Chapter 6 Rome (Student Made) Flashcards
Marcus Lepidus
Lepidus was one of the three members of the Second Triumvirate. He is best known as the weakest link of the three (Octavian, Mark Antony and him), and is taken out by the other two early on in the alliance, and the last Pontifex Maximus of the Roman Republic.
Triumvirate
A system where three people rule the country / e.g. First Triumvirate formed by Julius Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey. Second triumvirate was formed by Lepidus, Octavian, Mark Antony.
Colloseum
Big architecture / legacy / building built in Rome for slaves to fight, and riches to be entertained. Many architectures today are inspired from Colosseum.
Republic
A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives.
Romulus
The brother of Remus. He was known to be raised up by a wolf and later killed his brother Remus to claim that he is the leader.
Rome
Rome is the first capital of the Roman Empire, which was founded by the twins Romulus and Remes.
Julius Caesar
One of the members of first triumvirate (who lead the Roman military). He led successful campaigns in Gaul, making him very famous and popular. The Senate and Pompey feel threatened by Caesar. Civil war broke out, and Caesar takes over by defeating Pompey in the Civil War. He was guaranteed the life-long dictatorship. Caesar was murdered by getting stabbed 23 times by the senators (lead by Brutus and Cassias) who thought Caesar is trying to be the dictator. This incident is called, ‘Ides of March.’ He is the father of Octavian who becomes the first Emperor of Rome.
Mark Antony
One of the members of the second triumvirate/ Defended Julius Caesar and defeated Brutus/ Fell in love with Cleopatra/ Feared Octavian / Thought Lepidus to be a pushover. He was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from an oligarchy into the autocratic Roman Empire.
Denarius
Roman silver coin that was used as money. The denarius would later face great inflation in the latter years of the Empire.
Republic
A state where the power is held by the people and their elected representatives. Government leaders exercise power according to the rule of law.
Twelve Tables
The curved table that has Roman laws written; which became the basis for later Roman law. This law confirmed that the all the free citizens would be protected by law. This was available for the low-class people
Etruscans
Native to northern Italy who influenced the development of Roman civilization. Usually, skilled metalworkers and engineers were considered as Etruscans.
Senate
The governing “Power Holder” of the Rome. Made up of 300 members. The aristocracy chose the senators for life. This controlled the foreign and financial policies and advised the consuls.
Aqueduct
A system of arches in which water was transported to the city which was designed by the Roman engineers. It was lifted high up on arches when the water channel spanned a river.
Octavian
“One of the second triumvirates. Octavian took the Western half of the Roman Empire when the triumvirate fell apart.
The youngest of the three, he was also the most ambitious.
A Ruthless leader. Rome united under Octavian’s rule. “
Apostles
The twelve men who are decliples of Jesus, known as messengers of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, only those 12 apostles were saved by Jesus among about 5,000 decliples.
Mercenary
Soliders who fight for money -> no patriotism Mercenary doesn’t have royalty and doesn’t fight for the country
Cleopatra
An Egyptian princess, who loved Mark Antony, even though Mark Antony is the former husband of Octavian’s sister. Later, when Cleopatra recognizes that Mark Antony dies, she commits suicide with a poisonous snake.
Plebeians
Plebeians are the lower classes in Ancient Rome, these include artisans, merchants, and farmers, which is the important group who made up the majority of the population. One of them became a king of Rome (around 600 B.C.)
Scipio
The general for the Roman army who helps defeat Hannibal and the city of Carthage. Scipio the great is the consul of Rome.
Patrician
The wealthy landowners who held most of the power, and they had rights to be involved in the politics. They inherited their power and social status. They claimed that their ancestry gave them the authority to make laws for Rome.
Constantine
The first king who converted Rome to Christianity. He moves the Roman capital to Byzantium. His father became Caesar, the deputy emperor in the west in 293 AD. He strengthened the administrative, military and financials for the empire. He built an imperial resistance at Byzantium and renamed the city as Constantinople after himself.
Tribunes
Elected representatives who protect the political rights of the plebeians.They were divided as two groups,the military tribunes and the tribunes of the plebs.
