Ancient Rome

Tiber River

The river where Rome was founded.

7

Rome is built on how many hills?

Gladius

A short sword that Romans were gifted at using for hand to hand combat.

Romulus and Remus

Mythological twin founders of Rome. As babies they, were abandoned and rescued by a wolf, then raised by a shepherd . Grew up to create the city of Rome.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Patrician

in the Roman Republic, a member of the upper, ruling class. Made up 5% of the population, but controlled most of the government decisions.

Plebeian

in the Roman Republic, one of the common people. Made up 95% of the population.

Senate

Supreme governing body of Rome; originally made up of 300 patricians.

Consul

One of two officials who led the government in Ancient Rome; appointed for a year and given the power to veto each other.

Dictator

Leader chosen by the Senate to have complete control and be the supreme ruler of Rome for 6 months, only during a time of crisis.

Tribune

Chosen Plebeian official who represented their interests in the Senate

12 Tables

Rome's first written law code

Carthage

Rome's opponent in the Punic Wars

First Punic War

Battle over Sicily, which Rome wins by building a naval fleet like Carthage and then "hooking" into their ships.

Second Punic War

War in which Hannibal dominates the Romans at the Battle of Cannae, but the Romans ultimately win because they defeat Carthage at the Battle of Zama

Third Punic War

Rome completely destroys Carthage and wipes the city off the face of the Earth.

What were the positive outcomes of the Punic Wars for Rome?

1) Rome gained more territory around the Mediterranean Sea
2) Rome gained more wealth and slaves
3) Rome is a major power in the Mediterranean sea

What were some negative outcomes of the Punic Wars for Rome?

1) Farm Crisis
2) Unemployment
3) Slave revolts
4) Civil wars

Spartacus

A roman slave, who was trained as a gladiator, who led the most successful slave rebellion against the Romans. He is killed after two years.

Gladiator

A person trained to fight another person to the death for public entertainment

Crucifixion

Roman method of execution for criminals in Rome; done by nailing a person to a wooden cross

Civil War

A war between people of the same country

1st Triumvirate

Caesar, Pompey, Crassus

Julius Caesar

Made dictator for life in 45 BCE, after conquering Gaul, assassinated in 44 BCE by the Senate because they were afraid of his power

Pompey

Roman general who was the governor of Palestine, and statesman who quarrelled with Caesar and fled to Egypt where he was murdered

Crassus

a rich Roman general and politician who defeated Spartacus and owned a corrupt "firefighting" business

Dictator for Life

title Caesar gave to himself in 44 BC

Cleopatra

last pharaoh of Egypt; had relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony; Octavian's enemy

Ptolemy XIII

Cleopatra's brother and co-ruler of Egypt who killed the Roman consul, Pompey in attempt to get on Julius Caesar's good side.

Brutus

Caesar's best friend (and maybe son!) who organized the plot to kill him.

Reforms of Caesar

Built more infrastructure, gave citizenship to people in Gaul and Spain, created calendar, gave land to Plebs and jobs to unemployed people.

Reason why the Senate killed Caesar

They were worried that he had too much power and was trying to become a king. They also worried that the republic was going to be destroyed.

Second Triumvirate

Antony, Octavian, Lepidus

Nephew

Octavian's relationship to Julius Caesar

First Emperor of Rome

Augustus Caesar

Augustus

title given to Octavian when he became sole ruler of Rome; means "revered" or "honored"

Scipio

Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama

Legion

A military unit of the ancient Roman army, made up of about 3000 to 6000 foot soldiers and a group of soldiers on horseback.

Hannibal

Carthaginian military commander who, in the Second Punic War, attempted a surprise attack on Rome, crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.

Gaul

Modern day France conquered by Caesar

What areas does Rome not expand to?

Russia, Germania, the Sahara desert, the Arabian Peninsula

Pax Romana

150 year period of peace that began after Augustus Caesar began his rule as emperor of Rome.

Golden Age of Rome

Pax Romana

Pax Romana

Roman Peace

Polytheism

Belief in many gods

Monotheism

Belief in one God

Christians and Jews are \_______________________, because they believe in one God.

monotheistic

Romans were \___________________________ because they believed in multiple gods like Mars, Venus and Jupiter.

polytheistic

Who were the Zealots?

A group that looked to rebel against the Romans and their rule over the Kingdom of Judea

What did Messianic Jews believe?

That God would send them a Savior or Messiah.

What is a Messiah?

Savior

What was the Jewish Holy City?

Jerusalem

Second Jewish Revolt

Emperor Hadrian completely destroyed the Jews and bans Judaism from being practiced in the Roman Empire

Persecution

hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.

Christians suffered much \__________________________ at the hands of the Romans.

Persecution

Examples of Persecution of Christians

- Crucifixion
- Forced gladiator combat against animals.
- Wrongful imprisonment

Jesus of Nazareth

Jewish man who performed miracles in Judea and who was crucified by the Romans but rose on the third day.

What makes the Christian faith different from the Jewish faith?

Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, or God's chosen Savior.

Who was Paul?

A Roman who had persecuted Christians until he converted to Christianity and started numerous churches throughout the empire. He would go on to write 13 books of the New Testament.

Who was Peter?

Former disciple of Jesus that went on to found the first Christian Church in Rome and would be crucified upside down.

Who was Constantine?

Roman emperor; made christianity legal through the Edict of Milan; moved capital to Byzantium (later called Constantinople)

What was the Edict of Milan?

A document that stated Christianity was a legal religion in Rome and ended persecution of Christians.

Who was Nero?

Emperor who was mentally unstable- who persecuted Christians relentlessly and was believed to have started the Great Fire of Rome and fiddled while it burned

Who was Diocletian?

A roman emperor who split rome into to 2 halves- the East & West- to help it regain stability

Who was Hadrian?

Roman Emperor who focused on protecting territory; built a namesake wall in Britain; restored the Pantheon

Who was Commodus?

Emperor who was the Son of Marcus Aurelius- was known for his cruelty towards people & animals and for believing that he was Hercules.

After \_________________________'s reign as emperor, the Roman Empire began to decline.

Commodus

Where was the Eastern Roman Empire's capital?

Byzantium or Constantinople

What was an advantage to living in the Eastern Roman Empire?

The East had more money and more protection from the barbarians.

Who were the barbarians?

A person living outside the Roman Empire who was considered to be "Uncivilized".

What year was the end of the Western Roman Empire?

476 CE

What were the reasons why Rome fell?

- Invasions by Barbarians
- Economic Troubles
- Split of the Empire
- Overexpansion
- Corruption & Instability in the Government
- Migration of the Barbarians
- Christianity
- Weakening of the Roman legions