Deck 6: Romes Empire and the Unification of the Western World

Question 1

In 27 b.c.e. ,the Roman Senate acknowledged Octavian's services to the republic by giving him which title?

A)Augustus
B)Caesar
C)imperium maius
D)Pater patriae
E)principate

Answer 1

Augustus

Question 2

Vespasian became emperor in 69 C.E.

A)by defeating two other generals in a civil war.
B)because he was Nero's only legitimate heir.
C)by paying a huge bribe to Senators who elected him.
D)after Nerva adopted him and declared him his successor.
E)in recognition of his ancient aristocratic ancestry.

Answer 2

by defeating two other generals in a civil war.

Question 3

After Caligula's murder,who reestablished order in Rome,financed new colonies including the rebuilding of Ostia,and made Britain a Roman province?

A)Claudius
B)Tiberius
C)Nero
D)Britannicus
E)Agrippina

Answer 3

Claudius

Question 4

What was the Res Gestae?

A)the book Augustus wrote about his life's work
B)the Roman belief in hard work,strength,and discipline
C)the new type of government that Diocletian established
D)the unfinished epic poem about Caesar and Pompey by Lucan
E)the book of epistles written and collected by Pliny the Younger

Question 5

Diocletian is considered the last of which kind of emperors?

A)the Barracks Emperors
B)the Good Emperors
C)the Elective Emperors
D)the Dynastic Emperors
E)the Flavian Emperors

Question 6

Whose oratorical skills helped him overcome the handicap of undistinguished ancestry,earn a consulship,and serve as one of the Senate's leaders during the First and Second Triumvirates?

A)Cicero
B)Cato the Elder
C)Lucretius
D)Virgil
E)Marcus Aurelius

Question 7

Which of the following men provided Romans with a history of the Jewish people?

A)Josephus
B)Tacitus
C)Livy
D)Pliny the Younger
E)Seneca the Younger

Question 8

Among the five "Good Emperors," whose tenure was characterized by a series of natural disasters and wars?

A)Marcus Aurelius
B)Antoninus Pius
C)Septimius Severus
D)Hadrian
E)Diocletian

Question 9

Why did Augustus form the Praetorian Guard?

A)to maintain order in Italy
B)to conquer new lands for the empire
C)to create personal protection for the emperor
D)to protect the Senate and other lesser leaders
E)to reinforce the empire's borders from invaders

Question 10

After a devastating fire in Rome,Nero responded by

A)blaming Christians for the fire to deflect public anger.
B)moving the imperial capital to Naples.
C)paying citizens millions of sesterces out of his own wealth in compensation.
D)setting more fires to clear land for his building projects.
E)ordering the army to rebuild private homes.

Question 11

Which of the five "Good Emperors" created a new province called Dacia,which became the modern nation of Romania?

A)Trajan
B)Domitian
C)Nerva
D)Hadrian
E)Diocletian

Question 12

Who was Augustus' immediate successor?

A)Tiberius
B)Julia,his daughter
C)Claudius Nero
D)Caligula
E)Mark Antony

Question 13

Which Greek philosophy most appealed to the Romans?

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

Question 14

Which of the following men was the historian who reflected on the empire from the hostile perspective of the senatorial aristocracy?

A)Tacitus
B)Josephus
C)Livy
D)Pliny the Younger
E)Seneca the Younger

Question 15

By appointing Seneca the Younger as tutor to his children,what emperor can be credited with beginning Rome's Silver Age?

A)Claudius
B)Nero
C)Septimius Severus
D)Caracalla
E)Trajan

Question 16

From Augustus to Nero,the members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty

A)were loosely related to each other by blood and marriage.
B)established a peaceful succession system for the Roman Empire.
C)all died violently.
D)were appointed to rule by their unrelated predecessors.
E)were elected by wealthy citizens of Rome.

Question 17

Peace during the reign of Augustus was largely a result of

A)military reform.
B)economic prosperity.
C)the freedoms afforded by republican government.
D)his excellent diplomacy.
E)interdependent trade relations.

