Glossary

BCE stands for Before the Common Era.  It is the first period of time in the calendar that we use today.  Years in this time period are counted down, so 509 BCE was 480 years before 29 BCE.  

Citizens were people that lived in the Roman Republic.  Citizens were free people, not slaves. 

Consuls were the head of the Roman Republic.  They were the most powerful members of Senate.  Consuls had the power to control the military.

Etruscans were a group of people that ruled the area now known as Rome.  They were eventually overthrown by the Roman people.  The Etruscans had their own culture, language, and heritage seperate from the Roman people. 

Patricians were wealthy Roman citizens.  They were able to vote and serve on Senate.

Plebeians were the poor class of people in the Roman Republic.  They could not serve on Senate, but they made up the Assembly.