1. Ancient Rome Vocabulary
Information and Images from the Ancient History Encyclopedia

2. Republic
(a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.) DEMOCRACY
Gave its citizens a voice in how the city was to be run
Only patricians could hold positions of power in government and religion
Rome started out as a republic in 509 BCE (replacing monarchy) and continued in this manner until about 27 BCE.
- Goal was to be run in a way that was representative of its citizens.
**Visual: Green indicates the size of the republic in 201 BCE, Orange indicates the additions that had been made to the republic by 100 BCE.

3. Empire (a group of states or countries under a single authority)
An empire refers to the domination of one state or states by another.
These states then ‘belong’ to the dominant state, and are ruled by that state.
The roman republic became an empire through civil war with armies led by Octavian and Marc Antony.
Both of these men were a part of the triumvirate (group of three people that ruled Rome).
Antony divorced Octavian’s sister.
Julius Caesar (Octavian’s uncle) named him the heir. After this, Julius Caesar had a son with Cleopatra. Marc Antony declared that this son, Caesarian, should be the rightful heir. Marc Antony sided with Cleopatra because he was in love with her.
Gaius Octavian Thurinus became the first emperor of Rome in 27 BCE, changing his name to Augustus Caesar.
Named emperor by senate because he destroyed Rome’s enemies and brought stability to the country.
Led to Pax Romana – 200 years of peace beginning in 27 BCE and ended in 180 CE after the death of the emperor Marcus Aurelius.
The Roman empire reached its height in 117 CE, and was divided into western and eastern empire in 285 CE.
**Visual: map shows the Roman empire at its height in 117 CE
Statue on the left: Julius Caesar
Bust on the right: Augustus Caesar (Octavian)

4. Dictator (a ruler with total power over a country)
In Rome, a dictator was appointed as a temporary, all-powerful leader in times of military crisis.
Typically operated on a 6 month term, or until the crisis was over.
Julius Caesar was given absolute power as a dictator, not confined to the 6-month term.
To restore the republic.
Started with giving him 10 years.
Changed to life, but then he was assassinated.

5. Absolute Power (unrestricted power)
Emperors were the only Roman leaders with absolute power
Had the ability to create law
Nobody could run for a position of power without his blessing
“Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Emperor has all real power.
Senate advises and endorses, but cant really change anything.

6. Consul
(one of two government officials that jointly ruled the Roman Republic)
An elected member of government.
Co-consuls were elected to prevent one person from taking and abusing all the power.
Elected for a 1-year term.
Had to be a patrician.
Powers/Duties included:
Proposing laws
Commanding the army
Presiding over the senate
- Were under the control of the emperor.

7. Patricians (an aristocrat or nobleman) Members of the upper-class
Believed they were born with the natural ability for leadership
Only patricians could hold positions of power in government
Only patricians could hold priestly positions
Their importance was left over from the time of the monarchy in Rome.
They made sure they were the only ones in power
Government
Priests
In this way they could maintain their position above the plebeians.
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8. Plebeians (a commoner) Everyone other than patricians
Could range from poor to wealthy
Eventually given the ability to vote
Eventually given the ability to hold a minimal amount of power
Major difference was that they had no political voice.
Once they gained this, they somewhat leveled out.
Elected tribunes that acted as their voice in government.
About 200 years after this, they were able to create laws that affected the patricians as well as the plebeians.
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