Question 18

How did Augustus save the empire from financial ruin during his forty-year reign?

A)by using his personal money
B)by establishing strict tax laws
C)by reducing the size of government
D)by increasing trade with other empires
E)by conquering other lands and using their riches

Question 19

Why would a provincial non-citizen have been attracted to join Augustus' auxiliary military units?

A)Veterans were made citizens after a term of honorable service.
B)Auxiliaries were paid more than legionnaires.
C)Provincials who refused to serve as auxiliaries had to pay heavy fines.
D)Non-citizens of new provinces were enslaved if they did not join.
E)Veterans were allowed to settle in Rome after a term of service.

Question 20

Author of the Aeneid,Rome's greatest poet is considered to be

A)Virgil.
B)Lucretius.
C)Marcus Aurelius.
D)Cato the Elder.
E)Epictetus.

Question 21

Augustus' program of Romanitas called for

A)a return to traditional Roman values and morals.
B)Romans adapting their culture to the new realities of empire.
C)revising laws to make divorce easier.
D)breaking down the traditional power of the family.
E)embracing superior Greek values and morals.

Question 22

Augustus' method of governing Rome would best be described as

A)republican in appearance but autocratic in fact.
B)an unpopular but effective reign of terror.
C)adopting a grand and splendid style of life to overawe citizens.
D)demanding absolute authority as a god on earth.
E)promoting democracy and citizen participation in government.

Question 23

Diocletian created the dominate and a tetrarchy that divided the empire into four parts because

A)one ruler could not defend the entire empire.
B)government had become too expensive.
C)the bureaucracy had grown too large.
D)the army had too little influence in politics.
E)Roman political structure should mirror the Christian church organization.

Question 24

How did Pliny the Younger's work differ from that of Pliny the Elder?

A)He mainly wrote letters.
B)He wrote an encyclopedia.
C)He investigated and wrote about science.
D)He mainly wrote poetry.
E)He was an eclectic kind of writer.

Question 25

Under the Augustan imperial system,the Senate would best be described as

A)having real responsibility under Augustus' careful supervision.
B)having sole control of military,financial,and diplomatic policy.
C)a wholly independent legislature and high court.
D)operating as a brake on the arbitrary rule of the emperor.
E)a powerless body that approved his decisions without debate.

Question 26

How did Diocletian attempt to halt inflation?

A)by mandating prices of products and services
B)by creating government-owned industries
C)by increasing trade with other empires
D)by reducing taxes for the poor and middle class
E)by increasing social services like education and free food

Question 27

Diocletian bore the title of dominus,a term that meant

A)a military autocrat who ruled with divine pretensions.
B)a ruler who shared powers with several equals.
C)one who led his realm like a father leads a family.
D)a figurehead who left administration to the Senate.
E)a leader who represented the people's will.

Question 28

How is Hadrian's Wall symbolic of his leadership style?

A)He focused on strengthening the borders of Rome as symbolized in the Wall.
B)He built up a wall between himself and the Senate.
C)He surrounded himself with a military force just as he did Rome with a Wall.
D)His failure to produce an heir was as insurmountable as his Wall.
E)His failure to choose a successor was as insurmountable as his Wall.

Question 29

What effect did Diocletian's political reforms have on the administration of the empire?

A)They quadrupled the size of imperial bureaucracy.
B)They caused the collapse of border provinces.
C)They reduced the bureaucracy and redundant governing.
D)They gave too much power to the emperor,leaving a disgruntled Senate.
E)They did little to change the status of the empire or its government.

Question 30

The Flavians represent

A)Rome's last successful hereditary dynasty.
B)the beginning of the elective system of imperial succession.
C)the end of military influence over the imperial office.
D)Rome's most enduring and longest lasting dynasty.
E)the end of provincial influence in Roman government.

Question 31

How well did the "Dynastic Option" maintain order and continuity in the Roman Empire?

