Question 1

How did Octavian win the Roman people's support against Antony?

Accepted Answer

A)  Octavian asserted that Antony had been the mastermind behind the plot to kill Julius Caesar. 
B)  Octavian turned many Romans against Antony by playing on their fear of foreigners and asserting that Antony intended to make Cleopatra their ruler. 
C)  Octavian persuaded his sister, who was Antony's wife, to beg the Senate and people of Rome for justice against Antony and his lover, Cleopatra. 
D)  Octavian promised the masses in Rome abundant grain from Egypt and promised to award official positions and lands to the elite as soon as Antony and Cleopatra were defeated. 
A)  Octavian asserted that Antony had been the mastermind behind the plot to kill Julius Caesar. 
B)  Octavian turned many Romans against Antony by playing on their fear of foreigners and asserting that Antony intended to make Cleopatra their ruler. 
C)  Octavian persuaded his sister, who was Antony's wife, to beg the Senate and people of Rome for justice against Antony and his lover, Cleopatra. 
D)  Octavian promised the masses in Rome abundant grain from Egypt and promised to award official positions and lands to the elite as soon as Antony and Cleopatra were defeated.

Question 2

How did the Roman belief that "Nothing is less equitable than mere equality itself" influence the Romans' legal system under the principate?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the followi

Question 3

Which landmark poem by Virgil told the story of one of Rome's founders and expressed praise for Roman civilization while also indirectly alluding to problems in it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Metamorphoses 
B)  The Odyssey 
C)  The Aeneid 
D)  The Art of Love 
A)  Metamorphoses 
B)  The Odyssey 
C)  The Aeneid 
D)  The Art of Love

Question 4

How did the praetorian guard, a creation of Augustus, come to exert a critical role in imperial politics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its defense of Rome proved critical in staving off foreign invasions. 
B)  It played a role in selecting the emperor after the death of the current one. 
C)  It destroyed the remaining institutions of the republic. 
D)  It helped communicate Augustus's image to the public through its massive public works projects. 
A)  Its defense of Rome proved critical in staving off foreign invasions. 
B)  It played a role in selecting the emperor after the death of the current one. 
C)  It destroyed the remaining institutions of the republic. 
D)  It helped communicate Augustus's image to the public through its massive public works projects.

Question 5

Which of the following regions was conquered by Augustus by 30 C.E.?
​
  ​

Accepted Answer

A)  Britain 
B)  Egypt 
C)  Spain 
D)  Mesopotamia 
A)  Britain 
B)  Egypt 
C)  Spain 
D)  Mesopotamia

Question 6

Although the Romans wanted to eradicate Christianity, they stopped short of

Accepted Answer

A)  imprisoning its followers. 
B)  executing Christian women. 
C)  making it illegal. 
D)  demanding that Christians recant their beliefs and vow allegiance to the imperial cult. 
A)  imprisoning its followers. 
B)  executing Christian women. 
C)  making it illegal. 
D)  demanding that Christians recant their beliefs and vow allegiance to the imperial cult.

Question 7

Although Roman law was founded on the principle of equity, it nevertheless

Accepted Answer

A)  sanctioned criminal punishments harsher than those of any other ancient culture. 
B)  did not judge all Roman citizens as equal before the law. 
C)  failed to affect the conduct of business and private agreements. 
D)  never recognized intention or permitted any deviation from the letter of the law. 
A)  sanctioned criminal punishments harsher than those of any other ancient culture. 
B)  did not judge all Roman citizens as equal before the law. 
C)  failed to affect the conduct of business and private agreements. 
D)  never recognized intention or permitted any deviation from the letter of the law.

Question 8

Why did the birthrates of wealthy Romans decline by the first century?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wealthy Romans increasingly spent money on luxuries and political careers instead of raising families. 
B)  Birth-control methods were beginning to take root in patrician circles. 
C)  Wealthy Romans increasingly converted to Christianity, which emphasized poverty and celibacy. 
D)  Too many died while fighting in the army or in the civil wars that had racked the republic. 
A)  Wealthy Romans increasingly spent money on luxuries and political careers instead of raising families. 
B)  Birth-control methods were beginning to take root in patrician circles. 
C)  Wealthy Romans increasingly converted to Christianity, which emphasized poverty and celibacy. 
D)  Too many died while fighting in the army or in the civil wars that had racked the republic.

