Vocabulary Flashcards
people who inhabited early Italy; Greek colonists to the south and ___________ in the north shared the peninsula and contributed engineering and religious ideas to Roman civilization
Etruscans
system of government in which officials are chosen by the people; the Romans drove out of the Etruscan rulers and established this. From the Latin res publica, “that which belongs to the people,” where people chose some of the officials. The romans felt that this would prevent too much power from going to any one individual.
Republic
laws were made by 300 land-holding, upper-class _________ who made up the senate. Two of these were selected to supervise the government and command the army each term.
Patrician
these two _______ only served one term and checked or limited each other’s power.
Consul
in times of warm a single ________ was given power, but only for six months. The model _______ was Cincinnatus, who won a great battle, celebrated, and returned to his farm, all in 15 days.
Dictator
the legacy of Ancient Rome was to Rome was to give commoners a voice in government and safeguards on their rights. A majority of the people were this artisans, farmers, and merchants. This elected tribunes who could veto laws. They demanded the ability question patrician judges. Laws were inscribed on stone tablets and placed in the forum (marketplace) for all to read.
Plebeian
an official elected by the plebeians to protect their interests. Plebeians elected this who could veto laws.
Tribune
block a government action
Veto
basic unit of the ancient Roman army, made up about 5,000 soldiers.
Legion
domination by one country how many political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region
Imperialism
huge estate bought out by the newly wealthy Roman citizens
Latifundia
population count
Census
a nomadic people of Central Asia
Huns
economic cycle that involves a rapid rise in prices linked to a sharp increase in the amount of money available
Inflation
was the first Roman Emperor to become a Christian. During his reign, he prevented the persecution of Christians and helped to strengthen the early church.
Constantine
The capital of the eastern Roman empire; capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, now called Istanbul
Constantinople
soldiers serving in a foreign army for pay
Mercenaries
was a Roman plebeians who became a tribune and lobbied for government reform. He was killed in 133 BC by gangs hired by Roman senators
Tiberius
brother of Tiberius Gracchus and sought public funds to buy grain for the poor.
Gaius Gracchus
in 58 BC, he led his army into Gaul. A brilliant military leader, he was feared by other generals after his success. When the Senate ordered him to disband his army, he instead led them across the Rubicon River and marched on Rome. He crushed his rival Pompey and became the absolute ruler of Rome Caesar instituted many reforms, including: Creating public works jobs for the unemployed. Granting citizenship to many conquered people. Adopting a calendar used for the next 1600 years. Conquered much of the Mediterranean Sea. However, in March 44 BC he was stabbed by his rivals, leading again to civil war. He once famously said, “Veni, vidi, vici. (“I came, I saw, I conquered.”) In 31 B.C., Caesar’s nephew Octavian defeated his chief general Mark Antony to gain control.
Julius Caesar
Octavian was given the title ________, “the exulted one.” He ruled until 14 A.D., ending the republic but creating a stable government. well-trained civil service was hired, based on merit. A census counted the people to collect taxes fairly. postal service, new roads, and coins helped trade. The unemployed received jobs in public works or farming.
Augustus
codified law throughout the empire.
Hadrian
General who became emperor. To make government more effective, he divided the large empire into east and west and appointed a co-emperor
Diocletian
is a Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid in 30 BC. He studied mathematics and other subjects in Rome and Naples and was inspired by Greek poets
Virgil
