Ancient History: Rome : The Early Roman Empire (31 BCE- 284 CE)

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

St. Peter was __________.

Possible Answers:

excommunicated by the first Pope

crucified during the reign of Nero

martyred during the Judean Revolt of the first century

executed on the orders of Julius Caesar

elected to serve as a Roman Senator

Correct answer:

crucified during the reign of Nero

Explanation:

St. Peter was one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ. Following Jesus’ death, Peter and Paul worked tirelessly to spread the nascent faith around the known world. According to church tradition, St. Peter travelled to Rome where he founded the Catholic church. He was then subsequently captured and executed on the orders of the Emperor Nero.

Example Question #102 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

This man is claimed as the first Pope by the Roman Catholic Church?

Possible Answers:

Jesus Christ

Thomas Aquinas

St. Peter

St. Paul

John the Baptist

Correct answer:

St. Peter

Explanation:

St. Peter is claimed as the first Pope by the Roman Catholic Church. St. Peter, according to church tradition, travelled to Rome, where he established the first Christian church in the city. He was then captured, on Nero’s orders, and crucified upside down. Peter and his fellow disciple Paul are credited with leading the initial spread of Christianity in the wake of Jesus’ death.

Example Question #272 : Ancient History: Rome

The Romans initially viewed Christianity __________.

Possible Answers:

as the natural successor to Judaism

as a minor religion, of little importance

as a dangerous threat to the stability of the Empire

disdainfully, but mostly apathetically

favorably and allowed people to convert freely

Correct answer:

as a dangerous threat to the stability of the Empire

Explanation:

The Romans viewed Christianity as a powerful threat, even during Christ’s lifetime. The Romans were concerned by Christ’s claim that individuals owed their allegiance to God and the Kingdom of Heaven, rather than to the Roman Emperor. They were also worried that Christ might inspire an earthly rebellion in the Judean province of the Roman Empire. Finally, the Romans were appalled that Jesus denied the divinity of the Roman Emperor.

Example Question #103 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

Which of these philosophical disciplines did Marcus Aurelius famously embrace?

Possible Answers:

stoicism

epicureanism

legalism

platonism

moism

Correct answer:

stoicism

Explanation:

Marcus Aurelius was an Emperor of Rome during the so-called reign of the Five Good Emperors. He is, perhaps, most notable for embracing the philosophical discipline of stoicism. He wrote extensively on the subject in his Meditations (a collection of initially unpublished musings and essays).

Example Question #102 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

Which of these early figures in Christianity asked to be crucified upside down so as to avoid the same death as Jesus Christ?

Possible Answers:

St. Paul

Augustine of Hippo

St. Peter

Judas Iscariot

John the Baptist

Correct answer:

St. Peter

Explanation:

According to Catholic tradition, St. Peter was captured and executed on the orders of Emperor Nero for attempting to spread heretical belief (Christianity) in the city of Rome. It is generally stated, in popular history, that St. Peter asked to be crucified upside down so as to refrain from emulating the death of his Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Example Question #103 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

This early Christian figure is revered for the letters he wrote to rulers all around the Greek and Latin speaking world, contributing immensely to the early spread of Christianity.

Possible Answers:

Thomas Aquinas

St. Paul

St. Peter

Augustine of Hippo

Jerome

Correct answer:

St. Paul

Explanation:

St. Paul, along with St. Peter, is one of two men who are credited with spreading the nascent Christian faith around the Roman world in the first century CE. St. Paul is perhaps most famous for the letters he wrote to political and religious figures throughout the Greek and Latin speaking world, urging them to embrace Christianity.

Example Question #271 : Ancient History: Rome

The Romans constructed ___________ to transport water into their cities.

Possible Answers:

drains

aqueducts

dams

gutters

levees

Correct answer:

aqueducts

Explanation:

These great stone aqueducts marked much of Rome's territory. While some of these other options may have been used within Roman cities, the aqueduct efficiently transported water from outside sources to the cities by using gravity.

Example Question #104 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

The Greek thinker Claudius Ptolemy is famous for his achievements in __________.

Possible Answers:

astronomy

mathematics

all of these areas

astrology

geography

Correct answer:

all of these areas

Explanation:

Claudius Ptolemy was a Greco-Egyptian scholar and scientist who lived in Alexandria, in Roman Egypt, during the second century CE. He was an accomplished mathematician and scientist and wrote extensively on geography, astronomy, and astrology.

Example Question #105 : The Early Roman Empire (31 Bce 284 Ce)

Which of these most accurately describes a denarius?

Possible Answers:

A governor of a province in the Roman Republic.

A unit of currency in the Roman Empire.

A poorly equipped, frontline unit in the army of the Roman Empire.

A ship designed to sail in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean.

A legislative act passed by the Roman Senate.

Correct answer:

A unit of currency in the Roman Empire.

Explanation:

The Denarius was a silver coin, a unit of currency, first used in the Roman Republic and then used in the Roman Empire. It was the most common unit of currency in the Roman Empire.

Example Question #279 : Ancient History: Rome

A professional corps of army medics was created during the reign of __________.

Possible Answers:

Augustus Caesar

Tiberius

Vespasian

Titus

Julius Caesar

Correct answer:

Augustus Caesar

Explanation:

Augustus Caesar is responsible for creating a professional standing army and is known for making countless reforms of the Roman military to try and improve its fighting capacity. It, therefore, seems logical to speculate that he would also be responsible for creating a professional corps of army medics, and this is indeed the case. The Romans made numerous notable innovations in battlefield surgery including arterial surgical tools to prevent death from loss of blood. Due to the skills of these army medics, Roman soldiers could expect to live as long or even longer than Roman civilians.

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