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Lesson 1: From Republic to Empire

Total questions: 52

Worksheet time: 2hrs 56mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following did Rome do during the first period of expansion, before 264 B.C.E.?

a)

surrender to Etruscans

b)

conquer most of Europe

c)

expand into North Africa

d)

take over the Italian peninsula

2.

A city conquered by Rome might become a Roman ally. What was a disadvantage for the conquered city?

a)

It had to pay Roman taxes.

b)

Its citizens were taken to Rome.

c)

Its people became Roman citizens.

d)

It was allowed to trade with Rome.

3.

Why did most of the city of Rome burn down in 390 B.C.E.?

a)

It was set on fire during a civil war.

b)

It was attacked by Gauls.

c)

Romans destroyed it to unite the Latins.

d)

Hill tribes threw flaming torches into it.

4.

During the Punic Wars in Rome’s second period of expansion, Rome’s main enemy was

a)

mainland Greece.

b)

the Egyptian pharaoh.

c)

a city-state in North Africa.

d)

a nomadic tribe in Europe.

5.

Which issue first led to war between Rome and Carthage?

a)

the ability to get wheat from Egypt

b)

the right to start colonies in Spain

c)

the use of chariots in warfare

d)

control of trade in the Mediterranean

6.

How did the Romans build a strong navy?

a)

They drew on ancient Latin traditions.

b)

They copied ship designs from Carthage.

c)

They were influenced by Etruscan culture.

d)

They adopted ideas from Greek settlers in Italy.

7.

How did the general Hannibal surprise the Romans?

a)

He burned their city to the ground.

b)

He crossed the Alps with elephants.

c)

He attacked their ships in the harbor.

d)

He hired spies to pretend to be citizens.

8.

How did the enslavement of prisoners lead to unemployment?

a)

Roman citizens were prohibited from enslaving people.

b)

People who supported revolts by enslaved people lost their jobs.

c)

Landowners enslaved people instead of paying free workers.

d)

Soldiers who enslaved people were released from the army.

9.

How did expansion make civil wars larger and more harmful?

a)

Rome adopted other cultures.

b)

New technology was invented.

c)

Romans moved to distant lands.

d)

Powerful generals led big armies.

10.

What was one cause of the end of the Roman Republic?

a)

Rome built long roads.

b)

Cesar Augustus came to power

c)

Spartacus freed enslaved people.

d)

Rome established new colonies.

11.

How did Octavian become Rome’s first emperor, Caesar Augustus?

a)

He was crowned by Julius Caesar.

b)

He was elected by the people.

c)

He defeated his rivals in battle.

d)

He married Cleopatra of Egypt.

12.

How did the Praetorian Guard cause problems for the emperors?

a)

Although they took part in parades, they had few military skills.

b)

Although its members were farmers, they also liked to fight.

c)

Although they were stationed in Spain, they sometimes marched into Italy.

d)

Although their job was to protect the emperor, sometimes they plotted against him.

13.

Who is Caesar Augustus?

a)

A. a member of the Senate

b)

B. Rome's first Emperor

c)

C. Julius Caesar's brother

d)

D. a farmer that started a revolution

14.

What is a civil war?

a)

A. a war that happens between two countries

b)

C. a war that only happens over sea

c)

D. a war between groups in the same country

15.

What is a dictator?

a)

A. a ruler with absolute power

b)

B. a member of the Senate that shared the power with the emperor

c)

C. a farmer that stole back his land

d)

D. a slave that was upset and wanted to start a revolution

16.

What did Julius Caesar create for thousands of Romans?

a)

A. gladiator contests

b)

B. new roads

c)

C. public buildings

d)

D. all of the above

17.

What was the 200 year of peace called?

a)

A. the first expansion

b)

B. Pax Romana

c)

C. Peace for Romans

d)

D. none of the above

18.

The Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between Rome and Carthage for control of the Mediterranean.

a)

A. True

b)

B. False

19.

During what expansion does the Roman Republic collapse?

a)

A. the first period of expansion

b)

B. the second period of expansion

c)

C. the third period of expansion

d)

