Deck 6: The Transformation of Rome

Question 1

The "fall" of the Roman Empire in the fifth century C.E.has been much exaggerated because:

A) Diocletian essentially ended Roman civilization in 284 C.E.
B) many Roman institutions continued to function after the triumph of German-speaking invaders.
C) Late Antiquity did not begin until the seventh century C.E.
D) Christianity was never adopted as the state religion of Rome.
E) it transitioned relatively easily to the modern Italian state.

Answer 1

many Roman institutions continued to function after the triumph of German-speaking invaders.

Question 2

Which statement best describes the position of the Pharisees in Palestine during the first century C.E.?

A) The Pharisees believed that religious law interpretation was for the Temple priesthood.
B) The Pharisees rejected the authority of the Romans and refused their interference in selecting new high priests for the Temple.
C) The Pharisees believed in life after death and a system of individual rewards and punishments.
D) The Pharisees were among the first and most enthusiastic converts to Christianity.
E) all of these

Answer 2

The Pharisees believed in life after death and a system of individual rewards and punishments.

Question 3

The tetrarchy was the split of Rome into halves and the creation of:

A) a single Augustus who ruled the wealthy East and a caesar who ruled the West.
B) two Augustuses who ruled the East and two caesars who ruled the West.
C) an Augustus in the West and one in the East who were succeeded by caesars.
D) a single Augustus who ruled the troublesome West and a caesar who ruled the East.
E) an Augustus to rule the empire with four caesars to rule the four quadrants of the empire.

Answer 3

an Augustus in the West and one in the East who were succeeded by caesars.

Question 4

Jesus is the central figure in Christianity,but Paul was important:

A) first as a persecutor, then a follower, and finally a heretic.
B) as founder of the universal church, giving it theology and organization.
C) because he wrote the Gospels, Epistles, and teachings of the apostles.
D) in arguing that women should be allowed to speak in church.
E) in serving as the first Christian leader in Rome; the first pope.

Question 5

Realizing that the Roman Empire had become too large for a single ruler to control it:

A) Constantine divided the empire in half, trusting a junior colleague to rule the western part.
B) Constantine built a new capital city named Constantinople in Palestine.
C) Diocletian divided the empire in half, trusting a junior colleague to rule the western part.
D) Diocletian resigned his position as emperor and encouraged the development of regional republics.
E) Diocletian created the Roman Senate to rule the empire, and he retired to Spilt to raise cabbages.

Question 6

The crisis of the early third century was precipitated by:

A) the harmonious state of affairs created by the rule of the Five Good Emperors.
B) none of the Five Good Emperors having a male heir to whom to leave the throne.
C) the economic collapse of the Roman Empire in 180 caused by the death of Marcus Aurelius.
D) the retreat from the eastern frontier and violent tendencies of Hadrian's successor, Commodus.
E) the retreat from the eastern frontier and violent tendencies of Marcus Aurelius's son, Commodus.

Question 7

According to Chapter 6,it is probably best to assume that:

A) Jesus was a historical figure about whose life we know a great deal.
B) Jesus was a real person but Pontius Pilate and high priest Caiaphas were probably literary characters.
C) the existence of Jesus cannot be established; it is a matter of faith alone.
D) Paul was a companion and disciple of Jesus.
E) Jesus is almost certainly a fictional character created by the writings of Paul.

Question 8

The Dead Sea Scrolls have helped historians to understand the religious climate of the first century C.E.by:

A) describing Jewish life after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
B) providing concrete evidence about the life and ministry of Jesus.
C) demonstrating the diversity of Jewish religious practice and belief.
D) proving that most of the first century converts to Christianity were Jews.
E) describing the infighting between the various Jewish sect of the first century C.E.

Question 9

Which statement best describes the position of the Sadducees in Palestine during the first century C.E.?

