AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP World History Rome Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
4850948867Romulus and RemusTwins who according to legend founded the city of Rome in 753 BC. According to legend, they were twin sons of the god Mars and a Latin princess. They were abandoned on the Tiber River as infants and raised by a she-wolf. The twins then decided to build a city near the spot.0
4850948868Palatine HillOne of the seven hills of Rome, south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace1
4850948869Tiber riverA major river in Italy; Rome is built on its banks2
4850948870Peninsulabody of land jutting into a lake or ocean, surrounded on three sides by water3
4850948871EtruscansCulture that ruled Rome prior to the republic; ruled through powerful kings and well organized armies; Romans won independence ca. 509 B.C.E. Laid the foundation for Rome and Roman civilization4
4850948872Tarquin the ProudAccording to legend, the seventh and last Etruscan king of Rome who was expelled for his cruelty (reigned from 534 to 510 BC)5
4850948873Roman RepublicThe ancient Roman state from 509 BC until Augustus assumed power in 27 BC. was governed by an elected Senate but dissatisfaction with the Senate led to civil wars that culminated in a brief dictatorship by Julius Caesar.6
4850948874res republicaa Latin phrase meaning "public issue," or "public affairs." It is the root word for republic and commonwealth.7
4850948875ConsulIn the Roman republic, one of the two powerful officials elected each year to command the army and direct the government8
4850948876SenateIn ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of aristocrats; 300 members who served for life.9
4850948877Assembly of Tribesthe Roman legislative branch, body of plebeians who elected the tribunes,10
4850948878Assembly of CenturiesThe military assembly. They elected the consuls of Rome. Made up of Patricians and Plebeians.11
4850948879PraetorsElected to help consuls, commanded armies in times of war and oversaw legal system in times of peace12
4850948880MagistratesAn elected official in Rome13
4850948881CensorsRoman officials who registered citizens according to their wealth, appointed candidates to the Senate, and oversaw the moral conduct of all citizens14
4850948882Patriciansmembers of the landholding upper class15
4850948883PlebiansMembers of the lower class of Ancient Rome including farmers, merchants, artisans and traders16
4850948884TribunesAn officer of ancient Rome elected by the plebeians to protect their rights from arbitrary acts of the patrician magistrates.17
4850948885VetoA vote that blocks a decision, vote against;, the power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act18
4850948886ForumPublic square of an ancient Roman city; public place for open discussion; court of law19
4850948887PontiffA high or chief priest; the pope; the bishop of rome20
4850948888Pontifex MaximusTitle meaning "high priest" of the Roman pagan religion that was taken by Emperor Augustus.21
4850948889CincinnatusA model dictator for the Romans. He organized an army, led the Romans to victory, attended victory celebrations, and returned to his farmland all within 16 days.22
4850948890Twelve Tables of Roman LawThe earliest written collection of Roman laws, drawn up by patricians about 450B.C., that became the foundation of Roman law23
4850948891EdictAn order issued by someone in authority24
4850948892Jus civileLaw for citizens of Rome25
4850948893Jus GentiumLaw of the nations. Set of laws applied to territories conquered by Rome26
4850948894Corpus Juris CivilisNew code of the Roman Law decided by Justinian I in 529 CE that made Orthodox Christianity the law of the land. It means the "body of civil law"; it is composed of the Code, the Digest, and the Institutes.27
4850948895GaulThe area that is now France. Caesar conquered to bring the area under Roman control.28
4850948896LegionA military unit of the ancient Roman army, made up of about 5,000 foot soldiers and a group of soldiers on horseback.29
4850948897InfantryAn army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot30
4850948898CavalryUnits of troops on horseback31
4850948899Centuryroughly 100 men in the Roman army32
4850948900CenturionRoman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)33
4850948901First Punic War264 BC to 241 BC. Cause- carthage feared Rome would take over Sicily, Rome feared Carthage would control Mediterranean and block expansion (strait of Messina). Result- Rome wins, Carthage pays indemnity, Carthage is forced to give up sicily34
4850948902Second Punic War218 B.C. - 202 B.C., Hannibal decides to attack Rome, Sneaks through Gaul with 60,000 troops and 60 Elephants, Wreaks havoc in Rome for 15 years, Roman general named Scipio attacked Carthage making Hannibal come back to Carthage. Carthage defeated35
