Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils examine the changing nature of the state that became the Roman Empire. They learn about its origins and kings, its period as a republic and its imperial history, ending with its division and decline. Throughout, pupils analyse how the idea of 'being a Roman' changed over time.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

Key Notes

• The Roman Republic continued to expand, conquering places like Ptolemaic Egypt.
• Julius Caesar rose to power as a general and then as dictator of Rome, but was murdered by jealous senators in 44BCE.
• Augustus was victorious in the subsequent civil war and became Rome's first emperor.
• The empire retained a senate which awarded the emperors their power.
• The Roman Empire expanded under the emperors as they used conquest to legitimise their rule.

Vocabulary To Learn

• dictator: a dictator is a person with complete power and control over a country
• civil war: a civil war is a war between different groups of people from the same country
• emperor: an emperor is the ruler of an empire

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Julius Caesar was an emperor of the Roman Empire.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Roman kings Study Guide
• The division of the Roman Empire Study Guide
• The fall of the Western Roman Empire Study Guide
• The Roman Republic Study Guide
• What it meant to be a Roman Study Guide