Deck 5: The Civilization of Ancient Rome

Question 1

Rome played a crucial role in the development of European civilization because:

A) Latin is the root of all modern European languages.
B) Rome connected Europe to the cultural heritage of the Near East.
C) Rome rejected Greek traditions and established more equitable democratic institutions.
D) Roman drama and epic literature surpassed what had been created earlier.
E) Rome passed on to the West the literature and law of Egypt.

Answer 1

Rome connected Europe to the cultural heritage of the Near East.

Question 2

After a plebeian rebellion in the early fifth century B.C.E.:

A) social divisions between patricians and plebeians were abolished.
B) the patricians accepted that plebeians had the right to elect tribunes.
C) Livy wrote a history from the plebeian point of view.
D) the chief conspirators were arrested and exiled to Africa.
E) the plebeians were expelled from Rome and the patricians assumed total control.

Answer 2

the patricians accepted that plebeians had the right to elect tribunes.

Question 3

In the early Roman Republic,Rome was technically a democracy,but:

A) there was no Senate or citizen assembly.
B) all power remained in the hands of a king.
C) the Roman constitution essentially ensured oligarchic rule.
D) Aristotle would not have approved of how power was distributed.
E) it remained, in practice, a monarchy.

Answer 3

the Roman constitution essentially ensured oligarchic rule.

Question 4

The myth of the rape of Lucretia appealed to Roman patriotism by emphasizing:

A) how rape ought always to be avenged.
B) the corruption within the Etruscan monarchy.
C) the consequences of being ruled by a neglectful husband.
D) the benefits of hereditary monarchy.
E) the dominance of Romans over all other peoples.

Question 5

Which legend explains the end of the Roman monarchy and the founding of the Republic?

A) The tale of Romulus and Remus, nursed by a she-wolf
B) The allegory of the cave dwellers who never see the light of day
C) The rape of Lucretia
D) The legend of brave Horatio at the bridge
E) The story of Cincinnatus and his dictatorship

Question 6

Central to Roman identity was a conservatism expressed in an unwritten code of:

A) mos maiorum.
B) ius divinum.
C) mos pietatatis.
D) ius naturale.
E) patria potestas.

Question 7

The equestrian order (Roman knights)was established by:

A) plebeians who complained of limited opportunities for social advancement.
B) the army which wanted to ensure a steady supply of cavalry officers.
C) soldiers who demanded recognition for bold deeds in warfare.
D) men whose wealth made it possible for them to own and equip warhorses.
E) some patricians who wanted to take part in triumphal processions in Rome.

Question 8

Roman priests were:

A) from the plebeian class.
B) equites.
C) members of the Senate.
D) members of the popular assembly.
E) tribunes.

Question 9

Virgil's Aeneid built on Homer's epic literature by:

A) emphasizing the superiority of Greek bronze statues.
B) predicting that Rome would be a lawless society ruled by warrior kings.
C) connecting Roman history to the heroic narrative of the Trojan War.
D) prophesying that through Jesus, Rome would be saved.
E) continuing the story of the Odyssey.

Question 10

The Twelve Tables of Law,approved in 450 B.C.E.,represent:

A) Rome's borrowing of legal principles from Hammurabi and Moses.
B) the first attempt to make all men equal.
C) a charter of popular liberties, ending enslavement for debt.
D) the codification of existing laws for all to see and obey.
E) Rome's acceptance of the legal reforms of Solon.

Question 11

According to the patria potestas provision of the Twelve Tables,a Roman father:

A) was required to take care of his sons but not his daughters, as that was the duty of the mother.
B) had absolute power over his family, up to and including the power of life and death.
C) needed to take responsibility for not only his family but also his wife's family.
D) was required to provide for the maintenance of children during his lifetime even if he had disowned them.
E) could make no decisions regarding his family without first convening a family council to discuss the matter.

Question 12

One important difference between Roman religion and Greek religion was the Roman view of:

A) the priestly class as a very informal one.
B) theology and dogma.
C) sacramental worship and liturgy.
D) deities associated with natural forces.
E) the gods as family gods of Rome.

Question 13

The division between Roman patricians and plebeians was:

A) between older and younger elements of the population.
B) between the wealthiest (2 percent) and the rest (98 percent) of the people.
C) not a factor when soldiers were needed for the army.
D) not part of Roman law but simply an accepted form of discrimination.
E) a formal division of Roman culture but never recognized in everyday life.

