Roman History Flashcards

Flashcards for Roman History Review

Troy

City in Asia Minor from which Romans were believed to be descendants according to legend.

Diocletian's actions

Divided the empire, froze prices, banned Christianity to help the empire survive.

Political reasons for the fall of Rome

Corrupt officials, lack of good emperors, frequent revolts, powerful generals undermining the government, division of the empire.

Hadrian

He built a wall in Britain to protect the province from barbarians.

Dictator

Granted powers of a king for six months during crises.

Augustus (Octavian)

First emperor of Rome.

Galen

Greek surgeon who discovered the difference between arteries and veins.

Pax Romana

200-year period of peace and prosperity in Rome.

Veto

Latin word meaning 'I forbid'.

Event marking the end of the Roman Republic

Julius Caesar becomes dictator for life or Octavian is named Augustus.

Roman Empire achievements still used today

Roads and bridges.

Why Romans worshipped many gods

As Romans conquered new lands, religions of conquered influenced Roman religion.

Patricians

Wealthy citizens who controlled the Senate.

Romulus and Remus

Twin brothers who founded Rome according to legend.

Julius Caesar

Roman leader assassinated for declaring himself dictator for life.

Economic causes for the fall of the Roman Empire

Land destroyed, high taxes, slave labor led to high unemployment.

Carthaginians

Descendants of people from Phoenicia.

Why Romans granted citizenship

To prevent revolts in conquered lands.

Satire

Writing that pokes fun at people or society.

Province

A foreign land under Roman control.

Etruscans

Group that conquered Romans ca. 600 BC.

Nero

Started the 1st campaign to persecute Christians, blaming them for the fire of Rome

Diocletian's division of the Roman Empire

Divided the empire into two parts for easier governing.

Consul

Elected official with a one-year term.

Reasons for Roman expansion

To conquer hostile neighbors, collect taxes, gain valuable resources, or emperors sought challenge

Octavian (Augustus)

Grandnephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar, Rome's first emperor.

Gaul

Area that became a province of the Roman Empire after battles.

Julius Caesar Accomplishments

Added new land, created public libraries, became dictator for life.

Alps

Mountains creating a northern barrier for the Italian Peninsula.

Constantinople

City that became the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

Resolution proposed by Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus

Gave farmland to the poor.

Virgil

Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid.

Colosseum

Site for gladiator fights and Roman architectural feat.

Spartacus

Led a slave revolt against the Romans.

The Forum

Rome's public meeting place, similar to Greece’s agoras

Plebeians

Ordinary citizens in Rome.

Paul of Tarsus

Promoted Christianity and wrote epistles.

Hypocaust

Underground furnace heating water for Roman baths.

Latin

Language spoken by the Ancient Romans.

Aqueducts

Arched structures that brought water from long distances.

Similarity between Roman and U.S. Republics

Three branches of government or indirect democracy or both had a senate.

Mt. Vesuvius

Volcano that destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD.

Military reasons for the fall of Rome

Empire too large to protect, not enough soldiers so mercenaries used, who were not loyal to Rome.

Hannibal

General from Carthage who tried to conquer Rome.

Clovis

Christian king who built a large kingdom in Gaul.

Romance Languages

Languages that developed from Latin.

Villas

Wealthy Roman country estates.

How Rome's geography was similar to Egypt's

Geographical features protected it from invasions.

Gaius Marius' military resolution

Allowed poor, non-landowners to join the army.

The Law of the Twelve Tables

First set of written laws displayed in the Forum.