicinnatus

He was a famous dictator is loyal to the republic admired by THE PEOPLE but he did not want to be a dictator so he went back to being a farmer

Julius Caesar

He was made dictator (absolute ruler) in 45BC. He realized Rome needed reforms, so he gave land to the poor and increased the Senate to 900 members. By increasing the number of Senators, he weakened the Senate's power. He was assassinated by some senators 44BC. Caesar conquered most of Gaul and was named dictator for life.

peninsula

Land surrounded by water on three sides. Greece and Italy are both peninsulas.

Mediterranean Sea

Large body of water that touches borders of northern Africa, Europe, & Asia Minor. Literally means "Middle of land". Romans called it "Mare Nostrum" (Our sea).

The Byzantine Empire (Eastern part of the Roman Empire)

Lasted 1,000 years and preserved Greco-Roman culture

the primary language in Ancient Rome was

Latin

What does SPQR stand for?

Latin - Senatus populusque romanus or English - Roman Senate and People

The Etruscans

Lived in a region just north of Rome called Etruria. Conquered the Romans in 616BC. Introduced the arch and army structure to the Romans.

What are the three parts of the Roman government?

Magistrates, Roman Senate, and Assemblies and Tribunes

After the Fall of Rome the Western Empire broke into

Many small kingdoms

The main body of water for trade was the _______ it was sometimes called the _________.

Mediterranean Sea - Roman Lake

Checks and balances

Methods for balancing power

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire lead Europe into the

Middle Ages

dictator

Noun - A person who was given total power in times of crisis. But the power was temporary.

gladiator

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

emperor

Noun - The ruler of an empire.

caesar

Noun - The title given to a Roman ruler.

provinces

Noun - areas outside of Italy that the Romans controlled

currency

Noun - money

orator

Noun - public speaker

The first Roman Emperor was

Octavian - Augustus Caesar

German Warrior who removed the last emperor from the Western Roman Empire

Odoacer

The Latins

Original settlers of Palatine Hill area. Spoke Latin. They were soon taken over by the Etruscans.

The name for the long period of peace at the beginning of the Empire. It lasted a little over 200 years

Pax Romana

I joined forces with Caesar to fight against the Senate, but then decided Caesar was becoming too powerful and fought him instead.

Pompey

Why were Roman Roads were so important to the development of the Roman Empire?

Provided quick travel for the Army and Trade

Assemblies and tribunes

Represented the common people, approved Laws, declared war, elected magistrates. Any citizen could attend an assembly, served for one year. Could veto the decisions of consuls and other magistrates.

Forum

Rome's public meeting place

Who were at the bottom of Roman Social Structure?

Slaves

Which part of the empire preserved Greco-Roman culture for the future?

The Byzantine Empire (Eastern part of the Roman Empire)

The Byzantine Empire

The Eastern part of the Empire became known as the

Germanic tribes that invaded Western Rome were running from...

The Huns/Mongols

Latin

The Roman's language

During the Republic, officials wrote down the laws and put them in the forum. These were called

The Twelve Tables

The Ides of March

The day Julius Caesar was assassinated, March 15th, also Mom's BD;). "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. (It's an Etruscan word.) Betrayed by Brutus on this day.

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.

Roman Senate

The law-makers of Rome. Made up of 300 members from the Patricians. They served for life. Council of wealthy and powerful citizens who advised Rome's leaders - the magistrates, gained control over financial affairs.

Contributing factors to the Fall of Rome included

The military hired foreign soldiers (mercenaries), There was a trade imbalance (bought more than they produced), The Empire had gotten too large

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.

Tiber River

The river where Rome was founded.

Romulus and Remus

They were two sons that founded Rome

What was the assemblies and tribunes primary job?

To elect the magistrates

T/F: At its height, Rome ruled one of the largest empires in all of world history. The Roman Empire included large chunks of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

True

T/F: Roman emperors added land to the empire for many reasons: to control hostile neighbors, for economic gain, and simply because they enjoyed war.

True

Consuls

Two officials who headed the Roman Republic government. They were elected by the Senate. One managed the government and the other commanded the army. Served for 1-year.

persecute

Verb - To punish people for their religious beliefs.

Patricians

Wealthy, land-holding, upper-class, group of powerful Romans. (They were the rich people of Rome.)

Which part of the Roman Empire was finally conquered by the Visigoths ?

Western Empire

Purple = Latin

Western Empire spoke mostly

Why were Roman Aqueducts so important?

brought fresh water to the cites

The rich and powerful in Ancient Rome were called

patricians

Early Roman religion was

polytheistic - influenced by Greece

Mercenary

soldiers for hire