Ancient Rome Vocabulary
Grade 6 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Master essential vocabulary terms for understanding the government, society, and legacy of Ancient Rome.
Flashcards
- Republic
- A form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf; Rome was a republic from 509 to 27 BCE.
- Senate
- The powerful governing body of the Roman Republic, made up of wealthy landowners (patricians) who advised and controlled policy.
- Patrician
- A member of the wealthy, noble upper class in ancient Rome who held most political power in the early republic.
- Plebeian
- A member of the common people in ancient Rome; they eventually gained their own representatives called tribunes.
- Tribune
- An elected official in Rome who represented and protected the rights of plebeians in government.
- Emperor
- The supreme ruler of the Roman Empire; Julius Caesar's adopted son Augustus became the first emperor in 27 BCE.
- Consul
- One of two elected leaders who jointly ran the Roman Republic each year, similar to co-presidents.
- Legion
- The main unit of the Roman army, typically made up of about 5,000 trained soldiers called legionaries.
- Gladiator
- A trained fighter (often a slave or prisoner) who battled in arenas called amphitheaters for public entertainment.
- Colosseum
- The massive amphitheater built in Rome around 70-80 CE that could hold 50,000 spectators for gladiator games and events.
- Aqueduct
- An engineering structure that carried fresh water from distant sources into Roman cities using gravity.
- Pax Romana
- Latin for 'Roman Peace'; a period of roughly 200 years of relative stability and prosperity across the Roman Empire (27 BCE-180 CE).
- Julius Caesar
- Roman general and dictator who expanded Rome's territory; his assassination in 44 BCE led to the end of the Republic.
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