republic
a form of government in which power rests with citizens who have the right to vote for their leaders
patricians
wealthy landowners who held most of the power
plebeians
common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up the majority of the population
tribunes
elected representatives who protected the rights of the plebeians from unfair acts of patrician officials
consuls
elected officials. Rome had two. They commanded the army and directed the government
dictator
a leader who had absolute power to make laws and command the army
legions
a large military unit that organized Roman soldiers
Punic Wars
War between Carthage and Rome- three wars were fought
Hannibal
a brilliant military strategist who led Carthage during the second Punic War
civil war
a conflict between groups within the same country
Julius Caesar
strong military leader who joined forces with Crassus and Pompey to lead Rome
triumvirate
a group of three rulers
Augustus
the "exalted one
Pax Romana
Roman peace
Jesus
a jew believed to be "the savior" sent by God
apostles
Jesus' disciples
Paul
an apostle with enormous influence on Christianity's development
Diaspora
the dispersal of Jews from their homeland
Constantine
Roman emperor who fought three rivals for leadership of Rome
bishop
a priest who supervised several churches
peter
apostle who became the first bishop of Rome
pope
the father or head of the church
inflation
a drastic drop in the value of money
mercenaries
foreign soldiers who fought for money
Dicletian
a strong-willed army leader who became the new leader of Rome in 284 AD
Constantinople
new capital of Greece. Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Byzantine which was later renamed this name
Attila the Hun
a powerful chieftan who terrorized both halves of the Roman empire
Greco-Roman Culture
a new culture combining elements of Greek, Hellenistic and Roman cultures
Virgil
poet who wrote the Aenid
Pompeii
Roman town lost in a thick layer of ash from Mt. Vesuvius
Tacitus
a Roman historian who presented facts accurately
aqueducts
designed by Roman engineers to bring water into cities and towns