Ancient Rome Vocabulary

Usurper

individual or group who obtained power by force without legitimate legal action

Aqueduct

used to bring water supplies into Roman cities

Plebeian

Roman lower class

Patrician

Roman upper and wealthy class

toga

Wrapped garment worn to show social class and symbolic to show social status

Gladiator

slaves trained to fight to the death for Roman entertainment

Dictator

elected by Senate in times of crisis. Given absolute authority.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen

Freedman

Former slaves granted limited citizenship; their children were full citizens.

Lodus

Grammaticus Rhetor

Republic

government elected by citizens

Senate

Governing body of Rome

Veto

A rejection of a proposed law

Civil war

War between rival groups of the same country

Consul

Elected for one year terms by Senators to govern the republic

mercenary

a "hired" soldier, usually hired from another country

Tribune

Elected leader of Rome's lower class

Proletariat

"The mass of poor people" in roman cities