Geography & Location
What sea helped Rome trade with other civilizations?
The Mediterranean Sea
What were upper-class Roman citizens called?
Patricians
What structures carried water into Roman cities?
Aqueducts
Who gained control of Rome after conquering Gaul?
What economic problem caused prices to rise in Rome?
Inflation
What natural feature helped protect Rome from attackers?
The Seven Hills
What were ordinary Roman citizens called?
Plebeians
What shape did Romans use to build strong structures?
Arches
What was the 200-year period of Roman peace called?
Pax Romana
Why was Rome difficult to defend?
The empire was too large
What type of land helped Rome grow crops easily?
Fertile soil
What important right did Roman citizens have?
The right to vote
What system connected the Roman Empire?
Roads
Which emperor accepted Christianity?
Constantine
What made the Roman army expensive to maintain?
The empire needed a very large army
Ancient Roman Empire was located on what continents?
Africa, Asia, and Europe
What were two duties of Roman citizens?
Paying taxes and serving in the military
What public buildings did Romans visit to bathe and socialize?
Bath houses
Why did many Romans dislike Christians at first?
Christians refused to worship Roman gods
What weakened Roman leadership near the end of the empire?
Political instability and weak emperors
Why was Rome’s location good for trade?
It was close to the Mediterranean Sea
How did Roman ideas influence the United States?
Roman laws and citizen rights influenced U.S. government and laws
Why were Roman engineering achievements important?
They improved transportation, water supply, and city life
What happened to Julius Caesar after becoming powerful?
He was assassinated
Name one major reason for the fall of the Roman Empire.
Acceptable answers: inflation, invasions, weak leaders, large empire, expensive army