4850948903HannibalCarthaginian military commander who, in the Second Punic War, attempted a surprise attack on Rome, crossing the Alps with a large group of soldiers, horses, and elephants.36
4850948904Battle of ZamaThe battle in 202 BC in which Scipio decisively defeated Hannibal at the end of the second Punic War37
4850948905Third Punic War149- 146 B.C. Cause- Roman veterans sought revenge from destruction of second war (farms, animals, and walls were destoyed). Result- Rome wins, Carthage totally destroyed, sold population to slavery, salted fields, burned city38
4850948906ScipioRoman general who commanded the invasion of Carthage in the second Punic War and defeated Hannibal at Zama (circa 237-183 BC)39
4850948907Tiberius GracchusGrandson of General Scipio, Elected tribune in 133BC, Proposed law to take land back from Senators and give it to the landless, Very popular with the masses, Opponents organized a riot where he was killed40
4850948908Gaius GracchusProposed using public funds to buy and sell grain to the poor at reduced prices (welfare program); Killed in 121 BC in a riot planned by his enemies. ; The Senate justified killings by claiming the Republic was in danger; Violence becomes "Law of the Land"41
4850948909Sulla88 - 82 BC; A Roman general and a conservative politician, holding the office of consul twice as well as the dictatorship. A gifted and effective general, he marched his armies on Rome twice, enjoying the absolute power of a dictator. As dictator, he enacted a series of reforms to the Roman constitution that sought to strengthen the aristocracy. His dictatorship, however, marked the beginning of the end of the Constitution of the Roman Republic, and to the Roman Republic itself.42
4850948910Spartacus70 BC; slave, trained as a gladiator, who led a rebellion against the roman army for slave freedom- he was killed after two years43
4850948911FugitiviRunaway slaves44
4850948912paterfamiliasThe head of the family or household in Roman law -always male- and the only member to have full legal rights. This person had absolute power over his family, which extended to life and death.45
4850948913manumissionThe formal act of freeing from slavery46
4850948914PompeyPart of first Triumvirate; Roman general and statesman who quarreled with Caesar and and was forced to flee with his army to Egypt (after the battle of Pharsalus) where he was murdered (106-48 BC)47
4850948915CrassusGeneral who defeated Spartacus. Crucified 6,600 slaves on the Alpennine way. Richest man in Rome who shared command with Caesar and Pompey until he was killed in battle in 53 B.C.48
4850948916TriumvirateIn ancient Rome, a group of three leaders sharing control of the government.49
4850948917Julius CaesarRoman general and dictator, Made dictator for life in 45 BCE, after conquering Gaul, assinated in 44 BCE by the Senate because they were afraid of his power50
4850948918First Triumviratealliance of Julius, Crassus, Pompey to rule Rome51
4850948919RubiconA river in northern Italy that Julius Caesar crossed with his army, in violation of the orders of the leaders in Rome, who feared his power. A civil war followed, in which Caesar emerged ruler of Rome.52
4850948920ImperatorCommander in chief; the Latin origin of the word emperor53
4850948921Julian calendarIntroduced in Rome in 46 b.c. establishing the 12-month year of 365 days with each 4th year having 366 days and the months having 31 or 30 days except for February54
4850948922LatifundiaHuge estates owned by wealthy families55
4850948923The Second TriumvirateThreefold rule made up of Mark Antony, Lepidus and Octavian56
4850948924Octavian, Anthony, LepidusSecond Triumvirate57
4850948925Crassus, Pompey, CaesarFirst triumvirate58
4850948926CleopatraLast pharaoh of Egypt; had relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony; Octavian's enemy59
4850948927Battle of ActiumNaval battle between Marcus Antony and Octavian for control of the empire. Octavian won in 31 B.C.60
4850948928Octavian Augustus63BC-14AD. Charismatic & good leader, Julius Caesar's grandnephew. By defeating Mark Antony, he gained rule of all Roman lands. He was Rome's first true emperor. Patron of the arts, enlarged empire, restored order, starts Pax Romana.61
4850948929Pax RomanaA period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.62
4850948930PrincepsLatin for "first citizen." Augustus and other Roman emperors gave themselves this title to distinguish themselves from Hellenistic monarchs63
4850948931VirgilGreatest poet of the Golden Age, called the "Homer of Rome" because the Iliad and the Odyssey served as models for his epic, the Aeneid; focus on Patriotism; it took 10 years to write64
4850948932HoraceRoman poet who wrote of human emotions in odes, satires, and epistles65
4850948933OvidPoet exiled by Augustus for sensual poetry considered out of touch with imperial policies stressing family virtues.66
4850948934LivyRoman historian whose history of Rome filled 142 volumes (of which only 35 survive) including the earliest history of the war with Hannibal (59 BC to AD 17)67
