Geography
Which major sea lies south of Italy?
The Mediterranean Sea
What language did the Romans speak?
Latin
What type of government did Rome have before becoming an empire?
A republic
Who did Rome fight in the Punic Wars?
Carthage
Which emperor divided the empire into East and West?
Diocletian
What peninsula is Rome located on?
The Italian Peninsula
What type of religion did the Romans have before Christianity?
A polytheistic religion
What was the main difference between Patricians and Plebeians?
Patricians were wealthy nobles; Plebeians were commoners
What military general conquered Gaul?
Julius Caesar
Invasions
What river runs through the city of Rome?
The Tiber River
What were Roman aqueducts used for?
Bringing fresh water to cities
How did checks and balances work in the Roman Republic?
Powers were split so no one could become too strong
Which general famously crossed the Alps with elephants?
Hannibal
How did Rome stopping their conquest lead to economic problems?
They lost their income of valuable materials
What 3 continents did Rome control territory on?
Europe, Africa, Asia
What change did Theodosius make?
Made Christianity the official religion of the empire
Who were the two main leaders of the Roman Republic?
The Consuls
What was a military unit in Rome called?
A legion
What was the fate of many Roman Emperors?
Assasination
What mountain range runs across Italy?
The Apennine Mountains
What change did Constantine make?
Made Christianity legal
Who became Rome's first Emperor?
Augustus Caesar
How did Rome’s military successes eventually hurt it?
overexpansion
2. Money that would have been spent on upkeep of the empire was now used to build churches