Year 9 Roman History Exam Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on Year 9 lecture notes covering Roman power, status, authority, and the legal system.

PEEL paragraph

A writing structure consisting of a Point, Evidence, Explain, and Link, used to answer 'to what extent' questions.

Patricians

Wealthy elites in Roman society who dominated politics.

Plebeians

Ordinary Roman citizens who had fewer privileges than the upper classes.

Patron-client system

A social system where wealthy patrons provided support or protection to clients, who repaid them with loyalty, votes, and public support.

Spartacus

The leader of a major slave rebellion against Roman authority that took place between 73–71 BCE.

Laudatio Turiae

A written source that praised the loyalty, intelligence, and courage of Roman women.

Augustus

The Roman emperor who used statues, coins, and monuments as propaganda and presented himself as a restorer of peace and stability.

Nero

An emperor criticized by Roman writers for his cruelty and extravagance.

Domitian

A Roman emperor who ruled in an authoritarian style and demanded loyalty.

Hadrian

An emperor who focused on defending and consolidating the empire instead of expanding its borders.

The Twelve Tables

Rome's first publicly displayed laws, created around 450 BCE, covering topics like property, contracts, and family.

Advocates

Individuals in the Roman court system who used persuasive speeches to defend or accuse people during trials.

Crucifixion

A public and brutal form of execution used mainly for enslaved people and non-citizens to discourage challenges to Roman power.

Romanisation

A key vocabulary term referring to the process of spreading Roman culture and influence across the empire.

Forum

A key vocabulary term referring to the central public space in a Roman city.

Hierarchy

The organization of Roman society where people were ranked according to different levels of status and power.