Romulus and Remus
The two main characters in Rome’s origin story. Romulus kills Remus so he could found the city.
Etruscans
First rulers in the Roman Area; Ruled as kings in 600 BCE.
Republic
Government where citizens who have the right to select their leader/make decisions
Patricians
Members of a wealthy family.
Plebeians
Ordinary Roman citizens.
Consuls
Two chief officials who act like our president would.
Dictator
An official with unlimited power, but only for 6 months.
Praetors
Junior consuls that dealt with disputes over money, business matters and civil issues.
Law of 12 Tables
A group of laws that were created because of the continued struggle between the upper and lower classes.
Legionaries
Men who were a part of the Roman army.
Decimation
If a legion goes against his command in any way, troops would be divided into tens and one soldier would be randomly chosen to be beaten to death by the other nine.
Caligula
“The ugly”; A Roman emperor from 37-41 AD who did insane things like randomly killing people and appointed a horse as leader of the senate.
Augustus
“The good”; Emperor from 27 BC – 14 AD and restored Rome’s stability after the civil war and created a time of Pax Romana (the Roman peace)
Nero
“The bad”; Emperor from 54 – 68 AD and started his rule at 17. He craved attention and is connected to many crimes.
Hannibal Barca
General of the elite military force from Carthage.
Scipio Africanus
Roman General who defeated the mighty Hannibal Barca.
Second Triumvirate
Created to restore order and was Made up of Marcus Antonius (Caesar’s right-hand man), Octavian (Caesar’s Nephew), and Lepidus (A rich Roman).
First Triumvirate
Made up of Caesar and the two people who supported him when he came to power, Crassus and Pompey.
Barbarians
Northern Germanic Tribes who began invading Rome.
Jupiter
A god worshiped by the Romans who rooted from the stories of Zeus.
Martyrs
Someone who dies for their religion.
Edict of Milan
A declaration of freedom of worship across the empire made by Constantine and ending Christian persecution.
Paganism
A term used by Christians to identify polytheistic religions.
Constantine
The first Christian Roman Emperor from 312 to 337 AD who declared freedom of worship in his Edict of Milan.
Vandals
A group who attacked and completely destructed Rome in 455 AD.
Visigoths
Invaders who arrived in 410 AD and looted Rome.
5 Reasons for the Fall of Rome
Corrupt Rulers, the Mercenary Army, too large of an empire, money problems, and invaders.