From Republic to Empire and The “Fall” of the Western Roman Empire

Question 1

Who was Julius Caeser?

Answer 1

He declared himself “Dictator for Life” and was later assassinated by the Senate.

Question 2

Who was Augustus?

Answer 2

Rome’s first emperor.

Question 3

Definition of Pax Romana:

Answer 3

Latin for “Roman Peace”. This was a 200 year period of relative peace and expansion begun by Augustus.

Question 4

What are the details of the Punic Wars?

Answer 4

Rome fought these three wars with Carthage and won. Hannibal and his elephants led the second of these three wars.

Question 5

Definition of patricians:

Answer 5

The upper-class of Roman society.

Question 6

Definition of plebeians:

Answer 6

The lower-class of Roman Society
Monotheism.

Question 7

Definition of monotheism:

Answer 7

A belief in one God.

Question 8

Definition of polytheism:

Answer 8

A belief in many Gods.

Question 9

What is a Civil War?

Answer 9

A war between groups in the same country.

Question 10

Definition of dictator:

Answer 10

A ruler with absolute power.

Question 11

Definition of sack:

Answer 11

Plundering or destruction of a place by an army or mob.

Question 12

Who is a mercenary?

Answer 12

A soldier who fights for money.

Question 13

What is inflation?

Answer 13

Rapidly increasing prices.

Question 14

What is a republic?

Answer 14

A government in which leaders are elected by its citizens.

Question 15

Who are Christians?

Answer 15

Followers of Jesus. They were often persecuted by the Romans in the early years of the Republic.

Question 16

What did aqueducts do?

Answer 16

These brought water from miles away into the cities.

Question 17

What was the pantheon?

Answer 17

Built by Hadrian to honor Roman Gods. For centuries, its 150 foot wide dome was the largest in the world.

Question 18

What was an empire?

Answer 18

A large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a single leader or government.

Question 19

What is a vault.

Answer 19

Rows of arches that form a curved ceiling.

Question 20

Definition of conscription:

Answer 20

The drafting of soldiers.

Question 21

Who were the Huns?

Answer 21

A group of Barbarians that came out of the far East and left a path of destruction across Asia and Europe.

Question 22

Who was Attila?

Answer 22

Leader of the Huns.

Question 23

Who were the Visigoths?

Answer 23

A Germanic tribe that was displaced by the Huns and who asked Rome for protection. After suffering abuse at the hands of the Romans, they sacked Rome for the first time in 800 years.

Question 24

Who was Alaric?

Answer 24

Leader of the Goths.

Question 25

Definition of barter:

Answer 25

Trading goods for goods, rather than using money.

Question 26

Who are pacifists?

Answer 26

Those who oppose war.

Question 27

Who are praetorian guards?

Answer 27

A private army of highly trained soldiers, created by Augustus, to guard the emperor.