Deck 6: The Roman Empire

Question 1

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Augustus

Answer 1

Answers will vary.

Question 2

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
the imperial cult

Answer 2

Answers will vary.

Question 3

It has been said of the Romans that two of their major contributions to Western civilization were in the areas of law and engineering. What exactly did the Romans achieve in each area?

Answer 3

Answers will vary.

Question 4

Compare and contrast the second century and the third century C.E. in the Roman Empire.

Question 5

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
principate

Question 6

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
pax Romana

Question 7

What accounts for the prosperity of the early empire? In your opinion, what factor was most important? Why?

Question 8

The historian Edward Gibbon claimed that the Roman Empire in second century C.E. was a true Golden Age. What evidence could give credence to Gibbon's argument and what evidence could be given to refute it?

Question 9

Assume that you are a Roman citizen living in Rome in the second century C.E. Discuss both the potential good and bad aspects of your daily existence.

Question 10

What message did Virgil intend to convey to his Roman audience in his epic masterpiece, the Aeneid ?

Question 11

How much credit, if any, does Augustus deserve for what is referred to as the Pax Romana , the "Roman peace"?

Question 12

Why was it important to Augustus to retain the outward trappings of the republican state?

Question 13

One historian has said that the Romans became Christians and the Christians became Romans. Is that an accurate assessment of the relationship between Rome and early Christianity? Why or why not?

Question 14

Explain the factors involved in the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire. To what groups did Christianity most appeal? Why?

Question 15

In what ways did imperial governance in the Age of Augustus and the Early Empire address the problems and weaknesses that led to the collapse of the Republic?

Question 16

How does the literature of the late Republic, the Augustan Age, and the Early Empire reflect the political problems of each period?

Question 17

Define "Romanization." In what areas and with what social groups was Romanization most complete? Why?

Question 18

What important changes took place in the Roman family in the first two centuries C.E.?

Question 19

How would you characterize Augustus's social policies? What goals were his policies meant to achieve?

Question 20

How and why did the teachings of Christianity pose a challenge traditional Roman attitudes, values, and lifestyles?

Question 21

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Jesus

Question 22

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Zealots

Question 23

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
"Bread and Circuses"

Question 24

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Paul of Tarsus

Question 25

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Seneca

Question 26

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Diocletian

Question 27

What happened to the Roman Senate under Augustus?

A)It was stripped of all but the most superficial of powers.
B)It was a full and equal partner of the princeps .
C)It was retained as the chief deliberative body of the Roman state.
D)It was no longer a high court of justice nor allowed to control the public treasury.
E)It was completely dissolved and eliminated.

Question 28

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
the Silk Road

Question 29

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Julio-Claudians

Question 30

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Horace

Question 31

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
good emperors

Question 32

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Goths and Franks

Question 33

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Septimius Severus

Question 34

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
the gospels

Question 35

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Romanization

Question 36

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Sadducees and Pharisees

Question 37

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Flavians

Question 38

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Question 39

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Tacitus

Question 40

For each historical identification question, define the term and briefly describe its historical significance.
Pontius Pilate

Question 41

What was the most important development of the Augustan Age?

A)The Roman economy collapsed.
B)The imperial order became permanent.
C)The empire was plunged into civil war.
D)The Romans lost control of the eastern portion of the empire.
E)The Romans conquered the Greeks.

Question 42

Which of these was one of Augustus's accomplishments?

A)He tripled the state budget surplus.
B)He returned Rome to its republican roots.
C)He extended Roman citizenship to all inhabitants of the empire.
D)He legalized Christianity.
E)He added considerable new territory to the empire.

Question 43

What was a requirement for membership in the equestrian order?

A)Senatorial ancestors
B)Twenty years of service in the army
C)Property valued at 400,000 sesterces
D)Written approval from the emperor
E)Five years of residence in the city of Rome

Question 44

Romanization in the Roman Empire

A)varied widely in different areas of the empire in terms of its extent and speed.
B)developed first in the lower classes.
C)saw Latin illuminate the use of the Greek language in the east.
D)never included the practice of allowing local inhabitants to become Roman officials.
E)occurred more quickly in the east than the west because of greater urbanization in the east.

Question 45

Who were the Roman praetorian guards?

A)Elite troops given the task of protecting the emperor
B)Mobile units meant to patrol the boundaries of the empire
C)Retired veterans often used to train the gladiators
D)Cavalry used to spearhead military offensives
E)Soldiers stationed along Hadrian's Wall in northern Britain

Question 46

What was one of Augustus's most significant actions in the area of Roman religion?

