Ancient Rome Study Guide
(reminder –Greece is also on the Trimester 2 Exam; use notes
and the midterm to study for the Greek section)
The civilization of ancient Rome lasted went through
three major stages:
1. Kingdom
•
just a city, small, started by Romulus according to legend
(after fighting his brother Remus)
2. Republic
•
expanded to whole Italian peninsula, more democratic
government with assembly (plebeians), Senators (powerful
patricians), and consuls (2 of them, sort of like presidents)
3. Empire
•
took over most of Europe and northern Africa (including
Carthage and Egypt); controlled by emperors like Augustus
(aka Octavian)
Roman Social Structure
Patricians
Plebeians
Rich, powerful landowners
(nobles); very influential; lived
in huge and beautiful homes
and owned many slaves
Middle to lower class
people, less respected;
many different jobs.
Considered “common
people” (nicknamed
“plebs”)
Slaves
Over time, the number of
slaves became huge and
made it hard for
plebeians to find jobs
Had no rights; most slaves
were captured from areas
that Rome conquered;
most were owned by
patricians but some richer
plebs also had slaves
Influence of Latin
• Latin was the language of ancient Rome. It is considered to
be very advanced and respected, even today.
• Many European languages were heavily influenced by Latin
(French, Spanish, Portuguese, English).
• We see Latin in our suffixes and prefixes and scientific
names, on our money and other documents, and often on
college-related materials (because it is so academic and
respected).
• Our alphabet comes from the Latin alphabet. Also, the
names of our months and planets have come from ancient
Rome (ex. August for Augustus Caesar, Mars for the god of
war)
constitution – a written document
that organizes a government and
outlines major laws and rights that
individuals have
• probably the most important document found in any society
Twelve
Tables,
in the
Forum
US
Constitution,
currently in
Washington
D.C.
separation of powers - instead of one person
having all government power, it is split up among
different groups
-Rome: assembly, Senate, consuls
-America: executive branch (president with
helpers), legislative branch (lawmakers in Senate and
House of Representatives), and judicial branch (judges)
checks and balances- the actions that groups in
government take that limit or influence the power
of other groups
-Rome: assembly can veto Senate, consuls can
block the decisions of each other, consuls chosen
by assembly
-America: the President can veto bills passed by
lawmakers; judges can rule laws unconsitutional
Roman Republic
– Existed from the time
plebeians formed the
assembly until Julius
Caesar declared himself
dictator (508 BC – 44 BC)
– Had checks and balances
and separation of
powers, as well as a
constitution
– Rome expanded into
Europe and Africa during
this time, especially after
victory over Carthage in
the Punic Wars
democracy
republic
constitution
Julius Caesar
• Originally a powerful and successful consul and military leader;
led conquests of Gaul and other areas and became very rich
and popular among the plebeians; patricians feared his
growing power and wanted to stop him
• Caesar invaded Rome and fought a civil war with his army
against Pompey (the other consul) and Pompey’s men; he won
• Declared himself dictator for life, but made popular changes
like giving land to his soldiers, more jobs to citizens, and an
improved calendar based on one the Egyptians used (the same
we use today  July named after him)
• United with Cleopatra to defeat her enemies and his in Egypt
(including Pompey)
• Assassinated by a group of Senators on the floor of the Senate,
led by his friend Brutus
• Considered one of the most important figures in all world
history; he ended the Roman Republic and made big changes
Augustus Caesar (formerly Octavian)
• Considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire; one of the
most important people in Roman history (and most people loved
him as a ruler)
• Was the nephew of Julius Caesar but was later adopted by him
• Formerly known as Octavian, received the title Augustus when
he took over Rome (it means revered or majestic leader)
• First split control of Rome with Marc Antony; later defeated him
and Cleopatra to take control of the whole Roman Empire
• Started a 200 year golden era of peace and culture known as the
Pax Romana (Roman peace)
– Made many changes like improved roads, even more beautiful temples
(like one to the god Mars), and added statues and monuments around
Rome
• After his death, the Senate actually named Augustus as a god!
