Rome Vocabulary

Ancient Rome

Unit 06 Rome Vocabulary

Alpine Mountains (Alps)

Alps: The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range in
south-central Europe. They have a crescent shape across eight modern-day
nations in Europe.

*The Italian peninsula was protected by the arc of the Alps and the sea.

Multiple Choice

Which mountains served as a natural border to the north of the Roman Republic?

• Alps

• Apennines

Patricians

Patricians: Noble, wealthy individuals whose families were eligible to hold public
offices. The ruling class of ancient Rome and few in number. (minority)

They ranked below the emperor and his relatives, the Patrician families dominated
Rome and its empire. The word “patrician” come from the Latin “patres” meaning
“fathers,” and these families provided the empire with political, military, and
religious leadership. Only a patrician could become emperor.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word 'patrician'?

• Daughters

• Sons

• Mothers

• Fathers

Plebeians

Plebeians: Mostly poorer individuals that held many different roles in Rome. The
Plebeians were much larger in number than the Patricians. They made up about
ninety percent of the population (majority).

They could not hold public office. Most were artisan, merchants, or small farmers.
They had very little power.

Multiple Choice

Who made up the majority of the population in ancient Rome?

• Plebeians

• Emperors

• Patricians

• Senators

Representative Democracy

Representative Democracy: The type of democracy in which elected persons
represent (act or speak for) a group of people. It becomes a model for modern
democracy.

Multiple Choice

What type of democracy is represented by elected persons speaking for a group of people?

• Monarchy

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Oligarchy

The Assemblies

The Roman Assemblies: The Assembly was composed of Plebeian citizens of
Rome. They had a right to assemble and vote. They could vote or suggest laws.
They could vote to declare war.

How are assemblies a feature of democracy?

Multiple Choice

What was the role of the Roman Assemblies?

• To hold public office

• To command the army

• To wear the toga with the purple stripe

• To suggest laws

The Senate

Senate: The Roman Senate was an advisory body formed by Patrician men.

The meaning comes from senex, which means “old.” Old men equals wisdom and
experience. Senators usually kept their position for life.

Senators had privileges such as being able to wear the toga with the purple stripe,
a senatorial ring, and special shoes. They got the good seats at games and
events.

Multiple Choice

Who formed the advisory body known as the Roman Senate?

• Plebeian citizens

• Senators

• Emperors

• Patrician men

Consuls: Two by Two

Consuls: Two consuls were elected every year and jointly ruled Rome and its
provinces. It was the highest political office.

They commanded the army, convened and presided over the Senate and
assemblies, negotiated, judged, and made decisions. They also served as
diplomats meeting with foreign leaders.

Multiple Choice

What was the highest political office in ancient Rome?

• Senators

• Consuls

• Emperors

• Plebeians

Twelve Tables

Twelve Tables: Where laws were recorded (written down) in ancient Rome so that all could see
them and abide by them-and treated equally.

Code of law: A collection of laws. So, the Twelve Tables were the codified laws of ancient Rome

The Twelve Tables came about because of difficulties between the upper and lower classes
(Patricians and Plebeians) The Plebeians wanted fair rights for all citizens.

Once there was consensus of laws created by a board of 10 men, they were bronzed and hung
on the wall of the Forum for all to see.

Why do you think it was important for the Plebeians to have a formal law code?

Multiple Choice

What were the Twelve Tables in ancient Rome?

• A form of currency

• A type of aqueduct

• A group of senators

• A collection of laws

Aqueducts and Arches

Aqueducts: Roman aqueducts were man made conduits (channel) for carrying
water.

Arches are an architectural
feature that compress weight
down and outwards while
creating open space. They can
support more weight than a
beam. Used to support a
bridge, wall, tunnel, etc.

Multiple Choice

What were Roman aqueducts used for?

• Carrying water

• Transporting goods

• Building bridges

• Supporting walls

Pantheon

Pantheon: The Pantheon was a Roman temple or sanctuary

From Greek pan (all) and theos (god) comes the word Pantheon is what some
scholars have reasoned for the name that it was constructed for all the gods.
Others have believed it was a sanctuary (place of remembrance).

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Pantheon in ancient Rome?

• To worship all the gods

• To host public meetings

• To serve as a sanctuary

• To hold gladiatorial combat

Colosseum

Colosseum: The Colosseum was an amphitheater in Rome used for gladiatorial
combat and other entertainment/events.

Multiple Choice

What was the Colosseum used for in ancient Rome?

• Senate meetings

• Library services

• Gladiatorial combat

• Religious ceremonies

The Forum

Forum: A meeting place in ancient Rome. The Senate and other public meetings
took place at the Forum.

Multiple Choice

Where did the Senate and other public meetings take place in ancient Rome?

• The Pantheon

• The Aqueducts

• The Colosseum

• The Forum

Romance Languages

Romance Languages: Latin was the language of the Romans. Romance
languages descended from Latin. They are Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish
and Romanian.

Love

Italian =amore

Spanish and Portuguese=amor

Romanian=dragoste (Rome conquered this area in the 2nd century)

French=l’amore

Multiple Choice

Which languages descended from Latin, the language of the Romans?

• Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish

• Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese

• Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu

• English, German, Russian, Chinese

Punic Wars

Punic Wars: A series of wars fought between Rome and Carthage. There were
three Punic Wars. Map #1 is a modern map to see the Basin as a whole. Map #2 shows Carthage and Rome

Multiple Choice

What were the Punic Wars?

• Wars fought between Rome and Carthage

• Wars fought between Rome and Greece

• Wars fought between Rome and Egypt

• Wars fought between Rome and Persia

Hannibal

Hannibal: Hannibal was a general and leader of Carthage that led his army across
the Pyrenees and Alps Mountains into central Italy to attack the Romans in the
Second Punic War. It became of of the most remembered military campaigns in
history.

Multiple Choice

Who was Hannibal?

• A poet from Egypt

• A general and leader of Carthage

• An emperor of Rome

• A philosopher from Greece

Devaluation of Currency and Inflation

Devaluation of currency: The decrease in value of one currency in relation to
another, usually an action of the government.

Effect: The deliberate adjustment makes domestic (home) currency cheaper in
comparison to other currencies. (to help with government debt and boost
exports)

Inflation: A general increase in prices

Multiple Choice

What is the devaluation of currency?

• An increase in value of one currency

• A decrease in value of one currency

• A decrease in value of all currencies

• An increase in value of all currencies

First Triumvirate

First Triumvirate: In ancient Rome, a group of 3 men holding power (Caesar,
Pompey, and Crassus. (An alliance of power of 3 men)

Multiple Choice

Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Marcus Licinius Crassus made up:

• The Second Triumvirate

• The First Triumvirate

• The First Trilogy

• The First Triumphant

Civil Service

Civil Service: Jobs for the government that are neither political or judicial.

In ancient Rome, these were the bureaucrats that ran the day to day business.

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Originally created for the fiscal operations ($$$) of the provinces
(taxes and trade) “procuratores of the provinces”

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Created more jobs

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Later expanded from just financial-related jobs ($$$) to procuratores
of the libraries, entertainment, health and other aspects of Roman
life.

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Offered stability (steady, not changing) sometimes even when
emperors were not stable

Open Ended

What is a civil service? What in this slide deck reminded you or something in Hampton?