Ancient Rome

Augustus

First Roman emperor; formerly Octavian; created the Pax Romana and ended the Roman Republic.

6 members of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Julius Caesar.

Second Triumvirate

Political alliance of Augustus (Octavian), Mark Antony, and Lepidus after Julius Caesar’s death.

Cleopatra

Last ruler of Egypt; allied with Mark Antony; defeated by Octavian at Actium.

Judaizers

People who believed Christians had to follow Jewish laws and customs.

Horatius

Legendary Roman hero who defended a bridge against invaders.

First Triumvirate

Political alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

Lucretia

Roman noblewoman whose assault and suicide inspired the overthrow of the Roman monarchy.

Marc Antony

Roman general and ally of Julius Caesar; later rival of Octavian and partner of Cleopatra.

Ovid

Roman poet known for Metamorphoses.

Sabine Women

Women abducted by early Romans to provide wives for the new city.

Punic Wars

Three wars fought between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean.

Virgil

Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid.

Horace

Roman lyric poet during Augustus’s reign.

Livy

Roman historian who wrote a history of Rome.

Brutus

Roman senator involved in Julius Caesar’s assassination.

Etruscans

Civilization north of Rome that influenced Roman culture.

Gracchus Brothers

Reformers who tried to help poor Romans through land reform.

Latifundia

Large Roman estates worked mostly by slaves.

Patrician

Wealthy Roman upper-class citizen.

Plebeian

Common Roman citizen.

Punic

Relating to Carthage or the Carthaginians.

Rubicon

River crossed by Julius Caesar beginning civil war.

Spartacus

Gladiator who led a slave revolt against Rome.

Young Man in Roman Comedy

Lovestruck and impulsive character.

Woman in Roman Comedy

Love interest or clever wife.

Slave in Roman Comedy

Usually smartest character who helps solve problems.

God in Roman Comedy

Intervenes in human affairs.

Old Man in Roman Comedy

Strict or foolish authority figure.

9 Rings of Inferno

Levels of Hell in Dante’s Inferno.

Ring 1

Limbo.

Rings 2-4

Lust, gluttony, greed.

Rings 5-7

Wrath, heresy, violence.

Ring 8

Fraud.

Ring 9

Treachery and Satan.

Black Death

Bubonic plague that killed millions in Europe.

Causes of Black Death

Fleas on rats, trade routes, poor sanitation.

Fief

Land granted by a lord.

Vassal

Person who received land for loyalty and service.

Pax Romana

Long period of Roman peace.

Twelve Tables

Earliest written Roman laws.

Julius Caesar

Roman dictator assassinated in 44 BCE.

Augustus

Founder of the Roman Empire.

Battle of Actium

Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra.

Feudalism

Medieval system based on land and loyalty.

Serf

Peasant tied to the land.

Manorialism

Self-sufficient manor economy.

Magna Carta

Document limiting king’s power.

Crusades

Religious wars over the Holy Land.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps.

Carthage

Rome’s rival in North Africa.

Constantine

Emperor who legalized Christianity.

Edict of Milan

Granted religious tolerance to Christians.

Fall of Western Roman Empire

Happened in 476 CE.