Ancient Rome Part I Vocabulary

Julius Caesar

• A skilled general who became the first dictator of Rome and was killed by his peers.

• A famous philosopher known for his teachings on ethics and morality.

• A legendary king of Rome who established the Roman Empire.

• A military leader who fought against the plebeians' rights.

Patricians

• Wealthy merchants who controlled trade in Rome.

• Powerful and wealthy nobles; Rome’s upper class citizens who ran the government.

• Common farmers and laborers in ancient Rome.

• Military leaders who defended the Roman Empire.

Romulus & Remus

• Twin brothers who supposedly founded Rome. Myth.

• Two famous Roman generals.

• The first kings of Greece.

• Legendary figures in Norse mythology.

Republic

• A type of government where a single ruler holds absolute power.

• A type of government in which people elect the leaders who govern them. Broken into 3 parts: Senate, Assembly, Magistrate.

• A form of government where the military controls the state.

• A system where the monarch has complete control over the government.

Consul

• One of two top officials in Rome with the most power, elected upper class citizens, leaders that created laws & led army, headed Rome’s executive branch.

• A title given to the highest-ranking military officer in ancient Rome.

• A religious leader responsible for overseeing temple rituals in Rome.

• A position held by the governor of a Roman province.

Imperialism

• Conquest or domination of one country by another.

• A peaceful exchange of goods between nations.

• The establishment of trade routes without military force.

• A form of cultural exchange and cooperation.

Hannibal

• A Roman general known for his military tactics.

• A Carthaginian general who led troops against Rome in the 2nd Punic War.

• A famous Greek philosopher and strategist.

• A Carthaginian king who signed a peace treaty with Rome.

Plebeians

• Wealthy landowners in ancient Rome.

• Common people; Rome’s lower class who rebelled when they weren’t being listened to. Artisans, laborers, farmers.

• Military leaders in ancient Rome.

• Religious leaders in ancient Rome.

Etruscans

• Most powerful people in central Italy when Rome was founded.

• A group of nomadic tribes in northern Italy.

• The first rulers of the Roman Empire.

• A civilization known for their maritime skills.

Dictator

• A leader with complete control or absolute power. In Ancient Rome, a dictator served for a maximum of 6 months.

• A military leader with limited authority during wartime.

• A political figure elected for a fixed term by the citizens.

• A ceremonial leader with no real power.