Western Civ Test Two

Julius Caesar

Roman general and dictator whose assassination in 44 BC led to the end of the Roman Republic.

Augustus (Octavian)

First Roman emperor who defeated Antony and Cleopatra and began the Pax Romana.

Battle of Actium (31 BC)

Naval battle where Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra, ending the civil wars.

Pax Romana

200 years of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire (31 BC–AD 180).

Principate

Political system created by Augustus where the emperor ruled but kept the appearance of the Republic.

Princeps

Title meaning 'first citizen,' used by Augustus.

Imperial policy toward the provinces

Rome governed provinces through governors who collected taxes, kept order, and spread Roman law and culture.

Virgil

Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid about the origins and destiny of Rome.

Livy

Roman historian who wrote From the Founding of the City.

Galen

Influential Roman physician whose medical teachings lasted centuries.

Aqueducts

Roman structures that carried water into cities.

Colosseum

Large Roman amphitheater used for public games.

Pantheon

Roman temple dedicated to all the gods.

Ius gentium

'Law of nations'; Roman law applied to non-citizens.

Constantine

Roman emperor who legalized Christianity and founded Constantinople.

Edict of Milan (313)

Law granting religious freedom to Christians.

Constantinople

New capital of the Roman Empire founded by Constantine.

Legacy of the Roman Empire

Roman law, citizenship, Christianity, Latin language, and classical culture.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire that lasted until 1453.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor who codified Roman law and built Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia

Great church built in Constantinople under Justinian.

Corpus Iuris Civilis

Justinian’s codified body of Roman law.

Abraham

Patriarch of Israel and father of the Twelve Tribes; made a covenant with God.

Moses

Leader of the Exodus who received the Law from God.

Mosaic Law

The Law given to Israel through Moses (Torah).

David

King of Israel who made Jerusalem the capital.

Solomon

King of Israel who built the Temple in Jerusalem.

Kingdom of Israel

Northern kingdom (capital: Samaria) conquered by Assyria in 721 BC.

Kingdom of Judah

Southern kingdom (capital: Jerusalem) conquered by Babylon in 586 BC.

Assyrian invasion (721 BC)

Conquest of the northern kingdom and deportation of its people.

Babylonian invasion (586 BC)

Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple; exile of Judah.

Maccabean Revolt

Jewish revolt against Greek rule (165–142 BC).

Diaspora

Scattering of Jewish people outside Israel.

Koine

Common Greek language spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

Septuagint

Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Jewish understanding of God

Belief in one God (monotheism) who made a covenant with Israel and acts in history.

Gospel narratives

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Jesus

Jewish teacher believed by Christians to be the Messiah and Son of God.

Kingdom of God

God’s rule breaking into human history.

Incarnation

God becoming human in Jesus Christ.

Resurrection

Jesus rising from the dead; central Christian belief.

Book of Acts

Account of the early Church and spread of Christianity.

Apostle Peter

Leader of the early Christian Church.

Apostle Paul

Missionary who spread Christianity to Gentiles.

Council of Jerusalem (AD 50)

Meeting that decided Gentile Christians did not need to follow full Jewish law.

Formation of the Bible (Canon)

Process of officially recognizing the books of the New Testament (finalized in 4th century).

Orthodoxy

Correct belief and doctrine.

Baptism

Christian sacrament of initiation.

Eucharist

Christian sacrament commemorating Jesus’ Last Supper.

Bishops

Church leaders who preserved apostolic teaching.

Age of Martyrs

Period when Christians were persecuted by Rome.

Relics

Physical remains of saints and martyrs.

Persecution

Roman punishment of Christians for refusing to worship the emperor.

'Hatred of Humanity'

Roman accusation against Christians.

Christianity and the classical heritage

Debate about using Greek and Roman philosophy; conclusion that faith guides reason.

Faith and reason

Belief that reason supports and explains faith.

Jerome

Church father who translated the Bible into Latin.

Vulgate

Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible.

Fabiola

Early Christian known for charity work.

Monasticism

Religious life of prayer and discipline apart from society.

Antony

Early desert monk and founder of monasticism.

Benedict

Founder of the Benedictine Rule for monastic communities.