Download Dictators

ROMAN VOCABULARY & QUESTIONS
1. Republic : A government created in Rome where the people elect leaders to govern them
2. Dictators : Rulers with almost absolute power
3. Plebeians : The group of common people or peasants in Rome who were calling for changing
the government where they had more of a say in how the city was run.
4. Patricians : Roman nobles who ran the government. Only they could be elected to office, so
they help political power
5. Aeneas : A hero of Rome during the Trojan War who helped destroy Troy
6. Romulus & Remus : Brothers who are believed to be the founders of Rome
7. Cincinnatus : One of Rome’s most famous dictators who was a farmer. The Romans chose him
to be the leader to protect from invaders. After leading Rome to victory, he resigned and returned
to farming.
8. Magistrates : Government officials who were elected
9. Consuls : The title of the two most powerful magistrates
10. Roman Senate : A council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city’s leader.
11. Veto : To prohibit actions by other officials.
12. Latin : The language in Ancient Rome.
13. Checks & Balances : A method of balancing power.
14. Legions : A group of up to 6,000 soldiers
15. Punic Wars : A series of wars against Carthage, a city in Northern Africa
16. Hannibal : Considered to be one of greatest generals. Started the 2nd Punic War and became
the leader of Carthage.
17. Gaius Marius : A consul of the Roman army who encouraged poor people to join the army.
Before only people who owned property could fight.
18. Lucius Cornelius Sulla : A consul who had conflicts with Marius that leads to a civil war in
Rome. Defeated Marius and makes himself dictator of Rome who used power to punish enemies
19. Spartacus : Former gladiator who rises up to demanded freedom. Is killed in battle and revolt
ends.
20. Gladiators : a person, often a slave or captive, who was armed with a sword or other weapon
and forced to fight to the death in a public arena against another person or a wild animal, for the
entertainment of the spectators.
21. Cicero : A philosopher and gifted orator who called on the upper class to work together to make
Rome a better place
22. Julius Caesar : A great general admired for bravery and speeches who made himself dictator
and lost popularity with the people. He was assassinated by Senators who feared he would try to
become King
23. Marc Anthony : Former assistant to Julius Caesar who set out to avenge Caesar’s death
and starts civil war in Rome with Octavian. Married Cleopatra of Egypt.
24. Octavian “Augustus” : Caesar’s adopted son who fought with Anthony to avenge his father’s
death. He becomes emperor and sole ruler. Gives up thrown to Senate, who renames him
“Augustus.” Marks end of Roman Republic and start of Roman Empire.
25. Pax Romana : “Roman Peace” The first 200 years of the Roman Empire with a stable
government and prosperity.
26. Aqueduct : Raised channels used to carry water to mountains in cities
27. Romance Languages : Stems of Latin. Includes: Italian, Spanish, French, & Portuguese
28. Civil Law : A legal system based on a written code or laws
29. Diocletian : Becomes emperor in late 200s. Convinced that Rome was too bug to be ruled by
one person. Ruled the eastern half, appointed someone to rule other half.
30. Roman Senate : A council of wealthy and powerful Romans that advised the city’s leader.
31. Attila : Hun leader raided the Roman territory.
32. Corruption : The decay of people’s values.
33. Constantinople : The new capital of Roman Empire named after the leader Constantine who
wanted to reunite Rome.
34. Byzantine Empire : The society that developed in the Eastern Roman Empire. Run by the
Greeks.
35. Culture : How civilizations separate themselves from other civilizations.
36. Arches : allowed much more weight to be put on a surface because the weight would be
SPREAD OUT EVENLY
37. Domes : allowed for vaulted ceilings for the first time which looked amazing and grandiose.
38. Roman Architecture was known to have two characteristics. What were they?
Arches & Domes
39. What Emperor built the first Aqueduct system for Rome? Claudius (Claudio)
40. Drought : a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water
resulting from this.
41. Key ingredient of Roman Cement/Concrete. Volcanic ash
42. Aqueducts were powered by… Gravity
43. Roman roads were built after each territorial conquest. True
44. How did Ancient Rome change their environment to bring water into the city?
Aqueduct
45. All Roman Roads led to Greece? False
46. Without Judaism we would never have had Christianity. True
47. Monotheism : The belief in a single and all powerful God
48. Judaism had 613 commandments. True
49. Christianity had 10 commandments. True
50. Each Roman Centurion was equipped with a : sword, helmet, shovel, sandals, spear,
red battle cloak armor