Roman
Empire
• From about 31 BC (when Augustus became
the first emperor) until about 476 AD
• Many different emperors – some great,
some terrible, many murdered
• After a while, problems started because the
empire was too big and hard to control
Fall of Rome 
• After successful rule by emperors for several hundred
years, the empire started to fall apart. It was split into two
big parts (the Western and Eastern Roman Empire), and
while the Eastern continued, the Western Roman Empire
ended in 476 AD
Extra info:
• Causes:
http://rome.mrdonn
– The empire was too big to keep control of
.org/fall.html
– Many little civil wars
– Outside groups of uncivilized warriors (called barbarians)
invaded different parts of the empire
– Taxes were increased to pay for defense, so people had less
money; the government owed too much debt to too many
people
– Lazy patricians who didn’t care about improving Rome
– Disease spread and killed many people
• People still lived there, but there was no empire anymore.
Small groups took over different areas, and culture
declined. It was Rome no more.
Big Picture Roman Influences
• Along with Greece has a huge influence on
Western civilization (which includes
Europe and us in America):
– Roman alphabet, numerals, Latin
influences on our language
– Technology! Engineering projects
especially bridges, sewers, roads, public
baths, and aqueducts (with concrete!)
Roman aqueduct
• Plumbing - running water inside buildings
From Wikipedia - Roman civilization is often grouped into "classical antiquity"
with ancient Greece, a civilization that inspired much of the culture of ancient
Rome. Ancient Rome contributed greatly to the development of government,
law, war, art, literature, architecture, technology, religion, and language in
the Western world, and its history continues to have a major influence on the
world today.
Big Picture Roman Influences 2
– Ideas in government
• Written laws! They had great ones that we
have copied
• Made government like we have today
– Used a constitution
– Architecture ideas (columns similar to
Greeks) and art
– Military training and strategy (how to
fight and win wars)
– Religion (mostly polytheistic
but Christianity started later in Rome)
2 Key Timelines
*note that Rome is the only ancient civilization to go into AD times
Bonus Info - The following is a list of interesting people, places, and
topics that is great to know about but which won’t be on the exam.
Look for these topics on the Internet, History Channel, and in books.
Hannibal!
Spartacus, the gladiator/rebel leader
The evil emperors Caligula and Nero
An early dictator Cincinnatus
The myth of Aeneas (connects Rome to the Trojan
War)
The famous poets Virgil and Ovid
Examples of architecture in America inspired by
Roman styles (especially in Washington D.C.)
The rise of Christianity (and how many Romans were
against it)
China Review
• Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtze (Chang
Jiang) river valleys were main areas of
life
• Different philosophies were followed
by different people, but none more
than Confucianism
– Gave people ideas on how to live, how
to be good, how to treat other people
(based on different relationships), and
how to show respect
• Silk Road
– Connected China to the Middle East and
Rome
– Many different routes, not just one road
– Allowed ideas and goods to be traded
and shared
– Watch out for bandits!
Major dynasties
(in order):
1. Shang
First cities (near rivers),
known for oracle bones,
start of writing
2. Zhou
Started Mandate of
Heaven; very long
dynasty
3. Qin
Shi Huangdi! Expanded
territory, started the
Great Wall
4. Han
Golden Age! Many
inventions (like silk,
gunpowder, compass,
and paper)
Egypt Review
• All of life was centered around the incredibly important Nile River
• Pyramids were built to give the pharaohs a burial place to provide
for them in the afterlife
• Pharaohs were very powerful rulers and were considered part-god,
part-human
• There was a clearly organized social structure with priests and
nobles in the upper class, merchants and scribes in the middle, and
farmers and unskilled workers at the bottom (just above the slaves)
• Technology improved farming through the use of the ox-drawn
plow as well as irrigation using canals and the shaduf
• Egyptians invented many things like black ink, papyrus, irrigation.
hieroglyphics, sails, and a 365 day calendar
• Polytheistic religion with gods like Isis, Osiris, and Ra