A) The Sadducees believed that religious law interpretation was for the temple priesthood.
B) The Sadducees rejected the authority of the Romans and refused their assistance in selecting new high priests for the Temple.
C) The Sadducees believed in life after death and a system of individual rewards and punishments.
D) The Sadducees were among the first and most enthusiastic converts to Christianity.
E) all of these

Question 10

During the third century,Rome underwent a prolonged period that came very close to destroying the empire.This period is known as the time of:

A) the "Pax Romana," when the Huns sacked Rome.
B) the "quickening," when the bureaucratic changes came rapidly.
C) the "Five Bad Emperors," when Rome had the worst emperors in its history.
D) the Augustan decay, when all the reforms of Marcus Aurelius were implemented.
E) the "Barracks Emperors," when Rome had twenty-six emperors in about fifty years.

Question 11

One of the problems of the third century caused by Rome's expansion was:

A) the empire was no longer centered on Rome.
B) the ever increasing number of people claiming Roman citizenship.
C) the dispersal of resources to the far-flung provinces of the empire.
D) the lack of defensible borders.
E) all of these

Question 12

By 300 C.E.,Christians numbered no more than 5 percent of the population of the Roman Empire; one reason for this might be due to:

A) eastern mystery religions holding a much greater appeal for ordinary people.
B) the Manicheans who served in the army and persecuted Christians.
C) Diocletian's policy of persecution of any group deemed to be subversive.
D) the emperor converting to Zoroastrianism and outlawing all other religions.
E) all of these

Question 13

Economic reforms introduced by the early fourth century Roman Empire included:

A) a single paper currency that could be used throughout the empire.
B) legislation allowing agricultural and urban workers to change their jobs.
C) further cutbacks in military spending to meet the budget.
D) wage and price controls fixed by the government.
E) tax cuts for businesses and a rudimentary form of retirement pensions.

Question 14

Jesus's emphasis on the ethical requirements of the law encouraged his followers to:

A) stop paying taxes to Caesar.
B) love their neighbors and forgive those who wronged them.
C) respect the letter of the law over the spirit of the law.
D) prepare for a kingdom of God that was quite distant in the future.
E) prepare for the immediate establishment of God's kingdom on earth.

Question 15

When the emperor died in 192 with no heir apparent,civil war once again engulfed the Roman Empire with _________ eventually claiming the throne.

A) Septimius Severus
B) Marcus Aurelius
C) Antonius Pius
D) Aramaic Emesa
E) Romulus Augustus

Question 16

When Diocletian took power:

A) he declared support for Christianity and echoed Constantine's program of toleration to strengthen his empire.
B) he followed Augustus's image of princeps rather than domus to alleviate fears of his imperial ambition and worked alongside the Senate and military to at least give the illusion of a republican government.
C) he shamelessly elevated his own family and friends to prestigious offices and used his power over the military to keep the empire in check.
D) he isolated himself from ordinary business and people and introduced an eastern style of rule, wearing a diadem and purple robes.
E) he invaded the territory of the Germanic tribes across the Danube in the East and the Rhine in the West to finally bring to an end the threat of the barbarians to the empire.

Question 17

New cultural influences in Late Antiquity included:

A) Egyptian mystery religion, especially the cult of Isis and Osiris.
B) Christianity, which first found followers in cities and then in rural areas.
C) the political writings of Plato and Aristotle, which had previously been lost.
D) the patronage of artists and writers by Hellenistic rulers in the Near East.
E) the intellectual developments of the Islamic world.

Question 18

As a ruler,Diocletian was known for:

A) sponsoring new Roman colonies in North Africa.
B) supporting individual freedom, as shown by his title dominos.
C) military regimentation in everything he did.
D) relying on a few trusted advisers (cabinet) rather than on bureaucrats.
E) ending the gladiatorial games throughout the empire.

Question 19

Which sentence best describes the historical concept of Late Antiquity introduced in Chapter 6?

A) Late Antiquity is defined by the triumph of Christianity in the Roman world, broad cultural assimilation, and the influence of "barbarian" culture.
B) Late Antiquity is characterized by the continuing influence of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultural motifs in Europe.
C) Late Antiquity represents the triumph of Stoic philosophy in the late Roman Empire.
D) Late Antiquity is basically a synonym for the Middle Ages, the period stretching from the birth of Christ to the death of Diocletian.
E) all of these

Question 20

The gospel accounts of Jesus's life:

A) were written before Paul's letters.
B) contain a description of Jesus's miracles, but not his death and resurrection.
C) form (when combined with the Hebrew Torah) the Christian New Testament.
D) were probably written between 70 and 100 C.E.
E) contain the historical facts of Jesus's life but, do not include and miracles.

