Geography and Founding of Rome
What geographical feature is central to the Roman Empire and connects it to various lands?
The Italian Peninsula.
What was the basic unit of early Roman society?
The family.
What type of government was established in Rome after the fall of the Etruscan kings?
A Republic.
What set of laws became the foundation of Roman civil law?
The Law of the Twelve Tables.
What is the Roman equivalent of the US President?
The Roman Consuls.
Which island nearly joins Italy with North Africa?
Sicily.
Who held the sole authority over the Roman family?
The paterfamilias (father)
What was the title of the two leaders who replaced the Roman king in the Republic?
Consuls.
What sea did the Romans call "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea)?
The Mediterranean Sea.
In the US, how many houses make up Congress?
Two (the Senate and the House of Representatives).
What river did the early settlers of Rome settle near?
The Tiber River.
What were the two main social classes in early Roman society?
Patricians and Plebeians.
What was the most powerful governing body in the Roman Republic?
The Senate.
In which year was the Roman Republic founded?
509 BC.
What body in the Roman Republic was similar in function to the US Senate?
The Roman Senate.
According to legend, who founded the city of Rome in 753 BC?
Romulus.
Which early social class consisted of wealthy landholders and noble families?
The Patricians.
What assembly represented the common people in the Roman Republic?
The Assembly of Centuries.
What privilege did the plebeians eventually gain that allowed them to pass laws binding on all of Rome?
The Tribal Assembly.
In the Roman Republic, what was the primary role of the Assemblies, similar to the US House of Representatives?
To represent the voice of the common people.
What league formed the beginning of the city of Rome?
The League of the Seven Hills.
What were the common people of Rome, such as farmers and craftsmen, called?
The Plebeians.
What was the title of the officials who protected the rights of the Plebeians?
Tribunes.
What allowed Rome to expand without being hindered by geographical obstacles like Greece?
The Apennine Mountains, which were less rugged than Greece's mountains.
What Roman concept of "rule of law" influenced the US legal system, ensuring that laws apply equally to all citizens?
The Law of the Twelve Tables.