Ancient History: Rome : Ancient History: Rome

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Ancient History: Rome

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Example Questions

Example Question #15 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

After whose reign was Christianity made the official religion of the Roman Empire?

Possible Answers:

Theotokos

Valen

Theodisius II

Theodisius I

Correct answer:

Theodisius I

Explanation:

Theodosius was the first instill Christianity as the official religion after Constantine I had introduced it to the people of the Roman Empire. This question is all about time frame. If we remember that Constantine brought religion to Rome, then we also know that Theodosius I was the first ruler after to make it official. It would be tricky to confuse which Theodosius claimed the official religion. The other two options were no where near Constantine's rule of Rome. 

Example Question #16 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

What is an ecumenical council?

Possible Answers:

An assembly of Christian figures who convene to debate theological doctrine.

A meeting of Roman generals to draw up battle strategy.

None of these answers are accurate.

An organization of politicians who are dedicated to representing the interests of the common people.

A meeting of Roman generals to plan long term military campaigns.

Correct answer:

An assembly of Christian figures who convene to debate theological doctrine.

Explanation:

An ecumenical council is an assembly of Christian theologians who convene to debate and establish official church doctrine. The first ecumenical council was the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. There were many other ecumenical councils throughout the remaining history of the Roman Empire, such as the Council of Chalcedon.

Example Question #3 : Religion And The Rise Of Christianity

The Council of Nicaea was convened to debate __________.

Possible Answers:

issues surrounding Christianity

issues surrounding the divinity of the Emperor

how to rebuild the city of Rome in the wake of a devastating fire

how best to deal with the threat of the Gallic Empire

how best to deal with the threat of the Sassanid Empire

Correct answer:

issues surrounding Christianity

Explanation:

The Council of Nicaea was convened in 325 CE to debate issues surrounding Christianity. By this time, the nascent religion of Christianity had spread throughout the Roman world. Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and, in doing so, made it inevitable that the religion would soon become the official religion of the Roman Empire. The Council of Nicaea was convened to debate theological issues, such as the nature of Christ’s divinity.

Example Question #5 : Religion And The Rise Of Christianity

The Council of Nicaea was convened on the orders of __________.

Possible Answers:

Diocletian

Trajan

Constantine

Hadrian

Nerva

Correct answer:

Constantine

Explanation:

The Council of Nicaea was convened on the orders of Constantine I in 325 CE. The purpose of the Council of Nicaea was to debate various theological issues, such as the true nature of Christ’s divinity.

Example Question #21 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

The Nicene Creed was __________.

Possible Answers:

an oath of loyalty sworn by Roman soldiers to their commanding officers

a list of social customs and traditions that were significant to the Roman people

a profession of faith established by the early Christian church

an oath of loyalty sworn by Roman soldiers to the sanctity of the Republic

abolished during the reign of Constantine

Correct answer:

a profession of faith established by the early Christian church

Explanation:

The Nicene Creed was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE. The Council of Nicaea was the first ecunemnical council in the history of Christianity (there have since been countless). It was convened to debate issues of Christ’s divinity and to ensure universal agreement among the divergent theological schools of thought. The Nicene Creed is a profession of faith that states that Christ is the Son of God, that he descended from heaven to save us, and that he died to absolve our sins.

Example Question #22 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge was instrumental in __________.

Possible Answers:

suppressing rebellion in Gaul during the third century

halting the advance of Attila the Hun

the rise to power of Nero and Caligula

suppressing rebellion in Judaea during the first century

convincing Constantine to convert to Christianity

Correct answer:

convincing Constantine to convert to Christianity

Explanation:

The Battle of Milvian Bridge was fought in 312 CE, between rival forces in the Roman Empire. According to primary sources, Constantine had a dream in which God visited him and instructed him to fly the Christian cross as his standard. Constantine, who won the battle, felt like this was divine intervention and enthusiastically embraced Christianity throughout the remainder of his life.

Example Question #22 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

The Edict of Milan __________.

Possible Answers:

ended religious persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire

abolished slavery in the Roman Empire

established Constantinople as the capital of the Roman Empire

made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire

ended religious persecution of Jews in the Roman Empire

Correct answer:

ended religious persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire

Explanation:

The Edict of Milan was issued in 313 CE by the Emperor Constantine (and the Western Roman Emperor Licinius). It formally ended the policy of religious persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. It also established the official state tolerance of Christian worship, leading to Christianity later becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire during the reign of Theodosius I.

Example Question #23 : The Later Roman Empire (284 476 Ce)

The persecution of Christians reached its height in the Roman Empire during the rule of __________.

Possible Answers:

Augustus Caesar

Diocletian

Nero

Constantine

Trajan

Correct answer:

Diocletian

Explanation:

The persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire arguably began with the execution of Christ and certainly was commonplace throughout the first and second centuries. The height of Roman persecution of Christians, however, was not reached until early in the fourth century, during the reign of Diocletian. The so-called Diocletianic Persecution began in 303 CE, with an edict issued by the rulers of the Tetrarchy stating that all Christians had to conform to Roman worship on penalty of death. Many Christians were executed in brutal circumstances during this time, yet it was just a decade later that Constantine issued his Edict of Milan providing for religious tolerance of Christians in the Roman Empire.

Example Question #301 : Ancient History: Rome

In which year did Constantinople become the capital city of the Roman Empire?

Possible Answers:

64 CE

330 CE

306 CE

284 CE

410 CE

Correct answer:

330 CE

Explanation:

The capital city of the Roman Empire was officially moved from Rome to the ancient Greek city of Byzantium in 330 CE. 

The city was renamed to Constantinople in honor of emperor Constantine I (the Great).

Example Question #1 : Byzantine Rule

In 293 CE, under the power of Diocletian, what system of administration was created to increase security measures and decentralize power?

Possible Answers:

Tetrarchy 

Monarchy

Communist 

Elective

Oligopoly 

Correct answer:

Tetrarchy 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "tetrarchy." A tetrarchy is a form of government that is split between four different heads of government. The key here is the concept of decentralizing power. The other forms of government put the power in one person's hands, unlike a tetrarchy. This move by Diocletian ended the crisis of the third century. 

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