Question 14

In terms of geography and natural resources,the Italian peninsula:

A) was more fertile than ancient Greece.
B) possessed a wealth of minerals that were easy to exploit.
C) provided excellent natural defenses.
D) was almost completely barren.
E) was a flat plain suitable for large-scale farming.

Question 15

The "Latin Right" of the early Romans guaranteed that:

A) all accused suspects would have a fair trial in Latin-speaking courts.
B) immigration into Italy would be severely restricted.
C) those who spoke Latin would get preference in government jobs.
D) extreme conservative political views could be expressed.
E) contracts, marriages, and citizenship were transferable across Latium.

Question 16

Prior to the establishment of Rome as the dominant state in Italy:

A) Etruscans, skilled metalworkers and artists, lived there.
B) women were not allowed to participate in public life and sporting events.
C) Italian religious traditions had little in common with ancient Greece.
D) all was chaos in the absence of government.
E) the peninsula had been colonized by the Macedonians.

Question 17

To limit the influence of wealth in Roman politics,new laws were passed:

A) preventing senators from engaging in commerce.
B) restricting contributions to candidates for political office.
C) requiring full disclosure of financial interests and land holdings.
D) encouraging the rich to spend their money rather than hoard it.
E) equalizing the distribution of wealth among all orders of society.

Question 18

The geographic site of Rome has many advantages,including:

A) a large harbor suitable as home base for a fleet.
B) a river too broad for enemy forces to cross easily.
C) hills that increased the defensibility of the city.
D) ample supplies of essential materials, including wood, pitch, coal, and iron ore.
E) large fertile plains suitable to the agriculture needed to sustain a large population.

Question 19

During the early Roman Republic,Rome:

A) relied primarily on mercenary troops from Greece.
B) abandoned farming as a means of support and emphasized trade.
C) expanded quickly and peacefully into areas that were essentially unoccupied.
D) expanded and extended the Latin Right to many of the cities it conquered.
E) realized that to survive, it needed to conquer as many other peoples as possible.

Question 20

According to legend,Rome was first ruled by a(n):

A) oligarchy.
B) monarchy.
C) democracy.
D) meritocracy.
E) dictatorship.

Question 21

Social tensions in the late Roman Republic were made worse by:

A) the widening gulf between the wealthy and the poor.
B) bad weather, epidemic diseases, and plagues.
C) proposals to free the slaves and create a more flexible labor force.
D) innovations in watermills and steam engines that increased unemployment.
E) the failure of the government to provide entertainment and food for the people.

Question 22

Changes in the Roman law of marriage in the second century B.C.E.meant that:

A) wives retained control of their own property, guaranteeing them more independence.
B) parental consent was required for marriage, and common consent for divorce.
C) husbands remained lords and masters, whereas wives were treated like slaves.
D) it was practically impossible for women to educate themselves or their children.
E) parental consent for marriage was no longer required: couples could simply marry.

Question 23

Since the Romans employed slaves for all forms of manual labor:

A) slaves were treated better in Roman civilization than other ancient cultures.
B) small farmers found agriculture both profitable and satisfying to their ideals.
C) women had little to do and became more dependent on their male relations and slaves.
D) little technological innovation took place, and urban underemployment was common.
E) slaves eventually took over the Roman Empire, forcing the Senate to abolish slavery.

Question 24

Although the Roman Republic had greatly increased the territory ruled by Rome,under the emperors even more territory was added to the empire,with _________ adding more than any other ruler.

A) Tiberius
B) Claudius
C) Augustus
D) Caligula
E) Trajan

Question 25

During the Second Punic War,Carthage entered into an alliance with:

A) Egypt.
B) Macedonia.
C) Persia.
D) Athens.
E) the Gauls.

Question 26

During the Second Punic War,the Carthaginian general Hannibal:

A) was defeated by Roman armies at the battle of Tours in France.
B) became the last foreign invader to fight on Rome's home territories.
C) won the support of Rome's unhappy Latin allies.
D) brought his entire army, including elephants, over the Alps.
E) defeated the Roman general Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in Rome.

Question 27

The greatest Roman Stoic,Cicero,believed that:

A) through Christianity, Roman virtue might be transformed into a new system of social ethics.
B) Greek philosophy should be replaced with the ideals of republican Rome.
C) true happiness comes when one withdraws totally from public life and politics.
D) tranquility and peace of mind is the highest goal.
E) happiness can come only through the pursuit of worldly pleasures.

Question 28

Why did the Romans regard Carthage as a threat?