A)Destruction of the cults of Augustus and Roma
B)Claim to be a god in his own lifetime
C)Creation of an imperial cult
D)Elimination of all traditional female religious festivals
E)Destruction of all of the mystery religions

Question 47

The colonies of veterans established by Augustus throughout the empire

A)were used exclusively to maintain domestic order within the provinces.
B)drained the imperial treasury of its funds and caused financial crisis.
C)drew extra criticism to the emperor.
D)often rebelled against imperial authority.
E)proved especially valuable in Romanizing the provinces.

Question 48

Which statement is true of Augustan society?

A)Popular assemblies of the lower classes continually grew in importance.
B)Legislation was passed concerning the corruption of morals.
C)Equestrians gained the upper hand in the political sphere.
D)Religion was no longer considered important.
E)The city of Rome, including the Colosseum, was entirely rebuilt.

Question 49

Which of the following statements BEST describes the governing of Roman provinces under Augustus?

A)efficient, with ex-generals serving as governors and instituting military rule
B)efficient, with legates cooperating with the local elites
C)inefficient, due to the corruption of Roman governors
D)efficient, with all governors receiving one year of training before assuming their positions
E)mostly efficient, although there were numerous local uprisings against Roman rule

Question 50

Concerning social classes during early Roman Empire,

A)provincials were allowed to hold certain high magisterial positions.
B)the power of the equestrian class was expanded.
C)the Senate was expanded to include 400 equestrians.
D)debt slavery was ended as a means to acquire slaves.
E)independent farms made up the soldiers in Rome's legions.

Question 51

Although the Senate granted Octavian the title "Augustus" (revered one), he preferred to be addressed by what title?

A)Pontifex
B)Dominus
C)Overlord
D)Senator
E)Princeps

Question 52

What was a consequence of the civil wars of the first century B.C.E.?

A)The Roman army was permanently weakened.
B)Roman government shrank and became more efficient.
C)The Roman army increased in size and become more professional.
D)Roman government became more democratic and egalitarian.
E)The Roman army disintegrated.

Question 53

Under the rule of Augustus, the Roman Empire

A)was a principate, with Augustus acting as an equal co-ruler with the Senate.
B)returned to its traditional republic institutions.
C)turned towards an absolute monarchy, with the princeps overshadowing the Senate.
D)experienced a series of civil wars, making Augustus unpopular among the citizenry.
E)became an oligarchy, with political power increasingly concentrated in the hands of the Senate.

Question 54

Which city, located on the Tiber, was Rome's chief port?

A)Venice
B)Marseilles
C)Milan
D)Tiberius
E)Ostia

Question 55

What was the highest Roman social class in the early Roman Empire?

A)The senatorial class
B)The equestrian class
C)The consul class
D)The royal class
E)The magisterial class

Question 56

Which statement accurately portrays the social classes during the early Roman Empire?

A)Provincials were allowed to hold certain high magisterial positions.
B)The power of the equestrian class was expanded.
C)The Senate was expanded to include 400 equestrians.
D)Debt slavery was ended as a means to acquire slaves.
E)Independent farms made up the soldiers in Rome's legions.

Question 57

The Flavian dynasty came to power as a result of

A)an election.
B)a civil war.
C)a condition of Nero's last will and testament.
D)a coup d'état.
E)a slave revolt.

Question 58

What event curtailed Augustus's expansionist policies?

A)The Senatorial rejection of imperialist policy in 20 B.C.E.
B)The defeat by Varus in the Teutoburg Forest
C)The revolt of the Egyptians in 14 B.C.E.
D)The successful series of invasions by the Parthians in the east
E)The revolt by the Jews in Judea

Question 59

What was one of Augustus's key innovations in Roman provincial rule?

A)Abandonment of North Africa
B)Division of Roman provinces into those ruled directly by the princeps and the senatorial provinces administered by the Senate
C)Use of military governors alone
D)Complete revision of provincial tax policies
E)Creation of a federal system wherein provincial governors had almost complete power

Question 60

The absolute monarchical powers of Augustus as princeps led to

A)the usual victory of his candidates in official elections.
B)the decline of popular participation in elections.
C)his great popularity, as he followed proper legal forms for his power.
D)led to the perception that he co-ruled with the Senate.
E)All of these are correct.

Question 61

At its height in the second century, how large was the population of the Roman Empire?