Latin
The main language of the Roman people. Classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Alphabet is derived from the Etruscan and Greek alphabets. Spoken in Latium
Hercules
The Roman mythological God - symbol of Roman adopting Greek myths. He is a son of Zeus and he is famous for his power. Furthermore, the Emperor Commodus liked this god so much that he renamed the month of September and October as “Menis Hercules”.
Dictators
Leaders with absolute power appointed briefly for a maximum of 6 months in times of crisis. Julius Caesar appointed himself to be a dictator for life, having no terms in limits.
Villa
A large country estate. It was ancient Roman upper-class country house. Wealthy Roman escape the summer hill around Rome on specially they ecaspe area of Frascati, called haadrian Villa.
Attila the Hun
Ruler of the Huns. His invasion of Europe in the late 4th century caused Germanic Tribes to invade Rome to flee his forces. This causes the sacking of Rome. In the East, his armies attacked and plundered 70 cities.
Pax Romana
“A long period of peace and economic prosperity for 200 years in Rome. Means ‘Roman Peace’ in Latin”
Gladiator
A person usually slaves or prisoners, who fight in a ring. A famous place where they held gladiator battles was the Colosseum. They usually fought until another fighter can’t fight. If they had to, they killed each other. Colosseum’s seats were built in the form of stairs so the people from the back can see the match clearly too.
Consul
Two people that rule the empire of Rome who commanded the army and directed the government. They have only a year to rule as a consul, which limited their power.
Mercenary
A soldier who fights for pay. Prominent examples include the Carthaginian mercenary. A major disadvantage of having mercenaries is their lack of loyalty. Many historians point out the increase in mercenaries as one of the many issues the Roman Empire faced in her latter years.
Marcus Aurelias
An emperor who brought economic prosperity to empire and wrote philosophy. He was the last ‘good’ emperor of Roman.
Roman Legion
Rome’s military unit of about 5000 infantry. They were supported by cavalry(기갑부대). Was composed of 10 cohorts. This powerful army was one of the key factor of Rome’s great rise. They were composed of centuries; 100 people led by a centurion.
Punic Wars
Three wars that happened between Rome and Carthage from 264 ~ 146 B.C. Resulting in a Roman victory and the burning of Carthage. There are until 3rd Punic Wars. ( Main vocab : Elephant, Mercenary War, 8000 prisoners )
Hannibal
Carthaginian general who surprises the Romans by invading them across the Alps with more than 30 elephants and an Iberian army. Eventually he was defeated by the Roman general, Scipio.
Ides of March
Dictator Caesar was assassinated by a group of a senators. Stabbed 23 times. Those who killed him were mostly Optimates (rich nobles in the senate) and feared that Caesars reforms would weakens their power. Following the assasination, the two main conspirators (Casssias and Brutus) were killed or forced to commit suicide. It was Match 15 left on Roman calendar style. Caesar was assassinated 44 BC on Month of March date.
Legal code (Rome)
Twelve tables - a list of rules that was the basis of the ancient Roman legal system. A code of laws adopted by nation.
Patricians
Wealthy ruling class families that holds most of the power in Rome.
Inflation
Drastically decline in value of money and rise in
prices which weakens the trade.
Empire
A extensive group of states or countries under sinlge authority, Mostly emperor or emperess
Carthage
The capital city of the ancient Carthaginian civilization had participated in Punic War with Rome. However, the Carthaginian civilization was destroyed by the Roman Republic during the third Punic war in 146BC.
Nero
An emperor who persecuted massive number of christians. He was good administer of the rome, and develop the culture, but he is define as vicious.
Epistle to the Romans
Or also known as ‘Letter to the Romans’ is Sixth book of the New testament. It is known that Apostle Paul is known to have composed it.
Martyr
A person who is willing to suffer death for his or her religion. For instance, the Roman Christians who died for Christianity despite of Nero’s persecution are martyrs.
Caligula
“Emperor from 37-41AD
-He considered himself as a living god
-Made parents watch the executions of their children
-By 41AD, people were sick of Caligulas rule and
ambushed him. He was stabbed 30 times. Record depicts him as unpredictable but cruel leader “
Augustus
He was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. In 27 B.C.E. he convinced the senate to give him supreme power and name him “Augustus” which means “exalted one.” This marked the beginning of the Roman Empire. His 40 year reign was one of the most successful in Roman history.
