Ancient Rome & Government

Vocabulary flashcards based on Ancient Rome, its government, and related historical contexts.

Livy

Roman historian known for writing Ab Urbe Condita, a history of Rome.

Polybius

Greek historian who analyzed the Roman Republic's mixed government system.

Plutarch

Biographer who wrote Parallel Lives, comparing Greek and Roman leaders.

Tarquin the Proud

Last king of Rome; his tyranny led to the Roman Republic's formation.

Etruscans

Early rulers of Rome, influential in culture, architecture, and religion.

Aeneas

Trojan hero, legendary founder of Rome, subject of Virgil's Aeneid.

Romulus and Remus

Mythical twins who founded Rome; Romulus became its first king.

Patricians

Roman aristocrats.

Plebs

Roman commoners.

Twelve Tables

First written Roman law code (450 BCE), foundational for legal traditions.

Tribunes

Elected officials who represented plebeians, had the power to veto laws.

Consul

Highest elected official in Rome, held executive and military power.

Senate

Governing body of Rome, mainly composed of aristocrats.

Paterfamilias

Head of a Roman household with absolute authority over family.

Patron/Client

Social system where patrons provided protection and clients gave loyalty.

Vestal Virgins

Priestesses of Vesta, tasked with maintaining Rome's sacred fire.

Lares, Penates

Household gods worshipped for family protection.

Augurs, Auspices

Priests who interpreted omens (bird flight patterns) for divine will.

Legion

Main unit of the Roman army, highly disciplined and organized.

Punic Wars

Three wars between Rome and Carthage, leading to Roman dominance.

Optimates

Political faction supporting elites.

Populares

Political faction seeking reform.

The Gracchi

Reformist brothers (Tiberius and Gaius) who fought for land redistribution.

First Triumvirate

Political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

Julius Caesar

Military leader, dictator for life, assassinated in 44 BCE.

Second Triumvirate

Alliance of Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus after Caesar's death.

Cicero

Orator and politician, defender of the Republic against tyranny.

Concordia

Roman ideal of social harmony between classes.

Princeps/Principate

Title used by Augustus, marking the early Roman Empire.

Octavian/Augustus

First Roman emperor, established the Pax Romana.

Virgil (Aeneid)

Poet who wrote Rome's national epic, glorifying its origins.

Pax Romana

Period of Roman peace (27 BCE-180 CE) under imperial rule.

Colosseum

Massive amphitheater in Rome, used for gladiator games.

Five Good Emperors

Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius; known for stable rule.

Diaspora

Scattering of the Jewish population after Roman conquests.

Synagogue

Jewish place of worship and community gathering.

Messiah

The prophesied savior in Jewish and Christian beliefs.

Rabbi

Jewish religious teacher and leader.

Mystery Cults

Secret religious groups in Rome, offering personal salvation.

Septuagint

Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

Maccabees

Jewish rebel group that fought Greek rule, led to Hanukkah.

Pharisees

Jewish sect that emphasized law and oral traditions.

Sadducees

Jewish sect that controlled the temple, rejected resurrection beliefs.

Essenes

Ascetic Jewish sect believed to have written the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Jesus of Nazareth

Central figure of Christianity, seen as the Messiah.

Apostles

Jesus's closest followers who spread Christianity.

Paul of Tarsus

Missionary who spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

Bishops

Early Christian leaders who oversaw churches in major cities.

Gnostics

Christian sect emphasizing secret knowledge and dualism.

Edward Gibbon

Historian who argued Rome fell due to internal decay (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire).

Federates

Barbarian groups serving as Rome's auxiliary troops.

Barracks Emperors

Series of short-lived emperors (3rd-century crisis) chosen by the army.

Diocletian

Emperor who stabilized Rome, introduced the Tetrarchy.

Tetrarchy

Four-ruler system created by Diocletian to govern Rome.

Prefecture/Diocese

Administrative divisions of the Roman Empire.

Constantine

Emperor who legalized Christianity and founded Constantinople.

Huns

Nomadic warriors who pressured Roman borders.

Attila

Hunnic leader who invaded Europe, threatened Rome.

Visigoths

Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in 410 CE.

Alaric

Visigothic leader who led the sack of Rome.

Edict of Milan

313 CE decree legalizing Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Patriarch

High-ranking bishop in Eastern Christianity.

Council of Nicaea/Chalcedon

Early church councils that defined Christian doctrine.

Saints

Holy figures revered in Christianity.

Hagiography

Biographies of saints, emphasizing miracles and holiness.