Question 9

A farmer in Italy would be most likely to grow which of the following?
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  ​

Accepted Answer

A)  Dates 
B)  Olives 
C)  Corn 
D)  Wheat 
A)  Dates 
B)  Olives 
C)  Corn 
D)  Wheat

Question 10

In which of the following regions or cities would Christians have most likely faced intolerance or persecution in the late third century C.E.?
​
  ​

Accepted Answer

A)  Cirta 
B)  Carthage 
C)  Asia Minor 
D)  Gaul 
A)  Cirta 
B)  Carthage 
C)  Asia Minor 
D)  Gaul

Question 11

During the Roman Empire, why were families and the state both interested in maintaining a high birthrate? How did they attempt to encourage reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the followi

Question 12

What public function did gladiatorial combats provide in the Roman Empire?

Accepted Answer

A)  They provided communication between ruler and ruled, as ordinary citizens staged protests at events at which the emperor was present. 
B)  They provided a chance for emperors to enter the arena themselves and display their courage and bravery in front of their subjects. 
C)  They overturned social and political hierarchies, insofar as women and the poor were allowed to sit in the same section as the emperor and wealthy patricians. 
D)  They provided a chance for slaves and criminals to win their freedom. 
A)  They provided communication between ruler and ruled, as ordinary citizens staged protests at events at which the emperor was present. 
B)  They provided a chance for emperors to enter the arena themselves and display their courage and bravery in front of their subjects. 
C)  They overturned social and political hierarchies, insofar as women and the poor were allowed to sit in the same section as the emperor and wealthy patricians. 
D)  They provided a chance for slaves and criminals to win their freedom.

Question 13

What was the most popular of the philosophies espoused by upper-class Romans?

Accepted Answer

A)  Epicureanism, based on the philosophy of Epicurus 
B)  Stoicism, which required self-discipline 
C)  Cynicism, as taught by Diogenes 
D)  Cicero's doctrine of humanitas 
A)  Epicureanism, based on the philosophy of Epicurus 
B)  Stoicism, which required self-discipline 
C)  Cynicism, as taught by Diogenes 
D)  Cicero's doctrine of humanitas

Question 14

Who was Paul of Tarsus, and how did his view of Jesus's teachings differ from that held by the Apostles and their followers?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the followi

Question 15

Why did Roman education in the Augustan period remain limited?

Accepted Answer

A)  Roman elites did not value education; even many of the emperors were illiterate. 
B)  Roman elites valued only practical subjects like mathematics and sciences and not the humanities. 
C)  Most of the instruction was provided by Greek slaves. 
D)  There were no free public schools, so the poor received no formal education. 
A)  Roman elites did not value education; even many of the emperors were illiterate. 
B)  Roman elites valued only practical subjects like mathematics and sciences and not the humanities. 
C)  Most of the instruction was provided by Greek slaves. 
D)  There were no free public schools, so the poor received no formal education.

Question 16

In the early Christian church, what was meant by the "apostolic succession" of bishops? How did it support the bishops' authority, such as the power to create priests or to resolve doctrinal disputes?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the followi

Question 17

What advantage did serving in the army confer on noncitizens from the provinces?

Accepted Answer

A)  It granted them citizenship upon joining and all of the rights and privileges that being a citizen entailed. 
B)  It granted them the opportunity to learn Latin, live by Roman customs, and receive Roman citizenship upon discharge. 
C)  It exempted them and their extended families from taxation. 
D)  It earned them an audience with the emperor, who frequently granted their extended families citizenship as well. 
A)  It granted them citizenship upon joining and all of the rights and privileges that being a citizen entailed. 
B)  It granted them the opportunity to learn Latin, live by Roman customs, and receive Roman citizenship upon discharge. 
C)  It exempted them and their extended families from taxation. 
D)  It earned them an audience with the emperor, who frequently granted their extended families citizenship as well.

Question 18

What is Romanization? What was Rome's greatest impact on western Europe? Explain how Romanization was mutually beneficial for the Roman territories and for Rome itself. Despite heavy influence of Rome on its conquered territories, why were some regions able to maintain their own characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Answer would ideally include the followi

Question 19

In the decentralized Roman tax system, if provincial officials (decurions) failed to collect enough funds, they were

Accepted Answer

A)  executed unless they had been victims of drought or other natural catastrophic events. 
B)  replaced by officials sent directly from Rome, who did not shrink from using Roman troops to extract the taxes. 
C)  expected to make up the shortfall from their own personal resources. 
D)  removed from office and exiled to another province. 
A)  executed unless they had been victims of drought or other natural catastrophic events. 
B)  replaced by officials sent directly from Rome, who did not shrink from using Roman troops to extract the taxes. 
C)  expected to make up the shortfall from their own personal resources. 
D)  removed from office and exiled to another province.