Question 21

The Goths,after their defeat of Rome,split into many different groups and moved on to settle many areas in Europe; those who moved into the area of Spain and southern France were known as the:

A) Visigoths.
B) Vandals.
C) Ostrogoths.
D) Franks.
E) Burgundians.

Question 22

The differences between the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire:

A) in culture, economy, and language were great and grew larger over time.
B) became less significant as Constantine and his sons reunited the whole.
C) helped landowners use profits in the West to buy up small farms in the East.
D) did not matter when the capital was in the center, between Europe and Asia.
E) were only superficial and did not affect relations between the citizens of the empire.

Question 23

What were the general results of the doctrinal quarrels of the early centuries?

A) Many new churches and sects were started, increasing public understanding.
B) Believers had to be either with the Church or against it on every issue.
C) Regional antagonisms were reduced as people concentrated on big questions.
D) The dogmas of the Christian Church gradually became fixed.
E) The Christian Church was irrevocably split between East and West by 300 C.E.

Question 24

The roots of the papacy lie in:

A) the imperial order of Constantine at the Council of Nicea.
B) a passage from the New Testament Gospel of Matthew.
C) the Greek practice of nominating a patriarch to administer a city.
D) the general agreement among fourth-century bishops that one leader should speak for the Church.
E) modeling the Church organization after the Roman Empire with the emperor at its head.

Question 25

Rome was threatened in the mid-fifth century by the Huns under their leader:

A) Alaric.
B) Attila.
C) Bleda.
D) Caligula.
E) Domitian.

Question 26

The traditional date for the fall of Rome is:

A) 526 C.E., when Emperor Theodore died.
B) 476 C.E., when Odovacer toppled Emperor Romulus Augustus.
C) 410 C.E., when Alaric sacked the city of Rome.
D) 312 C.E., when Constantine defeated Emperor Maxentius.
E) 284 C.E., when Diocletian reorganized the empire.

Question 27

Beginning in the fifth century,the Western empire changed:

A) politically due to Rome itself being conquered by the Goths.
B) militarily because of the change in tactics used by the invading barbarians.
C) culturally because of the changes begun with the migration of eastern peoples into the empire.
D) with the permanent move of the western capital to Constantinople.
E) all of these

Question 28

The fourth-century interest in "orthodoxy" among Christian intellectuals arose from:

A) a belief that Christians could arrive at an absolute understanding of the world and everything in it.
B) an agreement among Christian bishops and leaders that there were core matters of faith that could be acknowledged.
C) a powerful Roman papacy that could finally enforce Christian orthodoxy.
D) a series of pagan emperors who persecuted Christians and attacked their theology and style of worship.
E) the need to show that Christianity could withstand the philosophical scrutiny of Greek and Roman traditions.

Question 29

The Goths,after their defeat of Rome,split into many different groups and moved on to settle many areas in Europe; those who remained in Italy were known as the:

A) Visigoths.
B) Vandals.
C) Ostrogoths.
D) Franks.
E) Burgundians.

Question 30

Once the Christian Church gained ascendancy in the Roman Empire,it seemed as though relations with non-Christians would be:

A) in keeping with the Christian tradition of loving one's enemy.
B) in keeping with the imperial rule of the emperor as pontifex maximus.
C) governed by the rulings of Church councils such as that at Nicea.
D) governed by a policy of forced conversions.
E) in keeping with the stoic ideal of Marcus Aurelius by regarding everyone as equal.

Question 31

By the end of the third century,the involvement of women in the Church had:

A) grown to the point of women occupying many of the new bishoprics created in the empire.
B) changed little from the early days of the Church, with women in a few positions of power.
C) changed little from the early days of the Church, but now women could become priests.
D) remained exactly the same with women continuing as deacons and other positions of power.
E) shrunk to the point that they were completely excluded from all positions of power.

