ANCIENT ROME UNIT 14

By Ella Rowland, Rachel Szeghy, and Emily Sperow

Republic

A republic was a government that was created in Rome where people elected officials/leaders to rule them.*the people elected Consuls

Dictators

• A dictator is a ruler with almost ABSOLUTE power.

• Example: Qin Dynasty in China

Roman Senate

• A council of wealthy and powerful Romans who advised the city’s leader.

• *Today we use the idea of a senate in America

veto

• To prohibit an action • *In our government one of the three branches

can prohibit actions by another branch, just like the Romans did.

Checks and balances

• A system created in Rome so that not any one person would ever receive too much power

• *Instead we use the three branches of government to balance power

Gladiators

• Slaves or captives that were forced to fight to the death against animals or other gladiators in a public arena for the enjoyment of the spectators. Usually the gladiators lost their lives during these fights.

• *If the Gladiators got REALLY good they had to fight in the Coliseum

Civil Law

• A legal system based on a written code of Laws

• *This is almost like Hammurabi's Code

Corruption

• The decay of people’s values

Geography!!!!

Rome

The Tiber river

• The Tiber river was a small river that ran through Rome. This river provided them with fresh water resources and transportation.

• * REMEMBER almost ALL civilizations settle by a RIVER!

Alps Mountain Range

• Like most other mountain ranges the Alps provided protection to the Romans, but also, as we know from studying Greece, they were the reason for Rome’s very diverse culture. They separated provinces and captured territories.

• *The other mountain range was the Adenine Mtns.

Peninsula

• Rome is located on the Italian Peninsula. This provided them with easy trading routes all around the Mediterranean.

*peninsula- a narrow strip of land surrounded by water on three sides

Impact?

• The alps made a very diverse culture(like Greece)

• The Tiber river provided them with transportation.(from the Tiber they could reach the Mediterranean)

• The Location of a peninsula provided them with easy trading routes.(around the Mediterranean)

Julius Cesar

• Known as a strong leader and war hero• While governing Gaul, he and his army conquered

most of Western Europe. The Senate told him to come back to Rome without his army, thinking he had gained to much power and popularity, yet when he came back, the army was still at his side!

• On March 15, 44 BC, he was assassinated because of the treat the Senators felt because of his power and popularity

Octavian “Augustus”

• After his father, Julius Caesar, died he became the ruler of Rome

• He restored peace and order to Rome• Romans gave him to the title Augustus, or

‘respected one’• He began the 200 year period of the Roman

Peace, or Pax Romana

Constantine

• First Christian leader of Rome• The capitol of Rome, Constantinople, was

named after him• He wanted to reunite Rome• Christianity was spread by the Roman empire,

which was highly caused by Constantine

Important Contribution• Sewers- pipe line that took dirty water to a place

where it was safe to dump it.• Aqueducts- Large structures that carried water from

the Tiber River to Rome.• Roads- Paved stretches of land that made travel

easier. There were ditches to the side to prevent water from ruining the roads.

• Amphitheater/ Coliseum- Large structures that the gladiators fought in and where plays are held.

Conflicts

• The Punic Wars were held against Carthage.• Who started the 2nd Punic War? What did he

do?• Hannibal started the second Punic War. He

was from Carthage, Africa. He was a strong military General.