Ancient Rome

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. Rule by an emperor. The policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence. union imperialism. Roman Imperialism. Within approximately 200 years the city state of Rome expanded militarily to become the dominant power on the peninsula of Italy; in the following 200 years the same military establishment rose to assume authority over the entire Mediterranean world.

Dictator

A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force. In 47, Caesar was named dictator for a term of ten years. Shortly before his assassination in BC 44, Caesar was named dictator perpetuo rei publicae constituendae, and given the power to appoint magistrates at will.

Republic

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Apostle

Any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world. During the 1st century AD, the apostles established churches throughout the territories of the Roman Empire and, according to tradition, through the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Heresy

Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine. In Western Christianity, heresy most commonly refers to those beliefs which were declared to be anathema by any of the ecumenical councils recognized by the Catholic Church. In the East, the term "heresy" is eclectic and can refer to anything at variance with Church tradition. An example of heresy is a Catholic who says God does not exist.

Messiah

In Abrahamic religions, the Messiah, is the one chosen to lead the world and save it. In Jewish eschatology, the term came to refer to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line, who will be "anointed" with holy anointing oil, to be king of God's kingdom, and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age.

Bishop

In some Christian churches, a person appointed to oversee a group of priests or ministers and their congregations. In the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Roman Catholic Church, bishops are considered the successors of the Twelve Apostles.

Revolutionary

Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change. The Roman Architectural Revolution, also known as the concrete Revolution, was the widespread use in Roman architecture of the previously little-used architectural forms of the arch, vault, and dome. For the first time in history, their potential was fully exploited in the construction of a wide range of civil engineering. The Overthrow of the Roman monarchy was a political revolution in ancient Rome in around 509 BC, which resulted in the expulsion of the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, and the establishment of the Roman Republic.

Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people might be distinguished by nobility, wealth, family ties, education or corporate, religious or military control.

Clergy

Ordained clergy in the Roman Catholic Church are either deacons, priests, or bishops belonging to the diaconate, the presbyterate, or the episcopate, respectively. Among bishops, some are metropolitans, archbishops, or patriarchs. The group or body of ordained persons in a religion, as distinguished from the laity. Involves performing religious ceremonies, such as birth and coming of age rituals, weddings, and funerals. Clergy professionals lead worship based on religious doctrines, and they are often sought for spiritual guidance and other assistance.

Monastic

Relating to monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows, or the buildings in which they live.Unlike Roman Catholic monasticism, the Orthodox do not have separate religious orders, but a single monastic form throughout the Orthodox Church. Monastics, male or female, live away from the world, in order to pray for the world. The earliest Roman Catholic monks were hermetical, living solitary lives far from the noise and distraction of civilization. Monastic communities started to rise in the fourth century, giving birth to various religious orders, many of which still exist today.

Slaves

Slavery in ancient Rome played an important role in society and the economy. Besides manual labour, slaves performed many domestic services, and might be employed at highly skilled jobs and professions. Accountants and physicians were often slaves. Greek slaves in particular might be highly educated. Roman law was inconsistent on slavery. ... Masters often freed loyal slaves in gratitude for their faithful service, but slaves could also save money to purchase their freedom. Conditions for slaves in Rome gradually improved, although slaves were treated cruelly in the countryside.

Pax Romana

The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was a period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire which lasted for over 200 years, beginning with the reign of Augustus (27 BCE - 14 CE). Pax Romana which is Latin for "Roman Peace" was a time, as the name suggests, a long period of peace and minimal military expansion from 27 BC to about 180 AD. The main importance was that all of the land surrounding the Mediterranean was at peace because everyone was under Roman Law. The Pax Romana meant that merchants in Egypt could trade with farmers in Britain. This continental trade increased the overall amount of wealth in the world and specifically the wealth of the Roman world. This wealth enabled Rome's feats of engineering, architecture and culture.

Pope

The bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Legions

A Roman legion was the largest unit of the Roman army, evolving from 3000 men in early times to over 5200 men in imperial times, consisting of centuries as the basic units. Until the middle of the first century, 10 cohorts made up a Roman Legion. The general structure of the legion, the major unit of the ancient Roman military.

Veto

A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body. The power of a president or governor to reject a bill proposed by a legislature by refusing to sign it into law. The president or governor actually writes the word veto (Latin for "I forbid") on the bill and sends it back to the legislature with a statement of his or her objections.

Latifundia

A latifundium is a very extensive parcel of privately owned land. The latifundia (Latin: lātus, "spacious" + fundus, "farm, estate") of Roman history were great landed estates specializing in agriculture destined for export: grain, olive oil, or wine. The historical significance of the latifundia is that their creation helped lead to social unrest in the later part of the Roman Republic. The latifundia were large estates owned by riche landowners. They were formed by buying up land form small farmers or taking over government land.

Missionary

A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to proselytize and/or perform ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.

Martyr

A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. A person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion.

Epistle

A poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters. A book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle. An epistle is not a person but a thing. Not every book in the New Testament is an epistle but every letter written is an epistle.

Patricians

The distinction between patricians and plebeians in Ancient Rome was based purely on birth. Although modern writers often portray patricians as rich and powerful families who managed to secure power over the less-fortunate plebeian families, plebeians and patricians among the senatorial class were equally wealthy. The word "patrician" comes from the Latin "patres", meaning "fathers", and these families provided the empire's political, religious, and military leadership. Most patricians were wealthy landowners from old families, but the class was open to a chosen few who had been deliberately promoted by the emperor. The patricians enjoyed to eat, fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and bread. They used honey to sweeten foods or wine. The patricians, like all Romans wore the tunic and toga.

Patriarch

The male head of a family or tribe., any of those biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaa. The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church and the Church of the East are termed patriarchs.

Phalanx

The phalanx (Ancient Greek: φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, φάλαγγες, phalanges) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons. he phalanx formation was a close-rank, dense grouping of warriors armed with long spears and interlocking shields. The Greek Hoplite soldier provided his own weapon (a seven or eight foot spear known as a `doru') and shield as well as breast plate, helmet and greaves.

Expansionism

The policy of territorial or economic expansion. Romans, like other ancient peoples took spoils from their defeated enemies. In the early period of Rome's development the most important spoils that Romans took from their enemies was land. Rome seldom had enough land to provide for all of her citizens.

Plebeians

The term plebeian referred to all free Roman citizens who were not members of the patrician, senatorial or equestrian classes. Plebeians were average working citizens of Rome - farmers, bakers, builders or craftsmen - who worked hard to support their families and pay their taxes. Plebeians and Patricians. Roman citizens were divided up into two distinct classes: the plebeians and the patricians. The patricians were the wealthy upper class people. Everyone else was considered a plebeian. Plebeians were average working citizens of Rome - farmers, bakers, builders or craftsmen - who worked hard to support their families and pay their taxes.

Tribune

Title of various elected officials in Ancient Rome. The two most important were the tribunes of the plebs and the military tribunes. For most of Roman history, a college of ten tribunes of the plebs acted as a check on the authority of the senate and the annual magistrates. Plebeian tribune, was the first office of the Roman state that was open to the plebeians, and throughout the history of the Republic, the most important check on the power of the Roman Senate and magistrates.

Consul

Was the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic, and the consulship was considered the highest level of the cursus honorum (an ascending sequence of public offices to which politicians aspired). Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. The Roman republic was led by two Consuls who were joint heads of the Roman state and commanders-in-chief of the army. They were elected only for one year and thereafter could not be re-elected again for 10 years, in order to prevent any form of tyranny. Until 367 BC plebeians were not allowed in the office of consul. Their duties varied considerably during this time. They had the job of the censors (conducting census) and were the supreme judges in the courts at some point. 2) Chief law-maker and new-law-implementer. Laws were made by the consuls and the tribunes of the plebs. Absolute authority was expressed in the consul's imperium, but its arbitrary exercise was limited: the consuls, nominated by the Senate and elected by the people in the Comitia Centuriata (a popular assembly), held office for only a year, and each consul had power of veto over the other's decisions.