Question 20

To resolve disputes over doctrine and practice in the latter first and second centuries, the early Christians

Accepted Answer

A)  established the office of bishop, which carried decisive authority. 
B)  held periodic councils of priests who were given the authority to settle doctrinal disputes. 
C)  collected core Christian writings into the New Testament. 
D)  consulted the Christians of Jerusalem. 
A)  established the office of bishop, which carried decisive authority. 
B)  held periodic councils of priests who were given the authority to settle doctrinal disputes. 
C)  collected core Christian writings into the New Testament. 
D)  consulted the Christians of Jerusalem.

Exam 6: The Creation of the Roman Empire, 44 B.C.E-284 C.E

How did Octavian win the Roman people's support against Antony?

How did the Roman belief that "Nothing is less equitable than mere equality itself" influence the Romans' legal system under the principate?

Which landmark poem by Virgil told the story of one of Rome's founders and expressed praise for Roman civilization while also indirectly alluding to problems in it?

How did the praetorian guard, a creation of Augustus, come to exert a critical role in imperial politics?

Which of the following regions was conquered by Augustus by 30 C.E.? ​ ​

Although the Romans wanted to eradicate Christianity, they stopped short of

Although Roman law was founded on the principle of equity, it nevertheless

Why did the birthrates of wealthy Romans decline by the first century?

A farmer in Italy would be most likely to grow which of the following? ​ ​

In which of the following regions or cities would Christians have most likely faced intolerance or persecution in the late third century C.E.? ​ ​

During the Roman Empire, why were families and the state both interested in maintaining a high birthrate? How did they attempt to encourage reproduction?

What public function did gladiatorial combats provide in the Roman Empire?

What was the most popular of the philosophies espoused by upper-class Romans?

Who was Paul of Tarsus, and how did his view of Jesus's teachings differ from that held by the Apostles and their followers?

Why did Roman education in the Augustan period remain limited?

In the early Christian church, what was meant by the "apostolic succession" of bishops? How did it support the bishops' authority, such as the power to create priests or to resolve doctrinal disputes?

What advantage did serving in the army confer on noncitizens from the provinces?

What is Romanization? What was Rome's greatest impact on western Europe? Explain how Romanization was mutually beneficial for the Roman territories and for Rome itself. Despite heavy influence of Rome on its conquered territories, why were some regions able to maintain their own characteristics?

In the decentralized Roman tax system, if provincial officials (decurions) failed to collect enough funds, they were

To resolve disputes over doctrine and practice in the latter first and second centuries, the early Christians

Early Western Civilization, 400,000-1000 B.C.E

Near East Empires and the Reemergence of Civilization in Greece, 1000-500 B.C.E

The Greek Golden Age, C 500-C 400 B.C.E

From the Classical to the Hellenistic World, 400-30 B.C.E

The Rise of Rome and Its Republic, 753-44 B.C.E

The Transformation of the Roman Empire, 284-600 C.E

The Heirs of Rome: Islam, Byzantium, and Europe, 600-750

From Centralization to Fragmentation, 750-1050

Commercial Quickening and Religious Reform, 1050-1150

The Flowering of the Middle Ages, 1150-1215

The Medieval Synthesis and Its Cracks, 1215-1340

Crisis and Renaissance, 1340-1492

Global Encounters and the Shock of the Reformation, 1492-1560

Wars of Religion and the Clash of Worldviews, 1560-1648

Absolutism, Constitutionalism, and the Search for Order, 1640-1700

The Atlantic System and Its Consequences, 1700-1750

The Promise of Enlightenment, 1750-1789

The Cataclysm of Revolution, 1789-1799

Napoleon and the Revolutionary Legacy, 1800-1830

Industrialization and Social Ferment, 1830-1850

Politics and Culture of the Nation-State, 1850-1870

Empire, Industry, and Everyday Life, 1870-1890

Modernity and the Road to War, 1890-1914

World War I and Its Aftermath, 1914-1929

The Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945

The Cold War and the Remaking of Europe, 1945-1960s

Postindustrial Society and the End of the Cold War Order, 1960s-1989

A New Globalism, 1989 to the Present

Filters

Which of the following regions was conquered by Augustus by 30 C.E.?

A farmer in Italy would be most likely to grow which of the following?

In which of the following regions or cities would Christians have most likely faced intolerance or persecution in the late third century C.E.?