Unit 8: Ancient Rome Flashcards
dictator
someone who has all the power
constitution
written set of laws
republic
gov. that uses representatives to make laws+decisions, has a constitution to protect the people
patrician
upper-class, wealthy citizens
plebian
everyone else that was free
the Twelve Tables
1st Roman laws put into writing (all citizens had = treatment under law)
the Senate
300 members who control money and taxes
the Tribune of the Plebs
10 plebian members who represented the interests of the plebians
Julius Caesar
military general, 1st dictator of Rome
First Triumvirate
voting pact between 2 consuls (Pompey and Caesar) and JC
Caesar Augustus
in the 2nd Triumvirate, 1st emperor of Rome
Second Triumvirate
military dictatorship between Octavian, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus
Pax Romana
height of the Roman Empire
Praetorian Guard
an elite unit of bodyguards for the emperor
Bread and Circuses
Roman gov. kept people distracted from their troubles by offering free food and entertainment (in the Colosseum)
Byzantine Empire
the east empire of the empire that was divided by Constantine into east and west
Constantinople
the eastern capital of Ancient Rome
Edict of Milan
proclamation that decriminalized Christianity
Christianity
monotheistic religion that believes that Jesus was a savior sent by God
the Bible
a holy book used by Christians
Constantine
emperor who decriminalized Christianity
How is the U.S democratic (ancient ____) and a republic (like ____)?
Greece:
-direct democracy
-citizens went and put their vote themselves
Rome:
-representatives who make laws+decisions
-written constitution (to protect the people)
3 reasons (maybe fourth) that the Roman Republic collapsed (into the Roman empire):
- Expansion caused social and economic tensions. (forced plebians to fight, wars destroyed farmland)
- Shifting alliances
- Generals start fighting each other
4?. Julius Caesar was murdered
How does Pax Romana represent the downfall of the republic?
-shifting of alliances
-generals start fighting each other instead of/rather than fighting outside enemies
What was it like to be a gladiator?
-good food+medical care
-were usually slaves
-lives depended on how well they fought
How did wealth/social status affect people in GOVERNMENT?
-Senate had 300 members, who were traditionally patricians
-Tribune of the Plebs had plebian members represent the interests of the plebeians
How did wealth/social status affect people with FOOD AND DRINK?
Patricians: afforded kitchens, consumed elaborate dinners, ate special appetizers
Plebeians: cooked on grills, depended on thermopolias (“fast food” places that cooked hot meals on the go)
How did wealth/social status affect WOMEN?
Patricians: married in their teens, spun and wove wool, and also attended school.
Plebians: could learn how to read/write, married around 20 years old
How did wealth/social status affect people in RECREATION?
Patricians: got a lot of leisure b/c of slaves, went to go watch gladiator fights, chariot races, and musical performances at each other’s houses
Plebians: provided free entertainment by Roman gov. watched gladiator fights+chariot races in their free time
Timeline order (5)
- Roman Republic is established
- Over expansion+civil war
- Augustus becomes 1st emperor
- Rome falls
- Constantine decriminalizes Christianity
