Unit 2 Vocab

Traditional story of how Rome began. Twins abandoned and rescued by a wolf, raised by a shepherd . Grew to build Rome. Romulus later killed Remus

In ancient Rome, a member of the privileged upper class; aristocrat

an ordinary citizen in the ancient Roman republic

Under the Roman Republic, one of the two magistrates holding supreme civil and military authority. Selected by the Senate, the consuls held office for one year and each had power of veto over the other.

A council whose members were the heads of wealthy, landowning families. Originally an advisory body to the early kings, in the era of the Roman Republic this body effectively governed the Roman state and the growing empire.

A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome's dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Roman general who became the republic's dictator for life; murdered by members of the Roman senate who were jealous of his power and influence

Part of the second triumvirate whom the power eventually shifted to after the death of Marc Antony. Assumed the name Augustus Caesar, and became emperor. Was the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the Pax Romana.

the 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.

Wrote Metamorphoses- based partially on history and partially on Roman myth

Greek biographer of the first to early second century AD. Author of Parallel Lives which compared famous men of classical Greece and republican Rome.

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)

the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church

issued by Constantine in 313, ended the "great persecution" and legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire

(325 CE) A council called by Constantine to agree upon correct Christian doctrine and settle some disputes of the time- Confirmed the Trinity by affirming that Jesus was God.