rome #1 - #3 Flashcards
republic
a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders`
patricians
wealthy landowners who had most of the power
plebeians
common, farmers, artisans, and merchants
tribunes
protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patricians, representatives are elected by an assembly formed by the plebeians
dictator
a leader who has absolute power to make laws + command army, the republic can appoint one in times of crisis
legion
large military units in rome
punic wars
the three wars between rome and carthage
hannibal
military strategist who wanted to destroy rome, helped and led carthage in one of the punic wars
twelve tables
roman laws written on bronze tablets that were displayed publicly
consuls
executive: one-year terms, chief executives of the government, commander in chief of army, pass laws, can veto each other
senate
legislative: representative body for patricians, 300 members, made up of patricians, chosen to serve for life, advise consuls, controls foreign and financial policies
tribal assembly
legislative: citizens grouped according to where they live, members for life, elect (10) tribunes, representative body for plebeians
centuriate assembly
legislative: members for life, make laws, select consuls
praetors
judicial: eight judges, one year term, elected by centuriate assembly
first punic war
rome had a strong army, carthage had a strong navy, and fought over sicily and sardinia, the war was out at sea, rome gained islands and their treasury
civil war
conflict between groups within the same country
julius caeser
a strong military leader who served as a consul and was later governed as an absolute ruler
triumvirate
a group of three leaders
augustus
“exalted one,” a title given to octavian as a powerful leader
pax romana
a period of peace and prosperity under the rule of augustus