World Hisroey Chap 6 part 1

Republic

A form of government in which people choose officials to represent them instead of voting directly on laws and policies

Dictator

A person who rules with total authority

Patrician

A wealthy landowner in Roman society

Plebeian

A commoner in Rome

Gladiator

A man who battled wild animals or other men to entertain spectators

Etruscans

The group of people who ruled Rome before Romans revolted; inspired several Roman concepts such as the Senate and the symbol of a bundle of reeds with an axe

Tarquin

Etruscan tyrant and the last king of ancient Rome

Consuls

The two most powerful magistrates in Rome; had one-year terms and veto power over each other

Cincinnatus

Famous Roman dictator who organized an army and saved Rome from enemies within 16 days

Pyrrhus

Greek general who fought Rome; almost never followed up on his battlefield victories, and virtually all that he gained was eventually lost

Hamilcar Barca

Commanded the Carthaginian land forces in Sicily from 247 BC to 241 BC during the First Punic War

Hannibal

A brilliant military strategist and sworn enemy of Rome who led Carthage’s armies (and elephants) over the Alps into Italy during the Second Punic War, but lost to Rome in 202 B.C.E.

Scipio Africanus

Roman consul in the Second Punic War who defeated Hannibal Barca at the Battle of Zama; offered consulship for life but declined it

Scipio Aemilianus

Roman general and statesman noted for his military exploits in the Third Punic War against Carthage and during the Numantine War in Spain

Tiberius Gracchus

Roman politician best known for his agrarian reform law entailing the transfer of land from the state and wealthy landowners to poorer citizens

Gaius Gracchus

A reformist Roman politician and soldier (2nd century BC) best known for proposing a wide set of laws during his plebeian tribunates in 123 and 122 BC

Gaius Marius

Roman general and statesman who held the office of consul seven times, more than any other Roman in the Republican period

Sulla

First general during the late republic to march on Rome and win a civil war; assumed the dictatorship after purging his opponents

Julius Caesar

Rome’s most successful military commander in the first century B.C.E. who crossed the Rubicon, seized power, and was named dictator by the senate in 49 B.C.E.

Octavian

The first Emperor of the Roman Empire who founded a government known as the Principate; considered the ideal emperor

Princeps Civitatis

Title meaning "First Citizen of the state"

Nero

Roman emperor whose mother poisoned his stepfather so he could take power; rumored to have started the fire of 64 AD, though he actually helped relief efforts

Praetorian Guard

Imperial bodyguard created by Augustus