Ancient Roman History: From Republic to Empire

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing ancient Roman geography, social classes, republican magistrates and assemblies, the crisis of the Republic, the triumvirates, and the transition through the Principate, Dominatus, and final collapse.

Founding of Rome (753 BC)

According to tradition, the city of Rome was founded in 753 BC, historically associated with Rome's 7 hills and 7 kings.

Patricians (Patríciusok)

The noble, upper-class citizens of ancient Rome who held state power and filled political magistracies during the early republic.

Plebeians (Plebejusok)

The common people of ancient Rome who struggled for political and legal equality against the ruling patrician class.

Slaves (Rabszolgák)

The lowest social group in ancient Rome, whose population expanded dramatically due to territorial conquests.

Aristocratic Republic

The political system established in Rome following the expulsion of the last king in 510 BC, characterized by patrician leadership and governance.

Senate (Senatus / Vének tanácsa)

The supreme governing advisory council of the Roman state, initially numbering 300 members and later expanded to 600; open to wealthy plebeians starting from 312 BC.

Consul

One of two chief magistrates elected annually to exercise supreme executive and military power (főhatalom) in the Roman Republic.

Dictator

An extraordinary Roman magistrate appointed in times of crisis, holding unlimited power (korlátlan hatalom) for a maximum term of 6 months.

Censor

One of two magistrates created in 443 BC responsible for the assessment and census of citizens' property and wealth (vagyonbecslés).

Tribune of the Plebs (Néptribunus)

An official established in 494 BC to protect plebeian interests, possessing personal inviolability (sérthetetlen) and the power to veto magistrate actions.

Praetor

A Roman judicial magistrate, originally 1 and later expanding to 8, responsible for the administration of justice.

Centuriate Assembly (Népgyűlés vagyoni alapon)

Roman popular assembly based on wealth and property classes, dating from the middle of the 5th century BC.

Tribal Assembly (Népgyűlés területi alapon)

Roman popular assembly organized by geographical districts or territories, established in 287 BC (4th century BC).

Province (Provincia)

A conquered territorial administrative division of the Roman state located outside of the Italian peninsula.

Latifundium

A large, slave-worked agricultural estate (rabszolgatartó nagybirtok) that emerged in Italy following Roman conquests, ruining the free peasantry.

Mercenary Standing Army (Zsoldoshadsereg)

A paid professional military force introduced through military reform to replace the ruined peasant militia, contributing to the crisis of the Republic.

Optimates

The conservative senatorial political faction in the late Roman Republic that defended traditional senatorial supremacy and opposed popular reforms.

Populares (Néppárt)

The reform-minded political faction in the late Roman Republic that championed land reform and the interests of the common people.

First Triumvirate

A secret political alliance formed in 60 BC between Julius Caesar, Pompeius, and Crassus to provide mutual support in achieving their political objectives.

Marcus Licinius Crassus

One of the wealthiest men in Rome, consul, and triumvir who played a crucial role in suppressing the Spartacus slave revolt.

Gnaeus Pompeius

Roman general, consul, and member of the First Triumvirate who achieved major military successes in the East (including Syria and Palestine) and fought against Caesar.

Julius Caesar

Roman general and consul who conquered Gaul, defeated Pompeius in civil war, became sole ruler of Rome as dictator for life, and was assassinated in 44 BC.

Perpetual Dictatorship (Élethosszig tartó dictator)

The lifelong office assumed by Julius Caesar that granted him absolute authority while disregarding traditional republican constitutional limits.

Second Triumvirate

The alliance formed following Caesar's assassination in 44 BC consisting of Octavian (Caesar's adopted son), Marcus Antonius, and Lepidus.

Battle of Actium (31 BC)

A naval battle fought in 31 BC in which Octavian defeated Antonius, paving the way for Octavian's sole rule over the Roman world.

Princeps Senatus

The title meaning 'first man of the Senate,' used by Octavian to portray himself as a restorer of the Republic rather than an overt dictator.

Principate (Principátus)

The imperial political system (27 BC – 284 AD) in which autocratic rule was veiled under traditional republican forms to maintain the illusion of a republic.

Augustus

An honorific name meaning 'majestic' or 'venerable' adopted by Octavian, whose principate lasted from 27 BC to 14 AD and who is regarded by history as the first Roman Emperor.

Dominatus

The late imperial political system (284 AD – 476 AD) characterized by open, overt autocracy (nyílt egyeduralom) without republican disguises.

Division of the Roman Empire (395 AD)

The permanent splitting of imperial unity in 395 AD, leading to the establishment of the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD)

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD amid the barbarian migrations, resulting in the establishment of Germanic kingdoms on its ruins.

Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)

The eastern half of the partitioned Roman Empire that survived the collapse of the West and endured until its conquest in 1453 AD.