Ancient Rome Pt.2

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Hanibal

Carthaginian general who led his army on a hazardous winter march through the Alps to attack Rome.

Carthage

The capital city of the Carthagian empire on the north coast of Africa. The Romans destroyed the city and salted the earth so nothing could grow there again.

Fall of Rome

476 C.E. due to 1) military interference in politics, 2) civil war and unrest, 3) moving the capital and division of the empire, 4) economic factors, 5) poor harvests, and more. Immediate causes were pressure from Huns and invasion by Germanic tribes.

The Alps

Mountain range in northern Italy. They run East-West

The Appennines

Mountain range running through central Italy. They run North-South.

Paterfamilias

The male head of the family or household, and the only member to have full legal rights. This person had absolute power over his family, which extended to life and death.

Toga

Garment that adult men wore wrapped around their bodies as a symbol of Roman citizenship

Roman numerals

Numeric symbols formed with the Roman letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M.

Rhetoric

the art of public speaking and debate

Twelve Tables

The earliest written collection of Roman laws.

Gladiator

A prisoner, criminal, or slave who served as a professional fighter in Rome.

Catacomb

Underground room used as a burial place.

Aqueducts

Artificial bridges that carried fresh water from the mountains to the cities

Vault

a series of arches used in Roman architecture

The Forum

Rome's public meeting space

The Colosseum

Large open-aired stadium in Rome

concrete

Mixture of sand or gravel and cement, used as a strong building material.

barbarians

A word Romans used to refer to anyone outside the empire who did not share in the Greek or Roman cultures. Some such tribes were the Vandals, the Visogoths, the Ostrogoths, the Huns.