Western Civ Test Two

Julius Caesar – Roman general and dictator whose assassination in 44 BC led to the end of the Roman Republic.

Augustus (Octavian) – First Roman emperor who defeated Antony and Cleopatra and began the Pax Romana.

Battle of Actium (31 BC) – Naval battle where Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra, ending the civil wars.

Pax Romana – 200 years of relative peace and stability in the Roman Empire (31 BC–AD 180).

Principate – Political system created by Augustus where the emperor ruled but kept the appearance of the Republic.

Princeps – Title meaning “first citizen,” used by Augustus.

Imperial policy toward the provinces – Rome governed provinces through governors who collected taxes, kept order, and spread Roman law and culture.

Virgil – Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid about the origins and destiny of Rome.

Livy – Roman historian who wrote From the Founding of the City.

Galen – Influential Roman physician whose medical teachings lasted centuries.

Aqueducts – Roman structures that carried water into cities.

Colosseum – Large Roman amphitheater used for public games.

Pantheon – Roman temple dedicated to all the gods.

Ius gentium – “Law of nations”; Roman law applied to non-citizens.

Constantine – Roman emperor who legalized Christianity and founded Constantinople.

Edict of Milan (313) – Law granting religious freedom to Christians.

Constantinople – New capital of the Roman Empire founded by Constantine.

Legacy of the Roman Empire – Roman law, citizenship, Christianity, Latin language, and classical culture.

Byzantine Empire – Eastern Roman Empire that lasted until 1453.

Justinian – Byzantine emperor who codified Roman law and built Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia – Great church built in Constantinople under Justinian.

Corpus Iuris Civilis – Justinian’s codified body of Roman law.

Abraham – Patriarch of Israel and father of the Twelve Tribes; made a covenant with God.

Moses – Leader of the Exodus who received the Law from God.

Mosaic Law – The Law given to Israel through Moses (Torah).

David – King of Israel who made Jerusalem the capital.

Solomon – King of Israel who built the Temple in Jerusalem.

Kingdom of Israel – Northern kingdom (capital: Samaria) conquered by Assyria in 721 BC.

Kingdom of Judah – Southern kingdom (capital: Jerusalem) conquered by Babylon in 586 BC.

Assyrian invasion (721 BC) – Conquest of the northern kingdom and deportation of its people.

Babylonian invasion (586 BC) – Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple; exile of Judah.

Maccabean Revolt – Jewish revolt against Greek rule (165–142 BC).

Diaspora – Scattering of Jewish people outside Israel.

Koine – Common Greek language spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

Septuagint – Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Jewish understanding of God – Belief in one God (monotheism) who made a covenant with Israel and acts in history.

Gospel narratives – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Jesus – Jewish teacher believed by Christians to be the Messiah and Son of God.

Kingdom of God – God’s rule breaking into human history.

Incarnation – God becoming human in Jesus Christ.

Resurrection – Jesus rising from the dead; central Christian belief.

Book of Acts – Account of the early Church and spread of Christianity.

Apostle Peter – Leader of the early Christian Church.

Apostle Paul – Missionary who spread Christianity to Gentiles.

Council of Jerusalem (AD 50) – Meeting that decided Gentile Christians did not need to follow full Jewish law.

Formation of the Bible (Canon) – Process of officially recognizing the books of the New Testament (finalized in 4th century).

Orthodoxy – Correct belief and doctrine.

Baptism – Christian sacrament of initiation.

Eucharist – Christian sacrament commemorating Jesus’ Last Supper.

Bishops – Church leaders who preserved apostolic teaching.

Age of Martyrs – Period when Christians were persecuted by Rome.

Relics – Physical remains of saints and martyrs.

Persecution – Roman punishment of Christians for refusing to worship the emperor.

“Hatred of Humanity” – Roman accusation against Christians.

Christianity and the classical heritage – Debate about using Greek and Roman philosophy; conclusion that faith guides reason.

Faith and reason – Belief that reason supports and explains faith.

Jerome – Church father who translated the Bible into Latin.

Vulgate – Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible.

Fabiola – Early Christian known for charity work.

Monasticism – Religious life of prayer and discipline apart from society.

Antony – Early desert monk and founder of monasticism.

Benedict – Founder of the Benedictine Rule for monastic communities.