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On July 19, 64 CE, a fire started in the enormous Circus Maximus stadium in Rome, now the capital of Italy. When the fire was finally extinguished six days later, 10 of Rome’s 14 districts were burned.Ancient historians blamed Rome’s infamous emperor, Nero, for the fire. One historian said Nero was playing the fiddle while his city went up in flames. Other historians say Nero wanted to raze the city so he could build a new palace. Nero himself blamed a rebellious new cult—the Christians.Most modern historians don’t blame Nero for the Great Fire of Rome. Ancient Rome was a city of more than two million people, with thousands living in slums. These slums were filled with poorly constructed wooden apartment buildings. A fire in one apartment could quickly engulf the entire block.
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Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry ancient Rome Noun civilization founded on the Mediterranean Sea, lasting from the 8th century BCE to about 476 CE.
capital Noun city where a region's government is located.
Encyclopedic Entry: capital Christian Noun people and culture focused on the teachings of Jesus and his followers.
construct Verb to build or erect.
cult Noun system of spiritual or political devotion, usually derided by more mainstream organizations.
destroy Verb to ruin or make useless.
emperor Noun ruler of an empire.
engulf Verb to surround or submerge.
enormous Adjective very large.
extinguish Verb to put out a fire or flame.
fiddle Verb to play a stringed instrument, or the stringed instrument itself.
historian Noun person who studies events and ideas of the past.
infamous Adjective having a very bad reputation.
palace Noun large home or mansion, often the home of a leader or dignitary.
raze Verb to destroy completely, especially by tearing down.
rebel noun, adjective person who resists the authority of government.
slum Noun area of a city that is crowded, often lacking basic services such as electricity or sewage, and inhabited by poor people.
stadium Noun large structure, often used for sports or other entertainment events, with a central event area surrounded by raised seats for viewers.
temple Noun building used for worship.