Chapter 12 Ancient Rome | Oxford Humanities 7 Victorian Curriculum

fortification

a tower or wall built to defend a place against attack

sarcophagus

the outer case (usually stone) of the nest of coffins containing the dead body of a person of importance

alluvial

made of sand and earth that is left by rivers or floods

latrines

the early name for toilets

aqueducts

human-made channels for transporting water

hydraulic engineering

the planning and management of the flow, pressure and storage of water

garrison

a group of soldiers living in a town to defend it

aristocrats

people who (through wealth or birth) belong to the upper class of a social group

patricians

educated and usually influential male members of one of ancient Rome's aristocratic families; usually wealthy landowners

plebeians

a term used to describe the many poor and uneducated people in ancient Rome

equites

high ranking military officials, e.g. knights and cavalry of Roman army

peregrinus

free men from outside Rome; had some rights, but not those of citizens, e.g. could conduct business and marry citizens

liberti

were slaves who were set free or who paid for freedom

caste system

a strict hierarchy (class system) used to organise society

republic

a system of government in which the people and their elected representatives (such as a president, politicians or senators) have power

democracy

a political system in which people hold the power, either directly or through representative democracy

Roman Senate

a group of officials (senators) with ruling power in ancient Rome

paterfamilias

a Latin word meaning 'father of the family'; male head of a household in ancient Rome

quaestor

the lowest ranking elected official; usually looked after public spending and saving

praetor

an official who worked under the consuls; one commanded the army while the other was a magistrate in the justice system

deities

gods or goddesses

hearth

the Latin term for 'focus'; the place in the home used for cooking food, heating water and as a gathering place for family

values

qualities of character that a society or community regards highly

amphitheatres

"ancient versions of today's football stadiums, where raised seating rose up around a flat central

area where events or performances were held"

Colosseum

a large amphitheatre built and used during the Roman Empire to stage gladiator fights and other forms of public entertainment

revolts

protests against authority, especially that of a government, often involving violence

mythology

a series of beliefs that the ancient civilisations used to explain life and the natural world

Hades

the ancient Greek god of the Underworld; also the name of the Underworld itself - the place that the souls of people went when they died

legions

military units in the army of ancient Rome made up of 60 centuries (i.e. around 6000 soldiers)

battering ram

a structure on wheels that contained a long, suspended log encased in iron in order to breach the enemy gate

siege tower

a multistorey tower constructed on wheels to move towards city walls

catapult

a larger engine that hurled stones from a long arm when it was suddenly released from tension

scorpio

a small catapult that was placed on higher ground and could fire with power and precision up to 100 metres

onager

a large slingshot which would fire projectiles long distances; it was used to break down walls or forts

testudo

a defensive manoeuvre that required soldiers to align their shields to create a boxed wall and protect them from enemy attack

export

the selling and transporting of goods to another country

importing

bringing in a product or service to one country from another

Silk Road

a trade route stretching west from China to the Mediterranean Sea; the main route by which silk was introduced to the West