A) Carthage had a large navy and a vast empire that touched Roman territories.
B) Carthage was a Phoenician colony and could call for help from Lebanon.
C) Carthage commanded the vast resources of Saharan Africa.
D) The Carthaginians had already conquered Egypt, Palestine, and Syria.
E) The Carthaginians had established an alliance with the Gauls and the Phoenicians against Rome.

Question 29

Sulla's dictatorship had the effect of:

A) empowering the aristocracy and weakening the power of the plebs.
B) empowering the plebs and weakening the power of the aristocracy.
C) empowering the equites at the expense of the aristocracy.
D) increasing the quality of life for slaves.
E) decreasing the quality of life for slaves.

Question 30

The Roman devotion to their ancestors was demonstrated by their:

A) dedication to old laws.
B) refusal to innovate militarily.
C) use of the name Brutus for all senators.
D) familial naming practices.
E) practice of including the mother's name in the son's.

Question 31

One consequence of Rome's conquests was the increased role in society played by:

A) patricians.
B) women.
C) slaves.
D) soldiers.
E) foreigners.

Question 32

The land reforms proposed by the Gracchi brothers aimed to:

A) allow equites to buy more land.
B) ensure that the patricians were able to retain all their landholdings.
C) limit the amount of land that a Roman citizen was allowed to hold.
D) ban plebeians from owning any land.
E) forbid the use of slaves to farm land.

Question 33

The Augustan system of government:

A) was essentially a dictatorship, resulting in the disbandment of the Senate.
B) is known as the Principate because Octavian ruled as the princeps, the first citizen.
C) minimized the role of the army and discouraged military expansion.
D) was socially progressive and rejected traditional Roman morality.
E) was totally successful and transformed the republic into a peaceful benevolent monarchy.

Question 34

Once the Romans had effectively gained control of Italy (265 B.C.E.),they:

A) set about standardizing weights and measures, coinage, and taxation.
B) built a commemorative pyramid in the Forum of Rome.
C) started a series of wars for control of the western Mediterranean.
D) conquered Ptolemaic Egypt.
E) stopped any further expansion of their rule.

Question 35

Prior to Julius Caesar's appointment as "Dictator for Life," only one other Roman had been appointed to that position without the traditional six-month term,and he was:

A) Cicero.
B) Marius.
C) Octavian.
D) Pompey.
E) Sulla.

Question 36

When Julius Caesar adopted Octavian as his heir:

A) Octavian was the most experienced general, best qualified to rule Rome.
B) everyone hoped for a peaceful transition from uncle to grandnephew.
C) Octavian had to fight rivals for his right to inherit Caesar's wealth and power.
D) Mark Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide rather than share power.
E) Caesar's enemies plotted, and successfully carried out, the assassination of Octavian.

Question 37

Cicero,one of the most famous Stoics of the later republic,believed in all the tenets of Stoicism EXCEPT:

A) withdrawal from public life.
B) tranquility of mind as the highest good.
C) virtue is happiness.
D) indifference to pain and suffering.
E) rationality as the ideal in a human.

Question 38

The death of Cleopatra:

A) occurred because she had killed Caesar's son Caesarion.
B) meant that her younger brother now ruled Egypt in his own right.
C) caused Mark Anthony such grief that he committed suicide.
D) meant that Egypt became a Roman province.
E) ensured that her children would also die at the hands of the Romans.

Question 39

After Rome had twice defeated Carthage,a Third Punic War:r:

A) was unthinkable to most statesmen in the mid-second century
B) left Rome defeated and in ruins.
C) ran contrary to Roman public opinion and principles of international law.
D) ended in disaster for the Roman Expeditionary Force in North Africa.
E) was provoked by war hawks who thought Carthage must be destroyed.

Question 40

Roman women were particularly drawn to Eastern mystery cults because women:

A) were able to participate in the rites of these religions.
B) were responsible for caring for the dead.
C) were not allowed out of the home and these religions could be practiced privately.
D) were converted by their household slaves.
E) could learn to read by learning the rites of the mystery cults.

Question 41

After Augustus' death,Roman authors became:

A) more critical of Roman culture.
B) less critical of Roman culture.
C) more engaged in writing the history of the Empire.
D) tools of the Roman Empire's propaganda machine.
E) less likely to write in Latin.

Question 42

Revolts in Judea in the first and second century C.E.resulted in:

A) the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem.
B) Judea becoming independent of Rome.
C) the establishment of Judaism.
D) the slaughter of thousands of Christians.
E) the end of the kingdom of Judah.

