Ancient Rome; Chapter 9

Terms	Definitions
Latins	The local people who first lived in the area of Rome.
Etruscans	People from Etruria, (north of Rome) that took control of Rome and Latium. Built up Rome, streets, temples. Skilled metal workers.
Sicily	the largest island in the Mediterranean, near the "toe" of Italy.
Apennines	a mountain range that extends through Italy from north to south
Latium	A plain in central Italy on which the city of Rome was built.
Carthage	an ancient city state on the north African coast; enemy of Rome in Punic Wars
Cannae	ancient city in Italy where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 216 BC
Zama	Battle where Scipio defeated Carthage in 202 B.C. during Punic Wars.
Cincinnatus	a 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.
Hannibal	General of Carthage who marched his army from Spain to Rome in Second Punic War
patrician	In ancient Rome, a member of the wealthy, privileged upper class
plebian	in ancient Rome, one of the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up most of the population
consul	one of two elected officials of the Roman Republic who commanded the army and ran the government
praetor	important government offical in ancient Rome; interpretted the law and acted as judge
dictator	In ancient Rome, a political leader given absolute power to make laws and command the army for a limited time.
latifundia	large farming estates in ancient Rome
triumvirate	In ancient Rome, a group of three leaders sharing control of the government.
Rubicon	a small river which Julius Caesar crossed on his march into Italy that began a civil war
Actium	The battle where Octavian crushed Antony and Cleopatra and took over the Roman empire
Octavian	Julius Caesar's grandnephew, later known as Augustus. By defeating Mark Antony, he gained rule of all roman lands. He was Rome's first true emperor.
Antony	Caesar's ally and assistant; later allied with Egyptian queen Cleopatra VIII; both were defeated by Octavian and committed suicide
Cicero	Rome's greatest public speaker; he argued against dictators and called for a representative government with limited powers
Pax Romana	means "Roman Peace;" refers to the 200 years of peace and stability that Rome maintained within its borders during the early empire.
Caligula	A cruel and insane ruler of the Roman Empire in the first century A.D.; one of the twelve Caesars. To humiliate the senators of Rome, he appointed his horse to the senate.
Nero	Last of the Julio Claudian emperors, Murdered his mother, Blamed Christians for fire in Rome. "fiddled while Rome burned."
aqueduct	in ancient Rome, bridgelike stone structure that carried water from the hills into the cities
currency	system of money
Rhine River	one river which formed the north eastern border of the Roman empire set by Hadrian
Danube River	river, along with the Rhine River, which was the eastern boundary of the Roman empire under Hadrian's rule
The "Good Emperors"	5 emperors that ruled Rome for 100 years during the pax romana, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius