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Chapter 6 Rome
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Republic | a political system in which the citizens of a region elect representatives to run the government |
Patricians | a class of powerful landowners in ancient Rome who controlled the government and society |
Plebeians | farmers or workers, who made up a large part of the population in ancient Rome |
Veto | ban |
Forum | the assembly place of an ancient Roman city |
Constitution | a political structure |
Senate | a body of legislators |
Consuls | the chief executives elected to run the government in ancient Rome |
Dictator | a political leader holding unlimited power |
Gracchi | Roman statesman; they tried to help ex soldiers in Rome by redistributing public land to small farmers. The Roman elite reacted violently to these actions and led mobs that killed the brothers ( |
Gaius Marius | Roman General and politician; he eliminated property restrictions for acceptance into the army and began to accept anyone who wished to join the Roman army. He made armies into private forces that became devoted to their generals. |
Lucius Cornelius Sulla | Roman general and politician; he became consul in 88 BC, led a civil war against Marius and his followers, emerged victorious, and became a dictator. |
Julius Caesar | Roman general and one of the greatest military leaders in history; he conquered most of Gaul and was named dictator for life in Rome. He was later murdered by a group of senators who opposed his enlarged powers. |
Triumvirate | a ruling body of three members |
Augustus | First emperor of Rome; he established the second Triumvirate with Mark Antony and Lepidus. He created the imperial system of administration, established new coinages, and encouraged trade. |
Pax Romana | a period of peace in Roman Empire lasting from the beginning of Augustus's reign until the death of Marcus Aurelius |
Villa | a home in the country |
Circuses | the site of chariot races on ancient Rome |
Paterfamilias | the family father |
Augurs | priest in ancient Rome who specialized in interpretation of the natural phenomena sent by the gods |
Galen | Greek physician; he wrote several volumes that summarized all the medical knowledge of his day |
Ptolemy | One of Alexander the Great's generals, he founded a dynasty that ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years. |
Aqueducts | man-made channels used to transport water; ancient Romans built impressive aqueducts |
Latin | the language of ancient Rome |
Civil Law | a form of law based on a written code of law |
Christianity | a religion based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth |
Messiah | in Judaism, a savior sent by god |
Jesus of Nazareth | First-century Jewish teacher and prophet; he founded Christianity and taught about kindness and love of God. His teachings spread through the Roman Empire and, eventually, the rest of the world. |
Disciples | followers of Jesus |
Apostles | the 12 chosen disciples of Jesus; they were the first Christian missionaries |
Martyrs | people put to death for their beliefs |
Paul | Apostle to the Gentiles; he worked to spread Jesus' teachings and wrote letters that explained key ideas of Christianity |
Eucharist | a ceremony of some Christian denominations that commemorates Jesus' last supper with his disciples |
Bishop | a high-ranking church official who oversees a group of churches in a particular region or city. |
Popes | title given to the heads of the Roman Catholic Church |
Inflation | increases prices for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money |
Diocletian | Roman emperor from 284 to 305; he divided the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves |
Attila | King of the Huns from 434 to 453; he invaded parts of the Roman Empire, devastating the Balkan countries and northern Greece when promised tribute was not paid. Plague and famine helped forestall his invasion of Italy. |