The Roman Empire

Chapter 12

How did having one official language,

Latin, help the empire?

aided government, trade, and military campaigns because everyone used

the same language

What three factors contributed to the growth of trade in

the Roman Empire?

travel, raw materials, currency, Roman coins were widely accepted

Where did the majority of people in the

Romans Empire live? How did they make a

living?

on small farms; growing only enough food for themselves

What is the term for a legal system that is

based on a written code of laws?

civil law

What problems plagued Rome in the 70s BC?

wars, breakdown of political order,

unemployment, riots, hunger, overcrowding

How might a poor citydweller have felt about the label Pax

Romana?

possible answer--might have felt it was not a good label,

because living in the city could be dangerous and

therefore not very peaceful

How might Cicero have been more successful

in his efforts to improve Rome?

possible answer-- appeal more to

people's self-interest

What happened to Roman law after the

empire ended?

continued to exist and influenced present-day law codes around the

world

What was the largest city in the Roman Empire? What is an example of one of the small cities?

Rome; Pompeii

People in the city of Rome needed raw

materials, where did they come from?

the provinces

How has Latin influenced present-day

European and American languages?

Latin developed into Romance languages, used

widely throughout Europe, and influenced

English.

What event marked the end of the Roman Republic and the

beginning of the Roman Empire?

the naming of Augustus

When did Marc Antony and Octavian

become enemies?

Marc Antony divorced Octavian's sister

Who was Cicero?

a philosopher and orator who wanted to make Rome a better

place

What position did Caesar first hold in the government?

general

Who worked the villa owner's fields?

slaves

Why did Caesar cross the Rubicon

with his army?

He knew he would be arrested when he

returned to Rome, so he entered with his army to

fight instead.

Why did rich Romans want villas?

to visit when they wanted a break from their responsibilities or the city's crowds

What is an example of an important medical discovery during the

Roman Empire?

Galen's description of the valves of the heart

and the differences between arteries and

veins

Why might a historian say that the Romans' talent for building large structures is directly related to aspects

of Roman society?

possible answer--Romans gathered in large groups for various purposes,

such as participating in government and recreation. These activities

required large building to house the large crowds. Arches, vaults, and

domes enabled the construction of these buildings.

What architectural features were used

more on Roman buildings than Greek ones?

Vaults, domes

What kind of economic

resources did Romans want?

gold, good farmlands, and other valuable

resources

What emperor built a wall to

defend against the Celts?

Hadrian

Why do you think a Roman sailor would be

glad that Rome controlled the entire Mediterranean Sea?

possible answer--because there would

be few pirates and many friendly ports

What are the territories that

Rome conquered called?

provinces

How were Romans able to increase the size

of their buildings?

by using combinations of arches and vaults

they could create huge open areas within a

building

What are four types of art at which the Romans excelled?

possible answers--mosaics, paintings, frescoes, portraits,

sculpture

What was the Pax Romana, and how

long did it last?

a peaceful period during which there were no major wars or rebellions in the Roman Empire, the quality of life for Romans improved; about 200 years

Why was cement such a useful

material?

It was very hard and watertight when it

dried.

Who were two great Roman

writers?

Ovid, Virgil

What trade routes were probably faster--

overland on the Silk Road or by sea?

possible answer--depends on the

distance, but sea routes are usually faster

What did Rome ship out of its

ports?

goods made by artisans,

including jewelry, glass, and clothing