Intro to AP World History - Unit 5: Ancient Rome

Latin

language of the Romans

tribunes

plebeians elected to fight for the rights of ordinary citizens

Centuriate Assembly

assembly made up of citizen soldiers

legion

5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers

imperator

title for victorious commanders and emperors

bread and circuses

Roman rulers appeased their citizens with bread handouts and violent shows in the Colosseum

Colosseum

amphitheater in Rome where gladiators fought and sporting events were held

Diaspora

Jewish migration across the world following failed rebellions, began with Babylonian exile

Edict of Milan

change in policy put into place by Constantine the Great that established tolerance for Christians

natural laws

philosophical law system based on right and wrong decisions and human nature over laws set in stone and judicial action

New Testament

second half of the Bible that presents history, teachings, and beliefs of Christianity

concrete

building material, stronger version was developed by the Romans

Hannibal

son of defeated general Hamilcar Barca, outsmarted Rome by sneaking across the Alps and attacking Italy, was eventually defeated and fled to Asia Minor

Julius Caesar

elected consul and promoted Pompey and Crassus' legislation, formed First Triumvirate, was granted a huge army and conquered Gaul (present

Cincinnatus

model dictator who helped lead Rome to victory and then returned to his farmland

Paul

persecuted missionary, follower of Jesus, helped spread Christianity across the Roman Empire

Jupiter

king of the gods in Roman mythology, god of thunder (Greek equivalent: Zeus)

Mercury

god of shopkeepers, merchants, and travelers (Greek equivalent: Hermes)

Minerva

goddess of wisdom, learning, strategy, arts and crafts; symbol is an owl (Greek equivalent: Athena)

Etruscans

people from northern Italy who inhabited early Rome

consuls

two powerful officials in place of a king

Council of Plebs

assembly of the plebeians, elected tribunes to make laws for the common people

Punic Wars

series of three wars between Rome and Carthage, resulted in the destruction of Carthage

Pax Romana

200 years of peace and prosperity across the Roman empire

mosaics

traditional Roman art, made with pieces of colored stone or glass

aqueducts

large stone channels that carried water from hilltops to cities

martyrs

people who die for their beliefs

barbarians

Greek word used by Romans to describe all people outside of the empire

paterfamilias

male head of a Roman family

parables

short stories about everyday life that taught a religious or moral lesson

rule of law

the principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Marius

Roman general who was elected consul numerous times, implemented changes to the Roman army that made it easier for men to become soldiers

Mark Antony

worked with Octavian to punish Caesar's assassins, fell in love with Cleopatra, went to civil war with Octavian, committed suicide after losing the war