Government & Society
What was the two-part name for Roman citizens that included a family name and a personal name?
The Roman naming system used a praenomen (personal name) and nomen (family name) — often followed by a cognomen.
What river runs through the city of Rome?
The Tiber River.
What is an aqueduct?
A structure built to carry water from distant sources into cities and towns.
Who was Julius Caesar?
A military leader and general who became dictator of Rome; his actions helped end the Roman Republic and led to the rise of the empire.
What language did the Romans speak?
Latin.
What was the Roman Republic?
A form of government where citizens elected officials (representatives) to make decisions rather than a single monarch.
Name one reason Rome’s location helped it grow into a major city.
Central location on the Italian peninsula, access to the Mediterranean for trade, and the Tiber River for water and transport.
What was a typical entertainment place in Rome where people watched gladiator fights?
The amphitheater, for example the Colosseum.
Who became the first emperor of Rome after Caesar’s death?
Augustus (also known as Octavian).
What is one example of Roman law or legal legacy used in many modern systems?
Concepts such as “innocent until proven guilty,” written laws, and legal codes influenced modern legal systems.
What were the two main social classes in early Rome and one key difference between them?
Patricians (wealthy, aristocratic families) and plebeians (commoners). Patricians held most political power early on, while plebeians had fewer rights initially.
What was the Roman road network mainly used for?
Moving armies, trade, communication, and connecting Roman provinces.
What was one common food or staple in the Roman diet?
Bread, olives, and wine were staples; porridge and vegetables were also common.
What happened in 476 CE that is often used as a marker for the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
The last Roman emperor of the West, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed.
What is a Roman architectural feature still used today?
The arch, dome, and use of concrete in large-scale buildings.
What was the Roman Senate, and what was one of its main roles?
The Senate was a powerful council of experienced leaders/advisors that debated and gave guidance on laws, finances, and foreign policy.
What does the term “Pax Romana” mean, and why is it important?
“Roman Peace”—a long period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire that allowed trade and culture to flourish.
Who were Roman household slaves likely to be and one role they served?
Slaves could be prisoners of war, captured peoples, or born into slavery; they served as servants, laborers, tutors, and craftsmen.
What was one cause of Rome’s expansion through military conquest?
Desire for land, wealth, security, and resources; military strength and discipline allowed conquest and control.
Give one example of modern words or terms derived from Latin (provide the English word).
Examples include “video” (I see), “agenda” (things to be done), “et cetera (etc.)”. (Any appropriate Latin-derived English word is acceptable.)
What is a republic’s system of checks and balances practiced in Rome (give one example)?
Different offices had powers that limited others — for example, two consuls shared executive power and could veto each other; tribunes could veto actions that harmed plebeians.
Name two regions or modern countries that were part of the Roman Empire at its height.
Examples include modern-day Italy, Spain, France, England, Greece, Egypt, Turkey (Anatolia), and parts of North Africa.
Describe one way Roman religion or public rituals were part of daily life.
Romans honored many gods with public festivals, household shrines, offerings, and rites; priests and ceremonies marked important civic events.
Name and briefly explain one major reform or policy of Augustus that changed Rome.
Augustus reorganized the military, created a professional army with pensions, reformed taxes, improved roads and postal systems, and established a stable administration.
Explain one long-term cultural influence of Rome on Western civilization.
Roman law, engineering, language (Latin roots in Romance languages), architecture, and the idea of republican government influenced modern Western institutions and culture.