KEY VOCABULARY AND TERMS

Rise of the Republic FORUM – open area in a city; temples, markets, public buildings

Rise of the Republic REPUBLIC: a government where citizens elect representatives

Rise of the Republic ETRUSCANS: a culture in central Italy; most powerful group; influenced by Greeks; influenced Roman culture

Rise of the Republic DIPLOMACY: the use of negotiations and compromise with other countries

Rise of the Republic LEGION: group of 4,500 – 5,000 heavily armed soldiers in Roman army; foot soldiers

Rise of the Republic MANIPLE: unit of soldiers; flexible fighting force

Roman Government - Republic CONSTITUTION: a system of (usually) written rules that organizes a government –Rome’s constitution wasn’t written

Roman Government - Republic SEPARATION OF POWERS: a government that shares power between different people or groups (no king) –In USA: judicial branch, executive branch, legislative branch

Roman Government - Republic VETO: to stop or cancel the action of a person in government

Roman Government - Republic TOGA – a garment for adult men – symbol of citizenship – FREE MEN ONLY

Roman Government - Republic PATRICIANS: first order of citizens; oldest families, wealthiest PLEBEIANS: second order of citizens, not wealthy (farmers, artisans)

Roman Government - Republic ASSEMBLIES: all adult male citizens allowed; where laws are passed SENATE: wealthiest, best-known citizens; did not represent the people as a whole; advised assemblies MAGISTRATES: wealthy, elected men; high powered; acted as judges

Roman Government - Republic CONSULS: top officials in Rome; led the army and watched over assemblies and judges

Men and Women PATRIARCHAL: society ruled by men; ancestors traced through fathers

Men and Women PATERFAMILIAS: –oldest man in family –head of household –Owned all property –Complete control –Women could own property if allowed by paterfamilias; had active social lives

Rich and Poor MINORITY: a group that is less than half the population –In Rome, less than 5% of the pop. is wealthy

Rich and Poor VILLAS: large country homes of the elite; size of a city block

Rich and Poor COMMONERS: people who were not wealthy; subject to crime, disease, fire, didn’t have running water

Rich and Poor SLAVERY: the practice of forcing humans to provide free labor against their will –common in Rome up to 40% of the population