When studying something new, it's helpful to learn some of the basic terms first. Roman history spans three millennia. Within Rome's first millennium, it was ruled by kings at first, by a mixture of democratic and representational officials during the Republican period, and by emperors who stayed in control until the Fall of Rome. [See: Era-byEra Roman Timeline.] This list of Roman terms for students gives a dozen basics from only the legendary early and Republican periods.
After you've finished reading about these terms, see how much you retained by taking the very short Roman Terms for Students Quiz.
Appian Way
Creative Commons. Courtesy of iessi at Flickr.
The Appian Way, known as the Queen of Roads, was built to transport the Roman army. It was begun in the third century B.C. leading from Rome southwards to Brundisium.
Circus Maximus
CC flickr User Samuraijohnny
Shaped suitably for chariots race -- meaning it was elliptical rather than round -- the Circus Maximus was the venue for the important Roman games in September honoring Jupiter.
Etruscans
Etruscan Salii
The Etruscans are a group of people of the Italic peninsula (Italy) who influenced the Romans especially politically/legally and religiously. Some of the kings of Rome were Etruscans. In time the Romans conquered them.
Hannibal
CC Flickr user cmatulewicz.
No, this Hannibal probably wasn't a cannibal, but he was a major foe of Rome during the Punic Wars. He is also the man known for taking his army and its elephants across the Alps into Italy.
Latin
Latin is the language the Romans spoke and wrote in. Although many call Latin a dead language because it is not the mother tongue of any modern group of people, Latin is the mother language of the Romance languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian.The Latins were also a people of the Italic peninsula (Italy).
Pantheon
CC Flickr user Eustaquio Santimano
Although pantheon means "all gods" it refers to a specific building with a religious purpose, in Rome.
Pater familias
Pater familias or paterfamilias means father of the family. He traditionally held power over his children, including his adult sons who were fathers themselves.Patrician
Clipart.com
The patricians were the upper class families. Certain civil and religious offices required status as a patrician.
Plebeian
Although over time the plebeians gained rights comparable to those of the patricians and could be richer and more powerful than the patricians, they were the commoners. The plebeians are also called plebes or plebs.
Rape of the Sabines
Clipart.com
The early Romans were all men, according to legends, so Romulus staged a wife-garnering event to which the Romans invited the neighbors -- with their wives and daughters. The Romans then violated all codes of hospitality by kidnapping the young maidens.
Romulus and Remus
Clipart.com
Romulus and Remus are the legendary twin sons of Mars who were suckled by a wolf and founded the city of Rome.
Tiber River
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The Tiber was the important river that ran through Rome.
