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Course: AP®︎ World History > Unit 2
Lesson 4: Ancient Rome- An Overview of Ancient Rome
- Roman social and political structures
- The Roman Republic
- Exchange between Rome, Carthage, and the Phoenicians
- Rise of Julius Caesar
- Caesar, Cleopatra and the Ides of March
- Augustus and the Roman Empire
- The Roman Empire
- Fall of the Roman Empire
- Lesson summary: Ancient Rome
- Ancient Rome
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Lesson summary: Ancient Rome
Key terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| patrician | class of social and political elites |
| plebian | class of common people |
| consul | Roman chief executive office; two consuls were elected each year and served as the military and political leaders of Rome. |
| Senate | political body made up of former Roman office-holders that offered advice to the consuls |
| latifundia | large farms owned by wealthy Romans |
| denarius | standard Roman currency |
| aqueduct | structures used to carry water across long distances to cities |
| Augustus | first ruler of the Roman Empire; he established an autocratic form of government, where he was the sole ruler. |
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 509 BCE —27 BCE | Duration of the Roman Republic |
| 27 BCE—476 CE | Duration of the Roman Empire (Western) |
| 27 BCE - 180 CE | Pax Romana, or “Roman Peace,” the period during which Rome was relatively stable and war was infrequent |
Key themes
Economics: Like all ancient societies, the Roman economy was largely based on agriculture. Rome achieved a high level of urbanization, development, and specialization. Through its expansion of territory and the economy, Rome was able to maintain a large and powerful military.
State building: States adapted to changing circumstances and adopted different functions. The Roman Republic had a complex system of government that incorporated diverse elements of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy. The Roman Empire eventually replaced the Republic, but it maintained many elements of the old Republican government. Part of Rome’s success as an empire was due to its willingness to incorporate conquered enemies as Roman citizens.
Review questions
- How was Rome's expansion similar to or different from the expansion of other classical period states?
- What elements of the Roman Republic continued during the Roman Empire?
- What elements of the Roman Republic changed with the creation of the Roman Empire?
Want to join the conversation?
How was Rome's expansion similar to or different from the expansion of other classical period states?
What elements of the Roman Republic continued during the Roman Empire?
What elements of the Roman Republic changed with the creation of the Roman Empire?(2 votes)
what was the basic structure of the roman household(1 vote)