The Roman World Flashcards
Imperium
In the Roman Republic, the right to command troops that belonged to the chief executive offices (consuls and praetors); A Roman military commanders know as an imperator. In the Roman Empire, the title imperator (emperor) came to be used for the ruler. The right to rule
Latifundia
large landed estates in the Roman Empire (singular: latifundium)
Optimates
“best men.” Aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who generally came from senatorial families and wished to retain their oligarchical privileges
Patricians
Great landowners who became the ruling class in the Roman Republic
Plebians
The class of Roman citizens that included nonpatrician landowners, craftspeople, merchants, and small farmers in the Roman Republic. Their struggle for equal right with the patricians dominated much of the Republic’s history
Equestrians
A group of extremely wealthy men in the late Roman Republic who were effectively barred from high office but sought political power commensurate with their wealth; called equestrians because many had gotten their start as cavalry officers (equites)
Senate
The leading council of the Roman Republic; composed of about three hundred men (senators) who served for life and dominated much of the political life of the Republic
Consul
The chief executive officers of the Roman Republic. Two were chosen annually to administer the government and lead the army in battle
Rhetoric
The art of persuasive speaking, in the Middle Ages, one of the seven liberal arts.
Dictator
In the Roman Republic, an official granted unlimited power to run the state for a short period of time, usually six months, during an emergency
Pax Romanian
“Roman Peace.” A term used to refer to the stability and prosperity that Roman rule brought to the Mediterranean world and much of western Europe during the first and second centuries
Good Emperors
The five emperors who ruled from 96 to 180 ( Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius), a period of peace and prosperity for the Roman Empire
Eucharist
A Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed in celebration of Jesus’s Last Supper; also called the Lord’s Supper or Communion
Jesus of Nazareth
(c. 6 B.C.E. ? 29 C.E.)
- Preached humility, charity, and brotherly love to Jews
- Massiah who messaged about the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Executed around the years-29-34 C.E. in Jerusalem
Martyr
A person who is killed because of their religous belief
Pompeii
The town that was buried under volcanic ash after Mout Vesuvius erupted. Many people in the town died due to toxic fumes in the air
The Pantheon
One of Rome’s greatest buildings. It was constructed of brick, six kinds or concrete, and mable, it was a stunning example of the Romans’ engineering skills. It had a dome on it
Insulae
Roman apartment. They were made of concrete and could be up to six stories high. Often times they were in danger of collapsing.
The Colosseum
One of the most famous building that was made using concete and curvilinear forms. It was the location of Gladiator games
Aqueduct
A massive construction that would transport water to Roman towns. They were built to use gravity and the channel of the water to transport the water far distances.
What did Italy’s geography make for Rome?
It made Rome a natural crossroads in Italy and defendable
Who were the Etruscans?
People who lived north of Rome and heavily infulenced their culture
What Roman tale is central to how Romans explained the foundation of the Roman Republic and its values?
The Rape of Lucretia
What was the male head of the Roman family called?
paterfamilias