Ancient Rome Vocab

Social Studies

cuniculus

an underground irrigation system invented by the Etruscans

Etruscan

an ancient inhabitant of Etruria, a land in north and central Italy

gladiator

a person trained to fight for public entertainment

Greco-Roman

having characteristics of Roman culture with a strong Greek influence

Rome

the capital city of the Roman civilization, founded about 700 B.C.E.

constitution

a set of basic laws

consul

one of two chief leaders in Rome

patrician

in the Roman Republic, a member of the upper, ruling class

plebeian

in the Roman Republic, one of the common people

republic

a form of government in which leaders are elected to represent the people

senate

a group of 300 men elected to govern Rome

tribune

an official of Rome elected by plebeians to represent them

veto

to refuse to approve proposals of government

Caesar Augustus

Julius Caesar’s grandnephew and adopted son, Octavian; Rome’s first emperor

civil war

a war between groups in the same country

dictator

a ruler with absolute power

Julius Caesar

Roman general who ended the Roman Republic when he seized power and became dictator for life

Pax Romana

a 200-year period of peace and stability established and maintained

Punic wars

a series of wars fought between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean

Circus Maximus

a large Roman stadium primarily used for chariot races

Colosseum

a large arena in Rome where gladiator contests and other games and sporting events were held

Forum

the center of most of the important public activities of the city Rome and its empire

paterfamilias

the oldest male of a Roman household; his word was law for the family

rule of law

the idea that people should live according to a set of agreed-upon laws

aqueducts

a pipe or channel built to carry water over a long distance

Byzantine Empire

the name for the eastern Roman Empire, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia; it lasted from about 500 to 1453 C.E.

Latin

the language originally spoken in ancient Rome, on which many words in modern languages are based

Natural law

the concept that there is a universal order built into nature that can guide moral thinking

patron

a person who promotes artistic activities by paying for new works and supporting artists

Renaissance

a great flowering of culture based on classical Greek and Roman ideas that began in Italy around 1300 and spread throughout Europe

Stoicism

a philosophy that flourished in ancient Greece and Rome and that focused on developing virtue, self-control, and courage as a way to achieve happiness

triumphal arch

a large monument in the shape of an arch that celebrates a leader or a military victory