Question 43

The new Eastern mystery cults diminished worship of traditional Roman gods.

Question 44

Literature during the Principate:

A) was always written in Greek, a more flexible and nuanced language than Latin.
B) was always modeled on Greek examples.
C) was written in Latin for the first time.
D) was lifeless and unfocused.
E) was usually religious in nature.

Question 45

Our knowledge of the Etruscans is extensive because of their prolific writing.

Question 46

The wars between Rome and Carthage are called the Punic Wars because Rome was seeking punishment,or punitive damages,from Carthage for their invasion of Sicily.

Question 47

Roman law was developed under the Principate by:

A) recording the decisions made in courts to create a book of common law.
B) establishing a strictly enforced law code written by Augustus.
C) establishing a secret police who operated under martial law.
D) Justinian.
E) jurists appointed to deliver opinions on case law and trials.

Question 48

The loyalty of Roman allies was the key to success in overcoming Hannibal's military genius.

Question 49

Italy was the least slave-based economy known to history.

Question 50

By the first centuryB.C.E.,soldiers in Roman armies were loyal to Rome itself.

Question 51

The Gracchi brothers were farmers who pressured the Senate to pass land reform laws in the second centuryB.C.E.

Question 52

Those who ruled Rome from 96 to 180 C.E.were called the "Five Good Emperors" because they:

A) liberated soldiers from harsh discipline in the army.
B) built bridges of understanding with the barbarians.
C) were all descendants of Caesar Augustus.
D) were capable administrators who governed successfully.
E) completed the transformation of the empire into a republic.

Question 53

Roman law consisted of three branches: civil law,natural law,and:

A) divine law.
B) the law of war.
C) the law of nations.
D) criminal law.
E) public law.

Question 54

Among the titles Augustus had been awarded were all of the following EXCEPT:

A) pontifex maximus.
B) imperator.
C) augustus.
D) pater patriae.
E) dictator supremus.

Question 55

At the end of the Third Punic War,the surviving Carthaginians were sold into slavery and the ground around Carthage was sown with salt to prohibit anyone from rebuilding the empire.

Question 56

Pax Romana refers to the:

A) ironic "peace of the dead" secured by Roman massacres of Britons and Jews.
B) long period in which there were no major wars within the Roman Empire.
C) efficient Roman post office and package transport services.
D) Romans' success in keeping order around the Persian Gulf.
E) peace brought to the Roman Empire with the coming of Christianity.

Question 57

The Romans did not usually impose heavy taxes or tributes on the cities they conquered,but demanded soldiers to contribute to their army.

Question 58

By the third centuryB.C.E.,Roman aristocracy gradually shifted from being in a position of wealth to one of birth.

Question 59

The Romans were the first people to use _________ on a massive scale in their buildings.

A) Hardwoods imported from Gaul
B) Limestone
C) Marble
D) Concrete
E) Porcelain tile

Question 60

One way by which the Romans were able to maintain their empire was through:

A) the construction of temples to the goddess Roma throughout the empire.
B) a graduated system of taxation that had the support of the poor in the empire.
C) the hiring of mercenary armies from Pythia to defend the northern frontier.
D) a system of army camps that served to enlist and train locals into the Roman army.
E) a system of roads constructed to be able to move army units throughout the empire.

Question 61

How did Rome's geography contribute to its rise?

Question 62

To what extent did the Romans borrow from Etruscan society to shape their own?

Question 63

How was Roman law changed during the Principate?

Question 64

How did Julius Caesar both save and ruin Rome?

Question 65

How did the Romans control their vast territories?

Question 66

How did the conquest of Greece impact Roman society?

Question 67

The Julian Calendar was a lunar calendar with an extra month added in order to keep festival dates at the appropriate time of the year.

Question 68

During the Pax Romana,Rome clearly became an autocratic state.

Question 69

Julius Caesar's assassination was the first time the Senate had resorted to murder to rid itself of a powerful adversary.

Question 70

Augustus found the city of Rome a city of clay and left it a city of marble.

Question 71

What were the effects of Marius's military reforms on Rome?

Question 72

What was the role of slavery in Rome?

Question 73

How did Augustus use propaganda to secure and promote his rule?

Question 74

How did the Punic Wars make Rome into an empire?

Question 75

Rome controlled its vast territories militarily,constantly quashing nascent rebellions.