Terms and Names 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 held most of the power
Plebeian
common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population
Tribunes
protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of Patrician officials
Consuls
commanded the army and directed the government and could veto decisions; served for one year
Senate
an aristocratic branch of Rome’s government, having both legislative and administrative functions in the republic; served for life
Dictator
leaders who had absolute power to make laws and command the army for only six months
Legions
Roman soldiers who were organized into large military units
Punic Wars
the beginning of a long struggle as Rome and Carthage went to war
Hannibal
the mastermind behind the war of Rome and Carthage for their second Punic War, being a brilliant strategist
Civil War
conflict between two groups within the same country
Julius Caesar
strong military leaders and a genius at military strategy
Triumvirate
a group of three rulers
Augustus
Octavian’s accepted name also meaning “exalted one”; was also an emperor
Pax Romana
period of peace and prosperity; also called Roman peace
Jesus
a Jew born in Bethlehem in Judea and did public ministry
Apostle
Jesus’ pupils, being the 12 men
Paul
an apostle; enormous influence on Christianity’s development; was a missionary and spread Jesus’s messages
Diaspora
the dispersal of the Jews (from their homeland - forced to leave their country)
Constantine
Roman emperor
Bishop
(also a priest), supervised several local churches
Peter
an apostle, who traveled to Rome from Jerusalem and became the first pope there
Pope
the father or heard of the Christian Church; bishops said Peter was the first pope
Missionary
traveling around and spreading beliefs and ideas to others
Inflation
a drastic drop in the value of money with a rise in prices
Mercenary
foreign soldiers who fought for money
Diocletian
a strong-willed army leader
Constantinople
the city’s new name (City of Constantine - named after him)
Attila
a powerful chieftain (leader)
Praetors
The Judicial Branch of the Roman Republic that consisted of eight judges and served for one year
Greco-Roman culture
the mixing of elements from Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman culture (also called classical civilization)
Pompeii
a Roman town
Virgil
a poet who spent his ten years writing the most famous work of Latin literature, the Aeneid, the epic of the legendary Aeneas
Tacitus
a Roman historian who is notable among ancient historians because he presented facts accurately in Rome; wrote about goods and bad about Rome in his writings
Aqueduct
designed by Roman engineers to bring water into cities and towns (lifted high up on arches)
