The Strait of Messina is a narrow body of water that separates mainland Italy from the island of Sicily. It was historically of great importance, especially during the First Punic War.

The Apennines run through the center of the Italian peninsula. Rome is located on the west of the Apennines and was protected from some foreign invasions by this mountain range.

The Roman Forum was the social center of life in the city of Rome throughout the history of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. It most likely began life as a central marketplace, which over time grew into a hub and a shared social space.

The Roman Forum was first constructed in the seventh century BCE, after the draining of wet marshland allowed more people to settle and build in the burgeoning city of Rome. For the next several hundred years, the Forum would serve as the social and ceremonial center of Roman life and witnessed countless public spectacles, religious festivals, and military parades.

The Roman god of war was named Mars. In Roman mythology, Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus, the two supposed founders of Rome.

Inspiration for Mars was taken from Ares, the god of war in Ancient Greek Mythology. The myths and legends of Ares were often taken and reinterpreted in Roman literature with Mars taking the place of Ares.

The Roman God Janus was principally the God of doors and gateways. In Roman tradition Janus also rules over beginnings and ends, making him the natural God to be celebrated at the end of a war. Janus has no equivalent in Greek mythology.

Diana was the Roman Goddess of hunting, the moon, nature, and wild animals. After the Roman conquest of Greece, Diana came to be associated with the Greek Goddess Artemis.

The Pater familia was a legal entity governing over the individual family. The emperor was not considered the head of the family, nor were church leaders. By eliminating these two incorrect options, we decide between the father or the mother as the head of the family. Remember that in ancient Rome, the father represented not only the head of a family, but was designated by the state to be in charge.  

The Etruscans controlled much of northern Italy before the rise of the Roman Republic. The Etruscans fought against the Roman Republic in the early years of the latter’s rise, but were eventually overwhelmed by the growing power of Rome.

The Etruscan Empire was founded before the beginning of the common era. The civilization was over run around 300 BCE and began at 800 BCE. This is another question where understanding the time frames of the Roman Empire is crucial. We know to eliminate the CE options. Then when we go back and look at the historical facts, we know that the empire was revamped and refounded around 800 BCE.