Roman Empire

Caligula

Roman Emperor (37-41CE). After a promising first eight months, he then became a licentious madman until being murdered by officers of the praetorian guard.

Claudius

Roman Emperor (41-54CE). Regarded as a weak ruler, with some physical disabilities, he was eventually poisoned by his wife, Agrippina, so that her son Nero might succeed him

Nero

Roman Emperor (54-68CE) Many blamed him for the great fire at Rome in AD64 (the legendary "fiddling while Rome burned"). Four years later he was overthrown by a revolt and committed suicide to avoid capture.

Diocletian

Roman Emperor who felt the empire was too big, so he split it ruling the eastern half, appointing a co-ruler for the western half.

Constantine

Roman Emperor who made Christianity the official religion of Rome

Hadrian

Roman emperor (117-138 CE) who unified and consolidated Rome's vast empire. A wall was constructed in the Roman province of Britannia in his name.

Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor (161-180CE), best known for his Meditations on Stoic philosophy. Symbolized for many generations in the West the Golden Age of the Roman Empire.

Trajan

Roman emperor (98-117 CE) who sought to extend the boundaries of the empire to the east, undertook a vast building program, and enlarged social welfare.

Circus Maximus

an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy.

Empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress

Colosseum

ancient amphitheater in Rome, begun by Emperor Vespasian in 70 AD. Home to gladiator fights.

Doctrine

church law: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.

Apostles

each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus of Nazareth; important early Christian teachers.

Constantinople

established as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in Byzantium under Constantine (currently the city of Istanbul).

The Pantheon

former Roman temple, now a church, in Rome. The present version was completed in 126AD by Hadrian, making it one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings.

Aqueduct

raised channel used to carry water from mountains into cities

due process

the right to be treated fairly by the governments judicial system (trial by jury).

Ptolemy

Greek astronomer that lived in the Roman province of Egypt. Claimed that the sun and planets revolve around the earth (Geocentric model).

Eastern Orthodox Church

Greek-speaking eastern churches that answered to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jewish religious leader who became the central figure of Christianity. Christians believe him to be the Son of God and awaited Messiah (Christ).

Roman Catholic Church

Latin-speaking western churches that answered to the Pope in Rome.

emperor

a sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire.

Pax Romana

200 years of Roman peace

Virgil

Ancient Roman poet during the Augustan period. Known for the epic poem Aeneid.

Augustus Caesar

The first Roman emperor (ruled 27BC-AD14), was born Octavius before being adopted later by his great-uncle Julius Caesar.

Gladiator

a man who trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena (ancient Rome).

Martyr

a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.