ANCIENT ROME NOTES – THROUGH TEST 1
LESSONS 1-3
What is a legend?
A legend explains why something
happens in an interesting or unrealistic
way.
What bodies of water
Tiber river, Mediterranean sea
were at the center of the
Roman world?
What is a Republic?
A government where the people
choose the representative to rule.
Who were Romulus and The twin brothers and sons of Mars that
Remus?
founded Rome. Their legend is
important in Ancient Roman culture
Why was Rome
built near a river?
How did the seven hills
of Rome make the site
near the Tiber River a
good spot for a city?
The soil near the river was rich. The
river provided fresh water and
transportation.
The hills protected
the Romans from enemies
Who did the Romans
worship?
Many Gods and Goddesses
What did the Romans
value?
Pleasing the Gods and Goddesses.
Honor, value, money, class system
Why did the Romans
want to please the
Gods?
They believed that the Gods and
Goddesses controlled everything that
happened.
Who were the Plebians? Ordinary Roman citizens, mostly poor,
a large group, and had very little power.
Who were the Patricians?
A small group of powerful and wealthy
Roman families.
LESSON #4
What two powers fought
against each other in the
Punic Wars?
Rome and Carthage
Who was Hannibal and
what role did he play in the
Punic Wars?
-Carthaginian
-general who led an army of soldiers, horses,
and elephants over the Alps
Who won the last
Punic Wars?
- The Romans
- They destroyed the city of Carthage
and put salt in the soil
- Carthaginians who were not killed
were sold into slavery.
LESSON #5
JULIUS CEASAR
What did the Romans
do with lands they
conquered?
-made them provinces
- sent a governor to collect taxes.
How did the conquest
of more lands affect the
wealthiest Romans?
-able to buy more land and slaves
-became richer
How did the conquest of - could not compete with slave-owning
more lands affect the
landholders
small farmers and poor -they were driven out of business and
Romans?
lost their land.
Why was Julius
Caesar popular with
the ordinary Romans?
-organized spectacular games and
shows.
What did Julius Caesar
do that started a civil
war in Rome?
-Caesar led army across the
Rubicon River
LESSON 6
CLEOPATRA, THE QUEEN OF
EGYPT
Why did Julius Caesar - looking for Pompey
go to Egypt in 48
B.C.?
Why was Julius
Caesar angry that the
king of Egypt had
killed Pompey?
-Pompey was Roman
-Caesar thought that a foreigner's killing
Pompey was an insult to Rome.
Who was Cleopatra?
-Queen of Egypt
-sister of the king, who was out to
destroy her
What did Cleopatra
want from Caesar?
She wanted him to protect her from her
brother.
LESSON 7
JULIUS CAESAR DIES
List at least three
changes that Julius
Caesar made in the
Roman government.
- He lowered taxes
- appointed new senators
- replaced several greedy provincial
governors
-gave land to Roman soldiers and food
to the poor.
How was Julius
Caesar assassinated?
-He was stabbed as he entered the
Senate by the Roman senators.
Why did a civil war
take place after
Caesar's death?
-His supporters were angry
What was the
outcome of the civil
war?
Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus,
but then they went to war against each
other. Octavian was the final winner.