Fall of the Roman Empire Quiz

Which event is often seen as the final fall of the Western Roman Empire?

• The Sack of Rome in 476 CE by the Ostrogoths

• Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE on the Ides of March

• The Sack of Rome in 410 CE by the Visigoths

• The rise of Christianity across the Roman Empire made people stop worshipping the Roman Emperors and Gods

Why did Rome’s economy begin to fail? Select all that apply.

• The Romans stopped collecting taxes

• inflation

• Constant wars

• overreliance on slave labor

What happened in 324 CE to weaken the empire?

• The Visigoths sacked the city of Rome

• The empire was split into Eastern and Western halves

• The Huns invaded Europe

• The Vandals took control of North Africa

What role did Christianity play in Rome’s decline, according to some historians?

• It caused immediate civil war

• It shifted focus away from Rome’s traditional values and civic duty

• It encouraged more military spending

• It made emperors stronger

Why was Rome’s vast size a problem for its rulers?

• It was difficult and costly to defend such a large empire

• Citizens refused to live far from Rome

• The empire ran out of land to farm

• The Senate opposed expansion

What caused political instability in Rome during the empire’s decline?

• Long-lasting emperors who ruled peacefully

• Frequent assassinations and corruption among leaders

• Honest senators who limited imperial power

• The army refused to get involved in politics

The spread of which religion changed Roman society and culture?

• Judaism

• Christianity

• Islam

• Hinduism

Why did Rome’s armies become less effective over time?

• Soldiers refused to use new weapons

• The army became too large to manage

• Foreign mercenaries had little loyalty

• Roman citizens refused to fight

What does the phrase "Crossing the rubicon" mean?

• Delaying a decision until a later time.
• Making a decisive and irreversible decision.
• Choosing between two equally good options.
• Making a temporary and reversible choice.

Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River and marched on the Roman Senate because his legion was loyal to who?

• Julius Caesar

• Brutus the Younger
• The City of Rome

• Pompey the Great