Roman Republic

republic

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

dictators

Rulers with almost absolute power

plebeians

the common people of ancient Rome

patricians

Powerful landowners who controlled Roman government and society

magistrates

an elected official in Rome

consuls

The two most powerful officials in Rome

Roman Senate

a council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city's leaders

veto

to reject

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Forum

Rome's public meeting place

legions

groups of up to 6,000 soldiers

Aeneas

Mythical Trojan hero who settled in Italy and his descendants built Rome

Romulus and Remus

Legendary figures in Roman history who are said to have built a city that eventually became Rome.

Cincinnatus

A model dictator for the Romans. He organized an army, led the Romans to victory and returned to his farmland all within 16 days.

Hanibal

A Carthaginian military commander who fought against the Roman Republic in the Second Punic War, widely considered one of the greatest generals in history.

Spartacus

A Roman gladiator who led the most serious slave revolt in Roman history