4850948935TacitusA Roman historian who presented the facts accurately. He wrote about the good and the bad of imperial Rome in his Annals and Histories.68
4850948936Mosaicart consisting of a design made of small pieces of colored stone or glass69
4850948937TiberiusSon-in-law of Augustus who became a suspicious tyrannical Emperor of Rome after a brilliant military career, Adopted son of Augustus; Continues many of Octavian's policies; Married Octavian's daughter; Suspicious of aristocrats in the Senate; Many people were executed on rumors70
4850948938JesusA teacher and prophet whose life and teachings form the basis of Christianity. Christians believe Jesus to be Son of God and the Christ.71
4850948939CaligulaRoman Emperor who succeeded Tiberius and whose uncontrolled passions resulted in manifest insanity, Only ruled for four years, mentally unstable. He had an affair with his sister and named them both as Gods. He also named his horse a consul.72
4850948940ClaudiusBecame emperor after Tiberius' death, Intelligent scholarly, conquered Britain, built two major aqueducts. Married Agrippina, and adopted her son Nero. He was poisoned so Nero could be emperor.73
4850948941NeroRoman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68), persecuted Christians, had his mother killed and confiscated property to build his palace the Domus Aurea74
4850948942VespasianEmperor of Rome and founder of the Flavian dynasty who consolidated Roman rule in Germany and Britain and reformed the army and brought prosperity to the empire; began construction of the colosseum75
4850948943Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius79 CE Herculaneum and Pompeii buried; volcanic ash preserved both cities76
4850948944TitusSon of Vespasian, ruled from 78-81 CE; Roman general whose army captured and destroyed Jerusalem. He later became emperor77
4850948945Trajan98 - 177 CE Roman emperor; adopted by Nerva; One of the "Good Emperors"; Professional soldier from Spain; 1st non-Italian emperor; Brought Rome to it's height in size, built roads, harbors, baths, aquaducts and a solid infrastructure78
4850948946Hadrian117 - 138 CE, Roman Emperor who was the adoptive son of Trajan; travelled throughout his empire to strengthen its frontiers and encourage learning and architecture; on a visit to Britain in 122 he ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall79
4850948947Marcus AureliusEmperor of Rome, Last of the "Good Emperors", Wrote "Meditations" personal reflections of his beliefs, End of the Pax Romana80
4850948948Commodus180 - 192 Ancient Roman Emperor who succeeded his father, Marcus Aurelius, and began the decline of the Roman Empire.81
4850948949DiocletianRoman emperor of 284 C.E. Attempted to deal with fall of Roman Empire by splitting the empire into two regions run by co-emperors. Then set up a Tetrarchy. Also brought armies back under imperial control, and attempted to deal with the economic problems by strengthening the imperial currency, forcing a budget on the government, and capping prices to deal with inflation. Civil war erupted upon his retirement.82
4850948950TetrarchyRule by four; the system of government established by Diocletian(284-305CE) in which the Roman Empire was divided into two parts, each ruled by an "Augustus" assisted by a "Caesar."83
4850948951ConstantineRoman emperor (312-337 CE). After reuniting the Roman Empire, he moved the capital to Constantinople and made Christianity a favored religion.84
4850948952Edict of MilanOrder issued by Constantine which made Christianity an accepted religion in the empire (no longer persecuted); 313 AD85
4850948953Council of NiceaThis was a council of Christian bishops; the first effort to have a council assembling the Christian faith.86
4850948954Theodosius379-395 CE He divides the Roman Empire into two different empires (Roman & Byzantine). He also makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.87
4850948955Romulus AugustulusLast emperor of the Western Roman Empire; deposed by the Germanic head of the army, Odoacer, in 47688
4850948956VisigothsGermanic people who migrated to Rome, originally came from Scandinavia and Russia. They adapted Roman cultures and provided troops for the Roman army. They created settlements around Rome, and stormed and sacked it in 410. The western part of the Roman Empire was in shambles by the mid fifth century CE.89
4850948957HunsWarlike people who migrated from Eastern Europe into territory controlled by Germanic tribes, forcing them to move into areas controlled by Rome90
4850948958AlaricKing of the Visigoths who marched his troops across the Alps toward Rome and put the city under siege; stormed Rome in 410 and plundered it for 3 days91
4850948959JustinianThe Byzantine Emperor 527 - 565 CE who developed Justinian's code, built the Hagia Sophia, walls, and the Hippodrome92

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!