Decline of the Roman Empire

What event is traditionally considered the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

• The deposition of Romulus Augustulus

• The sack of Rome by Alaric

• Constantine moving the capital

• The rise of the Byzantine Empire

What was a key argument regarding the inherent weakness of the Roman Empire as it expanded?

• The empire became too large to govern effectively

• Barbarians were too strong

• Roman citizens lost loyalty

• Economic collapse

What was a significant factor in the decline of the Roman legions' loyalty to Rome?

• The incorporation of Germanic warriors who were loyal to their commanders

• Not enough Roman citizens to fight

• Lack of advanced weaponry

• Too many civil wars

What was the primary loyalty of the mercenaries hired by the Roman legions in the later empire?

• To the Roman Empire

• To their commanders

• To gold

• To their Germanic tribes

Why did Emperor Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire eastward to Constantinople?

• To escape barbarian invasions in the West

• The Eastern provinces were wealthier and closer to major conflicts

• He preferred Greek culture over Roman culture

• To establish a new religion

What was a significant outcome of the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE?

• It established the official language of the church as Latin.

• It led to the complete separation of church and state.

• It settled the question of Christ's divinity and increased imperial control over the church.

• It resulted in the immediate collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

By the 4th century CE, how did the population of Constantinople compare to Rome's?

• Constantinople's population had decreased significantly, while Rome's remained stable.

• Both cities experienced a similar decline in population.

• Constantinople's population had grown substantially, while Rome's had drastically decreased.

• Rome's population had surpassed Constantinople's due to new migrations.

Which of the following best describes the economic and territorial nature of the Byzantine Empire?

• It was a vast, sparsely populated agricultural empire with limited trade.

• It was exceptionally rich due to trade and valuable agricultural land, and was more urban and compact.

• It was primarily a military state with little focus on economic development.

• It was a collection of independent city-states with no central economic policy.

What was a notable consequence of the intense rivalry between the "Blues" and "Greens" in Constantinople?

• It led to the establishment of a democratic government.

• It resulted in peaceful political debates and reforms.

• It often escalated into violent riots, causing significant loss of life.

• It fostered unity and cooperation among different social classes.

Emperor Justinian is best known for which of the following achievements?

• Leading the Byzantine Empire to its final collapse.

• Abolishing Roman law and replacing it with a new legal system.

• Codifying Roman law, expanding the empire's territory, and building the Hagia Sophia.

• Establishing a purely democratic system of governance.