Ancient Rome Definitions

Front 1

amphitheater

Back 1

A building where shows are put on

Front 2

ancestor

Back 2

a person from whom one is descended and who lived several generations ago

Front 3

appease

Back 3

to satisfy

Front 4

aqueducts

Back 4

a channel built to convey water from a long distance

Front 5

atrium

Back 5

the main room of a Roman house out of which one had access to other parts of the house. There were many types including ones that were completely roofed and ones with openings to the sky.

Front 6

ally

Back 6

a person, group or country joined with another for a particular purpose

Front 7

architecture

Back 7

the act or process of designing buildings

Front 8

aristocrats

Back 8

members of a privileged class

Front 9

auxiliary

Back 9

part-time soldiers who helped the legionaires

Front 10

Barbarian

Back 10

Roman name for anyone who did not live in the Roman Empire

Front 11

basilica

Back 11

A large public building, in or near the forum of a Roman city, which was used as a town hall, held law courts and housed shops

Front 12

cavalry

Back 12

soldiers who fought on horseback

Front 13

centurion

Back 13

leader of a century

Front 14

century

Back 14

group of 100 soldiers in the Roman army

Front 15

chariot

Back 15

horse-drawn cart with two wheels

Front 16

cohort

Back 16

group of about 600 soldiers in the Roman army

Front 17

consul

Back 17

ruler in the time of the Roman republic

Front 18

contaminate

Back 18

to pollute through contact or mixing, to spread filth or germs; contaminated water can cause illness or death

Front 19

culture

Back 19

the language, customs, ideas and art of a particular group of people

Front 20

democracy

Back 20

government in which the people vote for their leaders

Front 21

emperor

Back 21

ruler of the Roman Empire

Front 22

flat

Back 22

a group of rooms forming a residence on one floor of a house

Front 23

forum

Back 23

main square of a Roman town

Front 24

fresco

Back 24

to paint (a picture) on fresh, moist plaster, as on a wall

Front 25

gladiator

Back 25

man who was made to fight in a show to entertain people

Front 26

legatus

Back 26

commander of a legion

Front 27

legion

Back 27

group of almost 6,000 soldiers, or legionaires, in the Roman army

Front 28

legionaire

Back 28

professional Roman soldier

Front 29

monarchy

Back 29

a nation or government ruled by or in the name of a monarch

Front 30

mortar

Back 30

cement-based material that fills the gaps between and binds together construction blocks such as stones or bricks

Front 31

mosaic

Back 31

picture or pattern made of many small peices of stone set in plaster

Front 32

mythology

Back 32

a collection of myths

Front 33

nobleman

Back 33

a man of noble status or birth

Front 34

patrician

Back 34

a member of an aristocratic class

Front 35

persecuted

Back 35

to continually treat in a cruel or harsh way because of race, religion, political ideas or other difference

Front 36

plebeian

Back 36

in ancient Roman society, of or belonging to the class of commoners

Front 37

politician

Back 37

person who holds a government office

Front 38

province

Back 38

one of the divisions of a country, each with its own government

Front 39

rebel

Back 39

to fight against the government of his or her country

Front 40

republic

Back 40

country where the people choose their own leaders

Front 41

rivalry

Back 41

competition

Front 42

shrine

Back 42

sacred place or object devoted to a holy person or god

Front 43

stagnant

Back 43

a body of water which is motionless or ceases to flow

Front 44

statesman

Back 44

a man who shows skill and wisdom in government

Front 45

temple

Back 45

building or place where gods and goddesses are worshiped

Front 46

tunic

Back 46

loose, sleeveless, knee-length garment belted at the waist