Question 32

One result of the Council of Nicea was to:

A) declare Arianism a heresy.
B) establish the validity of Church councils.
C) establish a means of setting the biblical canon.
D) establish the close relationship between Church and emperor.
E) all of these

Question 33

Once Constantine I and his successors had converted to Christianity:

A) they never looked back to paganism.
B) government employees and soldiers in the Roman army soon converted also.
C) Rome began a series of crusades to convert all nonbelievers in the empire.
D) the main points of doctrine were settled, and a harmonious age began.
E) it gained power and was designated the only official religion by Theodosius.

Question 34

Romans regarded the Germans as barbarians because:

A) Germans were nomads, who lacked settled agriculture.
B) Germans were foreigners, unknown to the Romans until the fourth century C.E.
C) German society was illiterate, and Germans did not live in cities.
D) Germans had no interest in trade, only in plunder.
E) Germans were warlike and cruel.

Question 35

Christianity went from being a persecuted faith in the early fourth century to being the recognized faith of the empire; this last step was the result of the action by the emperor:

A) Theodosius, who prohibited pagan worship.
B) Julian, who earned the title "Apostate" for his great piety.
C) Romulus Augustus, who dismantled the temple to Romana.
D) Theodoric, who destroyed the sacred altar to Victory.
E) Aleric, who persecuted pagans as they had persecuted Christians.

Question 36

In terms of organization,the fourth-century Christian Church was:

A) based primarily in Jerusalem, the eventual residence of the pope.
B) essentially an underground movement, with few organized meetings, councils, or ecclesiastical offices.
C) more defined in hierarchical terms, with a clergy distributed among patriarchs, bishops, priests, and deacons.
D) increasingly organized, with important roles for previous outcasts such as women, slaves, and Jews.
E) established much along the lines of Judaism during the Roman diaspora.

Question 37

What point was in dispute between the Arians and Christian orthodoxy?

A) whether Jesus was of the same being and substance as God the Father
B) whether human beings can earn a heavenly reward through good works
C) whether communion bread and wine really change into Christ's body and blood
D) whether Jesus died to save all human beings or only those of the master race
E) whether an individual needed to convert to Judaism before converting to Christianity

Question 38

Many Greek philosophies gained large numbers of Roman adherents and shared several tenets,but the one that was instrumental in influencing Christian theology was:

A) Neoplatonism.
B) Skepticism.
C) Stoicism.
D) Epicureanism.
E) Pythagoreanism.

Question 39

The Christian label for non-Christians is indicative of its:

A) Roman origin.
B) Jewish origin.
C) rural origin.
D) urban origin.
E) Byzantine origin.

Question 40

When high culture is "watered down" for a wider public,thus making it common,the process is called:

A) an alphabetization.
B) hydrolysis.
C) political incorrectness.
D) vulgarization.
E) dumbing down.

Question 41

The term Christ is a Greek term meaning "anointed one."

Question 42

Augustine's theological ideas revolved around:

A) the proper powers of rulers in a Christian empire.
B) human sinfulness and divine omnipotence.
C) the sacramental powers of the Church.
D) the fall of Rome.
E) child-like innocence when approaching the divine.

Question 43

In 305 C.E.Diocletian retired to Croatia to raise cabbages.

Question 44

On the City of God:

A) was a systematic account of Church dogma written by Ambrose, patriarch of Milan.
B) is the title of Jerome's commentary on his translation of the Bible into Latin.
C) was Augustine's autobiographical account of his experiences as bishop of Hippo.
D) was a defense of Christianity as a philosophical system by Ambrose.
E) was a defense of Christianity by Augustine in the wake of Rome's sack in 410.

Question 45

Benedict's monastic rule differed from Basil's rule:

A) because it required monks to live in communities, not as isolated hermits.
B) because it required sexual chastity of all monks except the abbot.
C) because it emphasized the value of work.
D) because it was less austere and more moderate in its demands for monastic life.
E) because it mandated that all monasteries be economically self-sufficient.

Question 46

Arians were a religious group who rejected Christ's equality with God.

Question 47

Augustine is recognized as one of the greatest founders of Christianity and great Christian thinkers of all time; he believed that what he did was to:

A) create simple rules for people to follow in order to emulate the life of Jesus.
B) establish broad guidelines within which people could find their own way to faith.
C) draw out the basic truths from the Bible so people could understand the text.
D) defend the Church against pagan philosophers who tried to show the weaknesses of Christian thought.
E) establish a monastic order teaching that the way to salvation was to remove oneself from the world.

