Ancient Rome Master Study Deck

Vocabulary and key concepts covering the origins, political structure, rise, and eventual fall of Ancient Rome.

The Alps

High northern mountains that provided a natural defense barrier for the Italian Peninsula against land invasions.

Tiber River

The site of Rome's founding which offered fresh water and a trade highway, situated $15$ miles inland for protection from pirates.

753 BC

The legendary year Rome was founded by Romulus on Palatine Hill.

The Latins

The culture dating to c. $1000 BC$ that built original farming settlements along the Tiber and originated the Latin language.

Magna Graecia

The name for the Greek colonies established in southern Italy between c. $700$ and $600 BC$ that introduced art, philosophy, and religion.

The Etruscans

An advanced northern civilization that contributed arches, vaults, engineering, and Rome's early political structure.

509 BC – 27 BC

The timeline of the Roman Republic, beginning after the banishment of the monarchy.

Tarquin the Proud

The last Etruscan king whose son's actions led to the Roman revolt and the swearing of a blood oath against kingship.

Res Publica

A term meaning "public affairs," describing a state where power rests with voting citizens and elected representatives.

SPQR

An abbreviation for Senatus Populusque Romanus, meaning "The Senate and the Roman People."

Gravitas

Core Roman values emphasizing discipline, strength, loyalty, usefulness, and steadiness of mind.

Patricians

A small minority of wealthy, aristocratic landowners who held exclusive early rights to govern and make laws.

Plebeians

The free majority of citizens (farmers, artisans, merchants) who had the right to vote but lacked early political power.

Proletariat

A later class of urban, landless poor consisting of displaced farmers who could not find work due to slave labor competition.

Pater Familias

The deeply patriarchal system where the eldest male held absolute legal authority over family members and property.

Consuls

Two executive leaders elected annually for single $1$-year terms who commanded the army and held veto power over each other.

Senate

A body of $300$ wealthy patricians serving for life who controlled finances and directed foreign policy.

Tribunes

Plebeian representatives who gained the power to veto unjust Senate actions after a military walkout.

12 Tables

The first written Roman laws, displayed in the Forum in $451 BC$ to prevent judicial abuse by patricians.

Dictator

An absolute leader appointed by the Senate strictly during military crises for a term limited to $6$ months.

Cincinnatus

The ideal dictator model who defeated Rome's enemies in $15$ days and immediately resigned to return to his farm.

Punic Wars

Three conflicts between Rome and Carthage for control of the Western Mediterranean occurring between $264$ and $146 BC$.

Hannibal

The Carthaginian General who marched war elephants through the Alps to ravage Italy during the $2^{nd}$ Punic War.

Battle of Zama

The conflict where Roman General Scipio forced Hannibal's retreat and defeated him in North Africa.

Latifundia

Massive slave-run plantations created by wealthy patricians buying up ruined plebeian small farms.

Spartacus

A gladiator who led a $70,000$-strong slave army in $73 BC$ before being crushed by Rome.

The Gracchus Brothers

Tribunes Tiberius and Gaius who attempted land reforms and were assassinated by the Senate.

Julius Caesar

The charismatic general who conquered Gaul, crossed the Rubicon River, and became Dictator for Life before his assassination.

Ides of March

March $15$, $44 BC$, the date Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by senators led by Brutus.

Augustus

Formerly Octavian, he defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra to become Rome's first official Emperor in $27 BC$.

Pax Romana

A $207$-year golden age of peace and stability initiated by Augustus that lasted until $180 AD$.

Denarius

A uniform silver coin introduced to unify the imperial economy during the Pax Romana.

Aqueducts

Bridge-like stone structures using gravity to carry fresh water from distant hills into Roman cities.

Marcus Aurelius

The philosopher-king whose death in $180 AD$ marked the end of the Pax Romana.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor who ordered the execution of Jesus of Nazareth to prevent political rebellion.

Petrine Doctrine

The statement that the Apostle Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, establishing the Pope as the supreme leader of the Church.

Inflation

An economic crisis triggered when emperors minted coins with less precious metal, skyrocketing the price of goods like wheat.

Diocletian

The emperor who restored order by doubling the army and dividing the empire into wealthy East and vulnerable West halves.

Edict of Milan

The $313 AD$ decree by Constantine that legalized Christianity and ended state persecution.

Constantinople

The new capital established in $330 AD$ on the Bosporus Strait for its superior trade and defense locations.

476 AD

The year the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed, marking the final fall of the Western Empire.

Byzantine Empire

The wealthy Eastern half of the Roman Empire that survived for $1,000$ years after the fall of the West.