Economic Turmoil
•Big Gap between rich and poor widens as Roman Republic grows •Farmers, former soldiers, lose to large estates; become homeless. It is an extended period of political unstability and social unrest. Julius Ceaser tried to release the gap between the poor and the rich.
(P.E.M.S.)
Fall of Western Rome
Political: damaged by civil war, difficult to run without military/ Economic: Poor harvest, Inflation, Crushing tax, Disruption of Trade/ Military: Threat from Northern European, Decline loyalty (mercenaries)/ Social: Decline interest to public affair, Disloyalty, Gap between wealth and poor The invading army reached the outskirts of Rome, which had been left totally undefended. In 410 C.E., the Visigoths, led by Alaric, breached the walls of Rome and sacked the capital of the Roman Empire.
Defensive Aggression
The Romans find “potential” enemies at their borders and preemptively attack. It was utilized by rulers such as Napoleon and Hitler.
Gods and Goddesses
“Early Romans honor guardian spirits and
gods Jupiter, Juno, Minerva
Worship of emperor becomes part of
official religion of Rome, also the temple that entire major gods was named The Pantheon.”
Marcus Aurelius
A Roman Emperor. Ruled from 161 to 180. He is the last ‘Great Emperor.’ He practiced Stoicism, as a philosopher. He wrote the ‘Meditations,’ therefore he is called the Philosopher King. He is the father of Commodus. He brought the empire to the height of economic prosperity. He successfully defeated invaders.
Tyrannicides
The killing of a tyrant (tyrant slayers). Ides of March, (Julius Caesar’s death), is one of the examples of tyrannicides. A lot of leaders were killed in excuse of ‘tyrannicides.’ Caligula was also the victim of tyrannicides.
Gallic Wars
Serious of military campaign between Rome led by Julius Caesar and the Gauls (present day U.K, Germany and some part of France). Made Julius Caesar popular in Rome, helped him to grab for more power. It allowed Rome to secure access to the Rhine River (in Netherlands). Many Gauls were killed during the war. The Battle of Alesia secured Roman victory and after this battle, Gaul became a Roman province. Romans had 1 to 3 disadvantage but still won.
Legacy
Money or property that is transmitted or received after someone dies -> Generations to generations / Legacy of Rome: Christianity, Republic, Latin, Dictator, Colosseum, and the Latin language.
Diaspora
“Centuries of Jewish exile
(from Greek word for “dispersal”) “
Genocide
The act of killing massive amount of people, especially of a certain group with a shared tradition. Similar with massacre.
Civil war
Conflict between same countrymen (People in same country or region) Ex) Julius Caeser fought Pompey in a civil war to gain control of Rome when he returned from the Gallic wars
Rome’s Enduring Influence
By preserving and adding to Greek civilization, Rome strengthened the Western cultural tradition, and the language. Modern days’ law is based on roman system. For example, person is innocent until they’ve proved guilty. British and US government, senate are based on the Roman Government. Also, 3000 years ago, Homer wrote down the Odyssey and lliad and now, English 9 students are reading the book Odyssey. Even stadium all around the worlds are structured based on the Colosseum. Finally, English, Roman alphabet, and Spanish are based on Latin language.
Constantinople
“Constantine I becomes emperor of Western
Empire in A.D. 312 Seizes Eastern Empire in
A.D. 324; moves Roman capital to Byzantium
Byzantium was eventually renamed as Constantinople—
city of Constantine. Nowadays, this city is known as Istanbul, and Turkey. “
Gladiators
A person engaged in a fight to the death as public entertainment for ancient Romans in Colosseum. Some of the slaves became Gladiators, and some were forced to fight.The word “Gladiator” came from a Latin word “gladius,” which means sword.
Carthage
City state that fought Rome three times in Punic war. 264 BC, 146 BC
Jewish Rebellion
Jews rebellion against Rome made Romans storm Jerusalem and destroy temples during this period. About half million Jews were killed, and lots of Jews were exiled from their homeland. This dispersal is also called as Diaspora.
