| A | B |
|---|
| basin | An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. |
| republic | A government in which citizens have the right to choose their leaders. |
| Senate | The lawmaking body of ancient Rome. |
| consul | One of two people elected by the Roman Senate who governed Rome and commanded its Army. |
| patrician | A member of a class of wealthy families who held all power in the early Roman Republic. |
| plebeian | A member of the common people in ancient Rome. |
| tribune | An elected official in ancient Rome who represented the interests of the plebeians, or common people. |
| Twelve Tables | A group of laws, written down in 451 B.C. and carved on 12 bronze tablets, that became the foundation of Roman law. |
| Hannibal | About 247-183 B.C. A general from Carthage who led his people against Rome in the Second Punic War. |
| Scipio | About 234-183 B.C. Roman general who defeated Hannibal. |
| territory | Any large area of land; region. |
| dictator | A ruler who has absolute power and authority. |
| civil war | A conflict in which people within one country fight each other. |
| Pax Romana | A period of peace in the Roman Empire that lasted about 200 years, during which trade flourished. |
| architecture | The science of building. |
| Colosseum | A large sports arena in ancient Rome. |
| gladiator | A person, often a slave, prisoner of war, or criminal who fought in the Colosseum or similiar arena to entertain the public. |
| forum | A marketplace in the center of ancient Rome surrounded by public buildings. |
| aqueduct | A large stone structure built by the Romans to carry water from one place to another. |
| Romance Language | One of several modern languages, such as French and Italian, that is descended from Latin. |
| New Testament | The second part of the Bible, containing the life and teachings of Jesus and the story of early Christianity. |
| Christianity | A world religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth and based on his teachings. |
| apostle | One of the 12 original followers of Jesus of Nazareth. |
| bishop | A church official that leads a large group of Christians. |
| pope | The bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church. |
