People & Leaders
Who was Julius Caesar’s nephew who became the first Roman emperor?
Octavian (also called Augustus).
What major calendar did Julius Caesar introduce?
The Julian calendar.
What did aqueducts carry into Roman cities?
Fresh water.
What was the Colosseum used for?
Large public entertainments such as gladiator contests and animals.
What did Romans call people who were not part of the Roman Empire?
Barbarians.
What title did Julius Caesar hold when people feared he would become a permanent king?
He was called "Dictator for life."
In what year was the last Western Roman emperor removed from power?
476 AD.
What job did most Romans have?
Farmers.
What protected spectators from the sun in the Colosseum?
The velarium (a large awning).
What long period of peace began under Emperor Augustus?
The Pax Romana.
Which two men were the main leaders among the group that stabbed Julius Caesar?
Cassius and Brutus.
What natural disaster destroyed Pompeii in AD 79?
A volcanic eruption.
Which three crops were especially important to the Romans?
Wheat, grapes, and olives.
What was located beneath the Colosseum’s arena floor?
Tunnels and rooms for animals and performers.
Which city became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (later called the Byzantine Empire)?
Constantinople.
What new name did Octavian take when he became emperor?
Caesar Augustus.
What covered Pompeii and helped preserve buildings and objects?
About 20 feet of ash.
Why were Roman baths popular?
Answer: They were used for washing and socializing.
They were used for washing and socializing.
Where did the emperor and senators sit in the Colosseum?
Near the front (the best seats).
Gladiators were mostly from which groups of people?
Slaves or prisoners.
Why did many senators participate in Caesar’s assassination (what were they afraid he would do)?
They feared he would end the Roman Republic and become a permanent king.
How did archaeologists create casts of people who died in Pompeii?
They poured plaster into empty spaces left by decayed bodies.
What did retired Roman soldiers often receive as a reward for service?
A small farm.
What was the forum in a Roman city?
A marketplace and a place for public speeches.
What other major Roman entertainment involved dangerous racing?
Chariot races at the Circus Maximus.