Ancient History: Rome : The Later Roman Empire (284-476 CE)

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Religion And The Rise Of Christianity

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

Possible Answers:

Trajan

Hadrian

Constantine

Nerva

Diocletian

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

The Nicene Creed was __________.

Possible Answers:

a profession of faith established by the early Christian church

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

abolished during the reign of Constantine

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

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 #23 : 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

convincing Constantine to convert to Christianity

suppressing rebellion in Judaea during the first century

halting the advance of Attila the Hun

the rise to power of Nero and Caligula

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 #1 : Byzantine Rule

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

Possible Answers:

306 CE

64 CE

410 CE

330 CE

284 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 #2 : 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:

Elective

Tetrarchy 

Monarchy

Oligopoly 

Communist 

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. 

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

The Edict of Milan was issued during the reign of __________.

Possible Answers:

Claudius

Titus

Hadrian

Constantine

Antonius Pius

Correct answer:

Constantine

Explanation:

The Edict of Milan, which established religious tolerance of Christians in the Roman Empire, was issued during the reign of Constantine I in 313 CE.

Example Question #1 : Art And Culture

What does the word "muse" represent in Roman and Greek culture?

Possible Answers:

Doctor

Pottery

Music

Manual Labor

Paintings

Correct answer:

Music

Explanation:

The word, "muse" comes from the Greek word mousike, which means the art of music. The muses in ancient Roman literature are the carriers of music. Pottery and paintings were not around until much later in roman history through mosaics and other visual representations. Music from the muses was a large and important concept in Roman history. We can eliminate doctor and manual labor as these careers did not contribute back to the "arts"

Example Question #2 : Art And Culture

Under what Empire would a religious, sectioned, panel painting, as shown below, have been popular?

800px transfiguration of christ icon sinai 12th century

Possible Answers:

Byzantine Empire

Caesar's Empire

None of these

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Ottoman Empire

Correct answer:

Byzantine Empire

Explanation:

The Byzantine Empire was characterized by religious panel paintings. The Ottoman Empire followed the Byzantine and was notable for the destruction of many panel paintings such as this one. If you chose Julio-Claudian or Ottoman, remember to consider the time frame of when such paintings would have been popular.  Also remember that Caesar's empire was long before the Byzantine paintings. 

Image is in the public domain, accessed via Wikipedia Media Commons: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastero_di_Santa_Caterina_(Egitto)#/media/File:Transfiguration_of_Christ_Icon_Sinai_12th_century.jpg

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