Ancient Rome Flashcards
Traditional story of how Rome began. Twins abandoned and rescued by a wolf, raised by a shepherd . Grew to build Rome. Romulus later killed Remus.
Romulus and Remus
Historiographic Debate over their exact beginnings and relationship to Rome. Laid the foundation for Rome and Roman civilization, brought urbanization as a lifestyle to the Romans. Definitely ruled Rome for a time.
Etruscans
A small city that started on the Tiber River that eventually became a huge hub of the Roman Civilization
Rome
A trade route that stretched from China to the Mediterranean Sea that was influential for Rome.
Silk Road
A great social conflict that developed between patricians and plebeians; the plebeians wanted real political representation and safeguards against patrician domination.
Struggle of the Orders
A collection of laws written on twelve bronze tables. The earliest written collection of Roman Laws, drawn up by patricians about 450 b.c. that became the foundation of Roman law.
Twelve Tables
The period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate.
Roman Republic
The legend or story of why Rome became a Republic and swore off kings. Tale: The son of last king (Lucius Tarquinius Superbus) raped Lucretia, a married noble woman who killed herself after the rape. Lucretias father and her son lead Rome and rebel against kings. This set up the republic.
Rape of Lucretia
A council whose members were the heads of wealthy, landowning families. The senate effectively governed the Roman state and the growing empire.
Roman Senate
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.
Punic Wars
Carthaginian military commander who, in the Second Punic War, attempted a surprise attack on Rome, crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.
Hannibal
Roman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama.
Scipio Africanus
An officer of ancient Rome elected by the plebeians to protect their rights from arbitrary acts of the patrician magistrates.
Tribunes
Brothers who tried to reform the Roman Empire by giving back Latifundias to the small farmers but were assassinated.
Gracchi Brothers
Huge estates operated by slave labor that flourished in parts of the Roman Empire (singular latifundium).
Latifundia
A model dictator for the Romans. He organized an army, led the Romans to victory, attended victory celebrations, and returned to his farmland all within 16 days.
Cincinnatus
The Senate appointed a dictator in times of great danger for six months. As soon as danger was past, Roman dictators gave up their power (supposedly).
Roman Dictator
A periodic and official count of a country’s population. - Started by the Romans.
Census
A Roman private house.
Domus
Roman apartment blocks constructed of concrete with wooden beam floors.
Insulae
Bridge-like stone structures that carry water from the hills into Roman cities.
Aqueducts
Great Sewer; it was built by the Etruscans to drain the site of the Roman Forum, used as a sewer by Rome.
Cloaca Maxima
A circular temple at Rome with a fine Corinthian portico and a great domed roof.
Pantheon
Concrete
Revolutionary Roman Building Material
Public places where Romans could bathe and socialize together. The water was heated underneath the baths.
Roman Baths
A large amphitheater built in Rome around ad 70; site of the contest and combats between people and animals.
Colosseum
father of the family Head of household in Ancient Rome.
Paterfamilias
mother of the family - married in their early teenage years; were in charge of maintaining the household.
Materfamilias