A)Almost one billion
B)Less than four million
C)Over 600 million
D)Between 30 and 35 million
E)More than 50 million

Question 62

Which of these legal concepts were developed by the Romans?

A)Dependent rights
B)Equal rights
C)Natural rights
D)Royal rights
E)Fiscal rights

Question 63

Who was the greatest historian of the "silver age" of Latin literature?

A)Petronius
B)Tacitus
C)Seneca
D)Juvenal
E)Suetonius

Question 64

Which trend developed during the reigns of the Julio-Claudian emperors?

A)Emperors took more and more actual ruling power away from the old Senate.
B)All efforts to achieve bureaucratic organization of imperial government eventually failed.
C)Emperors turned over more and more of the daily affairs of government to the Senate.
D)The power of imperial military forces stationed in Rome declined.
E)The Senate seized political power against the wishes of the weak emperors.

Question 65

Trade and commerce in the Early Empire

A)hindered the development of manufacturing.
B)was focused mainly in the provinces of Gaul and Britain.
C)was secondary in importance to agriculture.
D)was unaffected by the building of roads.
E)never was as fully developed as it was during the republican period.

Question 66

Which trait was typical of the average Roman city in the West?

A)It was much larger than the average city in the East.
B)It was politically autonomous.
C)It was inhabited solely by Roman citizens.
D)It had only a few thousand inhabitants.
E)It had a unique and distinctive appearance.

Question 67

Which statement best describes The Art of Love?

A)It condemned the loose sexual morals of the Roman upper classes.
B)It caused great displeasure to Augustus and led to Ovid's eventual exile.
C)It was a guidebook for married women.
D)It was a poetical treatise on romantic love.
E)It was focused spiritual love, not physical love.

Question 68

When Augustus died, who chose his successor?

A)The army
B)The Senate
C)Augustus himself
D)The praetorian guard
E)The citizens of Rome through a vote

Question 69

Which of these changes in the Roman family occurred during the first two centuries C.E.?

A)The authority of the paterfamilias was weakened.
B)Women gained equal rights with men.
C)Divorce rates skyrocketed.
D)The number of children born to each Roman family sharply declined.
E)The authority of the paterfamilias became absolute.

Question 70

Which "good emperor" was highly interested in philosophy?

A)Marcus Aurelius
B)Nerva
C)Trajan
D)Hadrian
E)Antoninus Pius

Question 71

Which statement best describes the Julio-Claudian emperors?

A)They were all competent rulers.
B)They varied in ability and effectiveness.
C)They were responsible for a tremendous amount of social legislation.
D)They undid all the military reforms of Augustus.
E)They were all completely incompetent.

Question 72

Who was the first of the Flavian emperors?

A)Nero
B)Tiberius
C)Hadrian
D)Caligula
E)Vespasian

Question 73

Hadrian built a defensive wall in which Roman territory?

A)Dacia
B)Arabia
C)Mesopotamia
D)Britain
E)Gaul

Question 74

What was an important economic trend during the early empire?

A)Steady drain of gold and silver from the West to the East
B)Growing income equality
C)Rapid decline in unemployment
D)Frequent, and long lasting, economic downturns
E)Virtually no inflation

Question 75

The "golden age" historian Livy is best known for his

A)rejection of Latin prose in favor of Greek poetic forms.
B)perception of history in terms of sharp moral lessons.
C)factual accuracy and critical judgment toward his sources and Rome's past.
D)written work, Epistles , which portrayed Rome as a degenerate society in a state of collapse.
E)depiction of the Trojan Wars, which was the subject of the Aeneid.

Question 76

What is the subject of the Aeneid ?

A)The establishment of Rome
B)The Punic Wars
C)The joys of farming
D)Freedom and liberty
E)Christian justice

Question 77

With what philosophical school is Seneca most closely associated?

A)Skepticism
B)Cynicism
C)Platonism
D)Epicureanism
E)Stoicism

Question 78

All of the following occurred during the reigns of the five "good emperors" EXCEPT for

A)the creation of a period of peace lasting approximately 100 years.
B)the establishment of educational programs for the poor.
C)the halting of imperial bureaucratic growth.
D)extensive building programs.
E)the development of considerable prosperity.

Question 79

What was Livy most known for in the Augustan Age?

A)Aeneid
B)Metamophoses
C)Satires
D)Meditations
E)History of Rome in 142 books

Question 80

How many people lived in the city of Rome during the time of Augustus?

A)50,000
B)250,000
C)400,000
D)600,000
E)1 million