Rome flashcards

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Romulus and Remus

Legendary twin brothers credited with the founding of Rome in 753 BCE.

Natural Defense

Rome's strategic geographical advantages, including the Tiber River and mountainous terrain.

Patricians

The wealthy and elite class in ancient Rome.

Plebeians

Common people in ancient Rome, lacking the rights of the patricians.

Pax Romana

A period of relative peace and stability throughout the Roman Empire from 27 BCE to 180 CE.

Tiber River

The river that served as a vital transport and trade route for ancient Rome.

The Twelve Tables

The earliest codification of Roman law, established to protect the rights of citizens.

Julius Caesar

A military general who became the first dictator of Rome, assassinated in 44 BCE.

Triumvirate

A political regime ruled or dominated by three powerful individuals.

Carthage

The rival city-state of Rome during the Punic Wars, ultimately destroyed by Rome.

Dictator

A political leader with absolute power, often appointed during times of crisis.

Scipio

Roman general who defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War.

Lex Canuleia

A law passed that allowed intermarriage between patricians and plebeians.

The Gracchus Brothers

Two reformers who advocated for the rights of the plebeians in ancient Rome.

Constantinople

The new capital city established by Emperor Constantine in the eastern Roman Empire.

Edict of Milan

A decree issued in 313 CE granting religious tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire.

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire

The collapse of Roman authority in the west, marked by the overthrow of Emperor Romulus in 476 CE.

The Huns

Nomadic tribes led by Attila, who invaded and raided the Roman Empire.

Civil Rights for Plebeians

The ongoing struggle for political representation and rights by the plebeians in Rome.

Gladiators

Fighters who entertained the public in the Colosseum, often through combat with each other or wild animals.

Veto

The power to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Senate

The political institution in ancient Rome composed of elected representatives.

The Punic Wars

A series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, primarily over control of trade and territory.

Tiberius Caesar

The second emperor of Rome, a successful military leader.

Caligula

The mentally unstable emperor known for his extravagant and cruel reign following Tiberius.

Trajan

A Roman emperor known for leading the empire to its greatest territorial extent.