Question 48

The monastic way of life in the West was influenced greatly by the establishment of a set of rules written by:

A) Basil.
B) Benedict.
C) Boethius.
D) Cassiodorus.
E) Augustine.

Question 49

Augustine's Confessions is:

A) a series of explanations of his actions throughout his life.
B) a book detailing his actions as a young man and asking his mother for forgiveness.
C) an account of Augustine's defense at his trial for heresy.
D) a series of autobiographical essays directed toward God.
E) a book that set forth the doctrines of the Church.

Question 50

One reason for the inclusion of classical texts in the education of Christians by the fourth century was:

A) the failure of the Church to win new adherents once it had been legalized by the state.
B) the lack of any Christian texts that could allow converts to understand the Christian articles of faith.
C) the lack of any Christian texts on mathematics, ethics, or logic.
D) the desire of Christian intellectuals to be regarded as philosophers and to make classical learning applicable to a Christian way of life.
E) to show that classical pagan beliefs could be reconciled without difficulty with Christian beliefs.

Question 51

The Dead Sea Scrolls emphasize the homogeneity and strict observance of Jewish religious practice around the time of Jesus.

Question 52

Constantine made Christianity the sole religion of the empire in 316 C.E.

Question 53

Constantine's government followed the precedents of Diocletian's reign,including the use of spies and informants,and making army service and civilian jobs hereditary to enforce labor.

Question 54

In Late Antiquity,the pope enjoyed acknowledgment and support for his primacy from the other western bishops.

Question 55

The Zealots were a group of Jews who placed their hopes in politics and arms against the Romans.

Question 56

Jerome's most lasting contribution to Western Christian culture was:

A) his translation of the Bible into Latin.
B) his support for monasticism.
C) his translations of Greek philosophical works.
D) his support for the authority of the pope.
E) the humble piety he brought to the papacy.

Question 57

Historians now refer to the period from 284 to 610 C.E.as Late Antiquity because:

A) while the western half of the empire had fallen, the eastern Roman Empire was still flourishing.
B) it is a period with its own themes and developments, neither wholly Roman and not yet medieval.
C) all Roman institutions had been abandoned or destroyed.
D) the term Dark Ages refers only to the literature of the period contrasted with classical literature.
E) while the eastern part of the empire had fallen, the western Roman Empire was still flourishing.

Question 58

Constantinople remained the political and economic center of the Roman Empire until 476,when it fell to the Goths.

Question 59

Constantine seemed to envision a united Rome after his death as he gave the empire as a whole to his eldest son,disinheriting the younger two in order to prevent civil war.

Question 60

Boethius's most famous work was entitled:

A) The City of God.
B) The Vulgate.
C) The Institutes.
D) The Consolation of Philosophy.
E) Imitation of Christ.

Question 61

Was the division between the eastern and western empires only geographic? Explain.

Question 62

Why was the Gothic invasion of 476 so successful?

Question 63

The Goths revolted in 378 due to Roman interference in the Frankish Church.

Question 64

Jerome was famous for his groundbreaking assertion that the emperor was subject to the Church,and not vice versa.

Question 65

What role did women play in the early Church? Why did this role change?

Question 66

Why was Christianity attractive to the Greeks and Romans?

Question 67

In what ways did Diocletian attempt to revitalize Rome?

Question 68

What was the place of education and faith in Late Antiquity/the early Middle Ages?

Question 69

Cassiodorus's Institutes was a list of essential classical and pagan literature a monk should know.

Question 70

How was monasticism a response to the changes in third- and fourth-century Christianity?

Question 71

Boethius was executed for his controversial work on faith and reason,The Consolation of Philosophy.

Question 72

Jerome's most long-lasting contributions to Western society were his Vulgate translation of the Bible,his ideas on the negative image of women,and his insistence on the value of education.

Question 73

Explain the implications of the Council of Nicea.

Question 74

Explain to what extent the actions and teachings of Jesus were revolutionary.

Question 75

To what extent did Rome fall in 476 C.E.?