Ancient Rome: Vocabulary (copy)

Aqueduct

A long bridge or channel that carries water to a city.

Consuls

Two leaders in Rome who helped make big decisions.

Dictator

A person who is given all the power for a short time during a crisis.

Forum

A public place where people met to talk and make plans.

Gladiators

Fighters who battled in arenas to entertain crowds.

Legions

Large groups of soldiers who fought for Rome.

Patricians

Rich and important families in Rome.

Pax Romana

A long time when Rome was peaceful and safe.

Plebeians

The regular people of Rome who did not come from rich families.

Province

A part of the empire that was far away from the main city.

Republic

A way of running a country where people vote for their leaders.

Romance Languages

Languages like Spanish and French that started from Latin.

Satire

A funny way to show that something is silly or wrong.

Veto

The power to say “no” to a decision.

What was a significant feature of the Roman Empire during the Pax Romana?

A period of peace and stability.

What marked the beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe?

The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.

What was the official language of the Roman Empire?

Latin, which influenced many modern languages.

What distinguished Roman society in terms of class?

It was marked by distinct social classes: patricians (wealthy elites) and plebeians (commoners).

What are aqueducts known for in Roman engineering?

They supplied water to cities.

How did the Roman Empire influence the languages spoken today?

Latin laid the foundation for Romance languages like Spanish and French.