A)The system worked only as well as the emperors who inherited the throne led.
B)The system worked well in that it allowed for peaceful transfers of power.
C)The system worked only as well as the Senators who appointed leaders chose.
D)The system failed in that it created violent uprisings with each new leader.
E)The system failed in that the masses and the Senate opposed the new leaders.

Question 32

The increase in coloni and latifundia in the later Roman Empire is evidence of

A)a steadily widening gap between rich and poor.
B)the importance of the military in maintaining order in Rome.
C)a population shift out of the cities and into the countryside.
D)the breakdown of traditional Roman family values.
E)Rome's cultural debt to Greece.

Question 33

How effective was the "Elective Option" at maintaining order and continuity in the Roman Empire?

A)The system worked only as well as the emperors who were appointed led.
B)The system worked well in that it allowed for peaceful transfers of power.
C)The system worked only as well as the Senators who appointed leaders chose.
D)The system failed in that it created violent uprisings with each new leader.
E)The system failed in that the masses and the Senate opposed the new leaders.

Question 34

How did Septimius Severus' advice to "Enrich the troops,and despise everyone else" backfire?

A)Once enriched,the army grew restless and overthrew each emperor after Severus.
B)No matter how enriched,the army remained poor and jeopardized the economy.
C)The Severan dynasty impoverished itself enriching the army and fell out of power.
D)No matter how enriched,the army became obsolete,weakening the empire.
E)Once enriched,the army officers deserted,leaving the army unruly and useless.

Question 35

Despite their differences,what did Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger have in common?

A)Their careers depended on close ties to the emperor.
B)They earned fame for their military careers.
C)Their writings focused more on natural science than on politics.
D)They were more important for their military careers than for their writing.
E)Their lower-class origins did not prevent them from rising into the aristocracy.

Question 36

What does the reign of Tiberius demonstrate about Roman government?

A)Even an unpopular emperor could rule effectively without consulting the Senate.
B)The Roman aristocrats were happy to be relieved of the burden of government.
C)It was impossible for an emperor to rule without the common people's consent.
D)The quality of government depended entirely on the popular appeal of the emperor.
E)The Roman public demanded the restoration of the Republic,regardless of the quality of imperial rulers.

Question 37

What do Marcus Aurelius and Vespasian have in common?

A)They were the only emperors to leave the throne to a biological son.
B)They were the only emperors to leave the throne to a biological nephew.
C)They were the only emperors to inherit the throne from a biological father.
D)They both wrested the throne by violence,but maintained the empire with peace.
E)They both were military and literary men,writing about their religious beliefs.

Question 38

After Nerva,what was the "Elective Option" of appointing leaders in the Roman Empire?

A)Power passed from the reigning emperor to the person of his choice.
B)Power passed from the reigning emperor to his son.
C)Power passed from the reigning emperor to the strongest member of his extended family.
D)The Senate appointed a leader when the former one died.
E)The citizens voted for a leader when the former one died.

Question 39

What collective contribution did the writers of the Golden Age make to Roman literature?

A)They ended writers' dependence on Greek sources.
B)They convinced the masses of the benefits of an emperor.
C)They convinced the Senate of the benefits of an emperor.
D)They used satire to criticize leaders,initiating reform.
E)They developed the Latin language into one of maturity and elegance.

Question 40

What,more than any other factor,explains the stagnation of the Roman economy from the second century C.E.onward?

A)lack of technological innovation
B)population grew too fast
C)trade with China brought too much gold and silver into the economy
D)too much reliance on manufacturing and too little on agriculture
E)slave labor became too expensive

Question 41

What does the career of Cicero demonstrate about Roman society?

A)Political and literary success was open to talented men,regardless of class.
B)Even an ex-slave could become emperor.
C)The aristocracy dominated social and political life.
D)Non-citizens could become Senators if they were rich enough.
E)Stoic philosophy was a reliable guide to political action.

Question 42

Under Roman law,slaves

A)had some human rights and could be freed by their masters
B)could not be held by Roman citizens.
C)could not become citizens,even if they were freed.
D)were considered property and could not be freed.
E)were uncommon,as Roman law did not allow slavery.

