Geography
What large peninsular landform is Rome located on?
Italy is a peninsula.
Did the Romans believe in one god or many gods during the Republic?
Many gods (polytheistic).
Name one type of public building or structure Romans built that people still see ruins of today
roads, aqueducts, amphitheaters, public baths.
What was the Roman government type during the Republic
Republic.
Name one thing Roman farmers grew or raised that was important to the Roman economy.
Grain, olives (olive oil), grapes (wine), livestock.
Name the river that runs through the city of Rome and helped its early growth.
The Tiber River.
Name two major gods from the Roman religion and one thing each god was associated with (for example: Jupiter — king of the gods).
Examples: Jupiter — king of the gods; Mars — god of war; Venus — goddess of love.
What was the primary purpose of Roman roads?
Roads were built for military movement, trade, and communication.
What were the two chief leaders of the Roman Republic called (they were elected each year)?
Consuls.
What role did trade play in the Roman Republic — local, long‑distance, or both?
Both — local markets and long‑distance trade across the Mediterranean.
Which mountain range runs down the middle of Italy and influenced Roman travel and settlement?
The Apennine Mountains.
What was a Roman temple used for?
Temples were used for worship, offerings, and religious ceremonies.
What engineering structure did Romans use to bring fresh water into cities?
Aqueducts brought fresh water into cities.
What was the Roman Senate and what did it do? Give one short function.
The Senate was a council of leaders/advisors that debated and advised on laws and policy.
Who were the Patricians in Roman society?
Patricians were wealthy, noble families who held most early political power.
What body of water did the Romans call "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea) because it was central to their trade and power?
The Mediterranean Sea.
What role did priests and religious rituals play in Roman public life and government decisions?
Priests and rituals were used to gain the favor of the gods and often guided public decisions; augurs read signs to advise leaders.
How did Roman law and legal ideas influence later governments
Roman law ideas like written laws and legal rights influenced later legal systems (example: the idea that laws should be written and apply to citizens).
Explain what a consul veto was and why the Romans used this system between consuls.
Consuls could veto each other to prevent one person from becoming too powerful; it was a check and balance.
Who were the Plebeians?
Plebeians were common citizens: farmers, artisans, and merchants.
Explain how Italy’s central location in the Mediterranean helped Rome expand its influence across Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor.
Italy's central Mediterranean location made it easier for Rome to control sea routes, trade, and to send armies to nearby lands, allowing expansion into Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor.
Describe how Romans sometimes adopted gods or religious practices from other cultures they encountered
Romans adopted gods and rituals from the Greeks and others (syncretism), often renaming gods and blending practices.
Describe one cultural achievement of the Roman Republic in literature, language, or architecture
Latin literature (e.g., Virgil later), Roman arches and concrete in architecture; these influenced language, law, engineering and building techniques.
Describe how the conflict between the Patricians and Plebeians led to political change in the Republic
Plebeian struggles led to reforms like the Twelve Tables (written laws) and creation of tribunes to protect Plebeian interests.
Describe the daily life difference between a wealthy Roman family and a poor Roman family (one clear example).
Wealthy families lived in large houses, hired slaves, and had more leisure and education; poor families lived in small apartments or huts and worked laborious jobs.