The Early Republic
Rome’s government, established in 509 B.C., where power rests with citizens who vote for their leaders
What is a Republic (or res publica)?
The series of three epic wars fought between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean.
What are the Punic Wars?
Julius Caesar defied the Senate and plunged Rome into civil war by crossing this river with his army.
What is the Rubicon?
This "Golden Age" of Roman peace ended in A.D. 180 with the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
What is the Pax Romana?
Languages like French, Spanish, and Italian that evolved from Latin.
What are Romance languages?
The two main social groups in Rome: the wealthy, landowning aristocracy and the common farmers/merchants.
Who are the Patricians and Plebeians?
The brilliant Carthaginian general who famously led an army and war elephants over the Alps
Who is Hannibal?
These two senators led the group that assassinated Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 B.C..
Who are Brutus and Cassius?
This economic problem occurs when the value of money drops and the prices of goods rise
What is inflation?
These massive Roman structures were designed to bring fresh water into cities and towns.
What are aqueducts?
These two officials commanded the army and directed the government for one-year terms, holding the power to veto one another.
Who are the Consuls?
This tactical backbone of the Roman army was a flexible group of 80 men.
What is a Century?
This massive naval battle in 31 B.C. left Octavian as the sole master of the Roman world.
What is the Battle of Actium?
This emperor divided the empire into a Greek-speaking East and a Latin-speaking West in A.D. 284.
Who is Diocletian?
This Roman historian is notable for his factually accurate writing in Annals and Histories.
Who is Tacitus?
Carved on bronze tablets and hung in the Forum, these became the foundation for all Roman law.
What are the Twelve Tables?
The Roman general who finally defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C..
Who is Scipio?
Meaning "exalted one," this was the title Octavian took as he became Rome’s first emperor.
What is Augustus?
Originally known as Byzantium, this city became the new capital of the empire under Constantine.
What is Constantinople?
The three specific architectural features (the "big three") Romans used to build the Colosseum.
What are the arch, the dome, and concrete?
This group of 300 upper-class members served for life and controlled Rome's foreign and financial policies
What is the Senate?
Rome’s basic military unit, consisting of roughly 5,000 heavily armed foot soldiers.
What is a Legion?
The name the Romans gave to the Germanic invaders who were "non=Roman"
What are barbarians?
The Mongol nomads from Asia whose invasion forced Germanic tribes to flee into Roman territory.
Who are the Huns?
This Roman legal principle states that the "burden of proof" rests with this person.
Who is the accuser?