BrainPop! Fall of Rome

How was Augustus' rule different from the rule of the emperors who came after him?

• Augustus seized power in a war; his successors all inherited the throne peacefully
• Augustus kept republican traditions; his successors were more autocratic
• Augustus refused to listen to the Senate; his successors did not repeat this mistake
• Augustus killed all of his enemies; his successors refused to follow his example

In the sentence, "Commodus was a capricious ruler," what does "capricious" mean?

• Cautious
• Wise
• Reckless
• Popular

Which term best describes Rome's political situation during the 3rd century?
(Helpful Hint: The 3rd century is after the Pax Romana ended.)

• Chaotic
• Placid
• Republican
• Stable

Why were most Roman soldiers stationed on the borders of the Empire?

• Housing was more affordable outside Rome's city limits.
• To protect against barbarian invasions.
• To avoid the crowding and unrest within the city of Rome.
• To prevent Roman citizens from leaving the Empire

During the 3rd century, how did new emperors claim the throne?

• by killing or overthrowing old emperors
• by inheriting the throne from their fathers
• by winning major battles against Rome's enemies
• by winning elections

Which of the following statements is true?

• Roman emperors were often power-hungry military generals
• Roman emperors had a reliable system for choosing successors
• Although it had political problems, Rome's economy remained stable
• The Byzantine Empire collapsed almost immediately after it was founded

By 500 C.E., the western half of the Roman Empire had fallen, due in part to political instability.  Which of these is an example of political instability?

• unemployment
• high taxes
• leadership conflicts
• growing crime rate

Who was the emperor who moved the capital from rome to Byzantium?

• Caesar Augustus
• Constantine
• Caligula
• Nero

Why was the size of the Roman Empire a problem that contributed to the empire's fall?

• The size of the empire made it hard to defend.
• Many emperors were needed to rule the empire.
• Much of the empire was empty land with no population.
• Most of the empire was dry land that could not support farming.

Which of the following methods was commonly used to choose a new Roman emperor?

• selection by philosophers
• fighting among private armies
• secret ballot by the Senate
• voice vote by Roman citizens