Unit 5: Ancient Rome

republic

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

patrician

In ancient Rome, a member of the privileged upper class.

plebian

Common person; lower class person/people.

tribune

In ancient Rome, an official elected by the plebeians to protect their rights.

consul

One of the two executive leaders of the Roman Republic, advised by the senate

senate

A group of 300 men elected to govern Rome.

dictator

a ruler in time of emergency appointed for 6 months to solve problems

legion

A large military force

Punic Wars

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Carthage

An empire located in North Africa which fought and was defeated by Rome in the Punic Wars. Hannibal was a powerful leader here.

Hannibal

General of Carthage who fought with war elephants in the Second Punic War. He was defeated at the battle of Zama

civil war

A war between regions of the same country

Julius Caesar

A Roman general who ended the Roman Republic when he seized power and became dictator for life.

Triumvirate

a group of three leaders sharing control of the government

Augustus

First emperor of the Roman Empire.

Pax Romana

A peaceful period that lasted for the first 200 years of the Roman Empire

aqueduct

A structure that carries water over long distances

Colosseum

A large arena in Rome where gladiator contests and other games and sporting events were held.

Pantheon

A circular temple at Rome with a fine Corinthian portico and a great domed roof.

Marc Anthony

Roman general: friend of Caesar; member of the second triumvirate and rival of Octavian

Roman mythology

religion of ancient Rome

Jesus

A teacher and prophet whose life and teachings form the basis of Christianity.

apostle

one of the original 12 disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel

Paul

Follower of Jesus who helped spread Christianity throughout the Roman world

diaspora

People who come from a common ethnic background but who live in different regions outside of the home of their ethnicity

Constantine

Emperor of the Roman Empire who moved the capital to Constantinople.

bishop

A church official who leads a large group of Christians in a particular region

Peter

One of the 12 apostles of Jesus; Roman Catholics consider him to be the first pope, bishop of Rome

pope

Head of the Roman Catholic Church

messiah

A savior figure to be sent by God, awaited by the Jews.

martyr

A person who is killed because of his religious or other beliefs

missionaries

people who work to spread their religious beliefs

inflation

A continuous rise in the price of goods and services

mercenary

A soldier who is paid to fight in a foreign army.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who divided the empire into a West and an East section.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire

Attila (the Hun)

The leader of the Huns, a very strong leader who helped to take down the Roman Republic.

Greco-Roman culture

Also known as Classical Civilization, this is the mixing together of Geek, Roman, and Hellenistic cultures.

Pompeii

Roman city in Italy, which was buried during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.

Virgil

Classical Roman poet, author of Aenied

Tacitus

Roman historian