History 101: Western Civilization The Roman Empire: Study Questions

2. As emperor, Octavian referred to himself as "princeps," or _____________________________ .

3. Augustus was popular because he
a. used the army to promote law and order in the countryside
b. built aqueducts and water mains for the city of Rome
c. attacked crooked governors
d. all of the above

4. The term, "Pax Romana," means _________________________ .

5. The Julio-Claudian dynasty came to an end with the suicide of
a. Tiberius
b. Trajan
c. Nero
d. Vespasian

6. The emperor/philosopher who wrote Meditations was
a. Hadrian
b. Marcus Aurelius
c. Antoninus Pius
d. Diocletian

7. The above (#5) can best be described as a/an
a. Stoic
b. Cynic
c. Christian
d. Epicurean

8. Which of the following was NOT one of the "five good emperors"?
a. Trajan
b. Nerva
c. Marcus Aurelius
d. Caligula

9. During the Pax Romana, the
a. status of slaves improved
b. status of women declined
c. Parthians conquered much of the eastern empire
d. number of Roman citizens greatly decreased

10. Romans adopted Greek
a. philosophy
b. medicine
c. scientific thought
d. all of the above

11. Who wrote the Aeneid?
a. Tacitus
b. Policratus
c. Virgil
d. Homer

12. The Aeneid expresses
a. nationalism
b. strong religious belief
c. patriotism
d. all of the above

13. The main philosophy of the Romans during the Pax Romana was
a. Cynicism
b. Mithraism
c. Stoicism
d. Skepticism

14. All of the following are considered Roman philosophers EXCEPT
a. Epictetus
b. Marcus Aurelius
c. Seneca
d. Fabius Maximus

15. The two most prominent scientists during the Greco-Roman age were
a. Cicero and Seneca
b. Ptolemy and Galen
c. Livy and Tacitus
d. Horace and Ovid

16. Romans made their most original contributions to
a. philosophy
b. music
c. architecture
d. poetry

17. The greatest Roman legacy to Western civilization was
a. civic religion
b. sports
c. the steam engine
d. law

18. All of the following were forms of entertainment in ancient Rome EXCEPT
a. chariot races
b. soccer matches
c. gladitorial combat
d. wild animal shows

19. A major economic weakness which became evident during the Pax Romana was
a. underemployment
b. lack of investment
c. failure to improve technology
d. all of the above

20. Mystery religions during the Roman empire included
a. the cult of Mithras
b. Christianity
c. the cult of Isis
d. all of the above

21. The most influential spokesman for Neo-Platonism was
a. Ovid
b. Marcus Aurelius
c. Plotinus
d. Ptolemy

22. The primary reason for what historians call the "Crisis of the Third Century," was
a. failure to grant citizenship to the empire's inhabitants
b. degeneration of the army
c. the rise of Christianity
d. the growth of democracy in the provinces

23. The rulers Diocletian and Constantine
a. lowered taxes
b. restored the power of the Senate
c. ruled as Oriental despots
d. all of the above

24. Which of the following was NOT one of the outside tribes invading Rome in the 4th and 5th centuries?
a. Vikings
b. Ostrogoths
c. Huns
d. Vandals

25. Among the important legacies of the Roman Empire was/were
a. the idea of a unified and peaceful state
b. Christianity
c. Greek culture
d. all of the above