The Roman Empire Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which family did the Julian Emperors descend from?

Caesar

Even though Caesar was a poor ruler, what did he manage to do?

Keep the government going

What problem was temporarily solved by the 5 good emperors?

Succession: Announced the next emperor before they died

Who was first and last of the 5 good emperors?

Nerva and Marcus Aurelius Signup and view all the answers

What was the problem with succession and how did the 5 good emperors solve it?

They chose the next emperor before they died because there was no set way to choose the next ruler/adopting their heir Signup and view all the answers

In addition to the weakness of Rome, what other factor caused the barbarians to invade Italy?

Pushed in by Huns Signup and view all the answers

Describe the fall of the Roman Empire: 1st factor.

Problems of the third century (economic, military, political decay) Signup and view all the answers

What was the 2nd factor of the fall of the Roman Empire?

Formation of the eastern and western empires Signup and view all the answers

What was the 3rd factor of the fall of the Roman Empire?

Invasion of the Barbarians Signup and view all the answers

Why was the period from 27 BC to 180 AD called the Pax Romana?

It was a period of peace and prosperity in Rome Signup and view all the answers

What type of entertainment was held in the Colosseum?

Fights of wild animals and gladiator contests, chariot races, executions Signup and view all the answers

What problem did the Romans have with Christianity?

The Romans were polytheistic, while Christians were monotheistic and wouldn't worship the emperor as a god Signup and view all the answers

What was the difference between life at the top and life at the bottom in Rome?

Top: luxury, massive parties, slavery; Bottom: unemployed, tenement housing Signup and view all the answers

What did Diocletian do when the empire got too large?

He split it in half and tried to stabilize it by making both sides Christian and controlling trade Signup and view all the answers

Who helped end the siege by the Huns?

Pope Leo Signup and view all the answers

What was the western empire like after AD 455?

Completely fallen, government was at a standstill Signup and view all the answers

Give 3 reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.

Economic decay, military decay, political decay; invasions of barbarians Signup and view all the answers

How did Augustus better the Roman economy?

Encouraged trade, built aqueducts, created civil service and the Pax Romana, common coinage Signup and view all the answers

What civil service projects did Augustus implement in the Roman Empire?

Salaried experienced workers for grain, supply road repairs, postal system Signup and view all the answers

What did Constantine do to improve the status of Christians in the Roman Empire?

He credited the Edict of Milan which made Christianity legal and moved the capital Signup and view all the answers

What was the Edict of Milan?

Made Christianity legal, Constantine saw a vision; got baptized on deathbed Signup and view all the answers

Do you think the empire could have been saved?

Yes, by creating peace, enlarging the army, moving the capital, encouraging trade Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Julian Emperors

Julian Emperors descended from the Caesar family.
Despite poor leadership, Caesar preserved governmental functions.

Five Good Emperors

The Five Good Emperors temporarily resolved succession issues by announcing successors before death.
Nerva was the first and Marcus Aurelius the last of the Five Good Emperors.
They addressed succession problems by adopting heirs and establishing a system for choosing successors.

Barbarian Invasions

Weakness of Rome and pressure from Huns contributed to barbarian invasions of Italy.
The Huns, led by Atila, were the most influential barbarian force.

Fall of the Roman Empire

Problems of the Third Century included economic disruption, military instability, and political decay, leading to trade interruptions and loyalty issues.
Diocletian split the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves to manage it effectively.
The fall involved continuous barbarian invasions and a complete breakdown of government in the Western Empire after AD 455.

Pax Romana

The period from 27 BC to 180 AD is known as the Pax Romana, characterized by peace and prosperity throughout Rome.

Entertainment in Rome

The Colosseum hosted gladiator contests, wild animal fights, chariot races, and executions.

Religious Tensions

Romans were polytheistic, leading to conflict with monotheistic Christianity, which rejected the worship of the emperor as a god.
Judaism was more accepted since it integrated into Roman polytheism and its followers did not reject emperor worship outright.

Upper classes lived in luxury with grand parties and employed slaves, while the lower classes faced unemployment and resided in tenement housing, supported by government welfare.

Diocletian’s Reforms

Diocletian divided the empire to better control it, aiming to stabilize the economy through price and wage restrictions and increasing the military size.
He disapproved of Christianity, despite making the empire more Christian.

Role of Pope Leo

Pope Leo persuaded the Huns against invading by impressing them with his authority.

Constantine's Impact

Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan and moved the capital to enhance its strategic position.

Edict of Milan

The Edict of Milan, passed by Constantine, legalized Christianity in the empire after he experienced a vision and was baptized shortly before his death.

Potential Solutions for the Empire

Suggestions for saving the empire included creating peace, enlarging the army, encouraging trade, and establishing a civil service system.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the Roman Empire with this quiz. Explore key facts about the Julian Emperors, governance, and the Five Good Emperors. Each question is designed to challenge your understanding of this fascinating historical period.