Question 43

Why did Caracalla extend citizenship to all free residents of the empire?

A)There were too few old Roman aristocrats to fill offices and pay taxes.
B)He wanted to incorporate provincial law and customs into Roman law.
C)He was a devoted Stoic who sincerely believed in the brotherhood of all men.
D)More citizens meant lower taxes on all Romans.
E)Christian leaders persuaded him to unite church and state.

Question 44

What was the greatest disadvantage of Roman reliance on water transportation?

A)Inland areas lagged behind places with access to water transportation.
B)Cheap transportation discouraged local specialization.
C)The high costs of maintaining a navy eventually bankrupted the empire.
D)Only the provinces closest to Rome flourished.
E)Pirates and outside invaders constantly disrupted the economy.

Question 45

Considering the affect of Roman imperial rule,one would most likely conclude that

A)the Roman people were willing to accept some limitations on personal liberty to ensure political stability.
B)the Roman people resisted any change in their political system.
C)the Roman people valued personal freedom above all else.
D)the army seldom played an important role in Roman politics.
E)Romans had greater peace and security under the Republic.

Question 46

How did Diocletian change the nature of the position of emperor?

A)He shared the empire with another man,thus dividing the empire in half.
B)He decreased his own influence by increasing the responsibilities of the Senate.
C)He consolidated all authority in himself.
D)He subjugated his position to the authority of the people.
E)He increased the power of the army,making himself a military dictator.

Question 47

Why is the image The Altar of Peace considered propaganda?

A)It was designed to demonstrate Augustus' favorite ideals.
B)It was designed to promote Augustus as a benevolent leader.
C)It supported Augustus' radical new social ideals.
D)It celebrated military power as the source of Roman stability
E)It communicated a subtle rejection of Romanitas as a way of life.

Question 48

Which of the following best describes the natural of Imperial Roman political power?

A)Military power lay at the heart of civilian political power.
B)The Senate was an essential partner in power for Roman emperors.
C)The lack of a succession system meant that most imperial reigns ended in civil war.
D)No emperor could govern effectively without popular support.
E)A strict dynastic succession system ensured political stability.

Question 49

What do the images Ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii,the Forum demonstrate about Roman urban architecture at the time of the Vesuvius eruption?

A)columns were prevalent
B)tiled roofs were expensive
C)arches were prominent throughout
D)marble was a common building material
E)buildings were fragile

Question 50

What best explains the problems of the short,unstable Severan dynasty?

A)Overreliance on the army made it a constant threat to imperial power.
B)The Roman economy could no longer support a large empire.
C)Provincials were incapable of providing good rule.
D)The Senate constantly meddled in the imperial succession.
E)Too few soldiers took an interest in political issues.

Question 51

What was the most important long-term Roman contribution to Western civilization?

A)Roman law
B)political theory
C)military organization
D)art,especially painting
E)religious beliefs

Question 52

How did class affect Roman women's rights?

A)The higher her class,the more freedom a woman enjoyed.
B)Lower class women faced fewer legal restrictions.
C)No matter her class,a woman enjoyed few freedoms.
D)Only upper-class women could legally marry.
E)No matter her class,a woman was the legal equal of a man.

Question 53

How did Rome's appetite for luxury goods from the Far East affect the Roman Empire?

A)It depleted Rome's precious metals supply and undermined its monetary system.
B)It increased trade and,therefore,increased Rome's export revenue.
C)It changed the traditional Roman culture.
D)It increased domestic production of luxury goods and spurred competition.
E)It made Rome independent of other cultures and therefore strengthened it politically.

Question 54

Why were goods transported primarily via ship throughout the Roman Empire?

A)It was cheaper and faster.
B)It was safer and free of thieves.
C)There were large,specialized industries in port cities.
D)The interior didn't need goods as it was self-sufficient.
E)Trade partners were most easily accessible via ocean.