D. the fourth period of expansion

20.
When did the first period of expansion begin?
a)
44 B.C.E.
b)
509 B.C.E.
c)
264 B.C.E.
d)
145 B.C.E.
21.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the first period?
a)
To find new trade partners
b)
To establish a monarchy
c)
To spread their religion
d)
To protect their borders and gain more land
22.
What territories did Rome gain during the first period of expansion?
a)
Much of Spain and the island of Sicily
b)
Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt
c)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula and North Africa
d)
None of the above
23.
What was the impact of civil wars on the transition from a republic to an empire?
a)
Roman generals were becoming dictators and setting their armies against the power of the Senate
b)
The people were becoming more involved in the government
c)
The Senate was gaining more power over the military
d)
The empire was becoming more decentralized
24.
What was the significance of natural boundaries in the expansion of the Roman Empire?
a)
They made the empire more vulnerable to attack
b)
They made it harder to expand the empire
c)
They had no impact on the expansion of the empire
d)
They made it easier to defend the empire
25.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the second period?
a)
To spread their religion
b)
To protect their borders and gain more land
c)
To gain control of North Africa, much of Spain, and the island of Sicily
d)
To establish a monarchy
26.
What territories did Rome gain during the second period of expansion?
a)
North Africa, much of Spain, and the island of Sicily
b)
Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt
c)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula and North Africa
d)
None of the above
27.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the third period?
a)
To spread their religion
b)
To protect their borders and gain more land
c)
To establish a monarchy
d)
To rule the entire Mediterranean world
28.
What territories did Rome gain during the third period of expansion?
a)
Much of Gaul (modern-day France)
b)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula and North Africa
c)
Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt
d)
None of the above
29.
What was the impact of Julius Caesar's rule on the republic?
a)
He ruled as a dictator for life and set a precedent for future emperors
b)
He strengthened the power of the Senate
c)
He abolished the Senate
d)
He established a constitutional monarchy
30.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the fourth period?
a)
To establish a monarchy
b)
To push the borders of the empire all the way to natural boundaries
c)
To spread their religion
d)
To protect their borders and gain more land
31.
What territories did Rome gain during the fourth period of expansion?
a)
Much of Gaul (modern-day France)
b)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula and North Africa
c)
From the island of Britain in the northwest to the Black Sea in the east
d)
None of the above
32.
What was the impact of each period of expansion?
a)
Each period was unnecessary and avoidable
b)
Each period was motivated by greed and selfishness
c)
Each period involved significant cost and sacrifice
d)
Each period was relatively easy and bloodless
33.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the first and second periods?
a)
To spread their religion
b)
To gain more land and protect their borders
c)
To find new trade partners
d)
To establish a monarchy
34.
What territories did Rome gain during the first and second periods of expansion?
a)
Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt
b)
Much of Gaul (modern-day France)
c)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula, North Africa, much of Spain, and the island of Sicily
d)
None of the above
35.
What was the reason for Rome's expansion during the third and fourth periods?
a)
To find new trade partners
b)
To establish a monarchy
c)
To spread their religion
d)
To rule the entire Mediterranean world and push the borders of the empire to natural boundaries
36.
What territories did Rome gain during the third and fourth periods of expansion?
a)
Much of Gaul (modern-day France)
b)
Control over the entire Italian peninsula and North Africa
c)
Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and from the island of Britain in the northwest to the Black Sea in the east
d)
None of the above
37.

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

a)

selection by philosophers

b)

fighting among private armies

c)

secret ballot by the Senate

d)

voice vote by Roman citizens

38.

In the later empire, why did large numbers of Roman farmers move to the cities?

a)

They were able to sell more food by moving closer to the markets.

b)

They knew jobs were available for all who wanted to work.

c)

They were unable to compete with large landowners who enslaved people.

d)

They felt that cities were safer and more secure.

39.

Which of these made the empire harder to defend as it grew?

a)

slow communication

b)

diminishing resources

c)

variety of conflicting laws

d)

revolts by prosperous colonies

40.

What protected the borders of the Roman Empire?

a)

treaties

b)

soldiers

c)

wild lions

d)

wood fences

41.

Study this timeline. Which event belongs on the blank line?

a)

The Roman capital moves to Byzantium.

b)

The Praetorian Guard is dissolved.

c)

The Romans develop the alphabet.

d)

The Romans conquer Gaul.

42.

Whose action reduced the importance of the city of Rome within the Roman Empire?

a)

Caesar Augustus

b)

the Praetorian Guard

c)

Constantine

d)

Marcus Aurelius

43.

What event marked the fall of Rome in 476 C.E.?

a)

The eastern half of the empire won control over the western half.

b)

Workers in the cities demanded a voice in government.

c)

Wealthy families turned their estates into private kingdoms.

d)

Germanic tribes overthrew the last emperor in the west.

44.

What type of Roman sculpture inspired some American artists?

a)

lifelike statues of famous people

b)

abstract statues of fanciful beasts

c)

large statues of horses in action

d)

humorous statues of children playing

45.

Which term describes Roman artwork made from small pieces of tile, glass, or colored stone?

a)

cameo

b)

fresco

c)

mosaic

d)

mural

46.

Which of these structures is Roman?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

47.

The Romans built aqueducts to carry

a)

armies.

b)

merchants.

c)

ships.

d)

water.

48.

Which engineering feat connected the city of Rome with territory throughout the empire?

a)

canals

b)

roads

c)

ships

d)

runners

49.

Which languages are most closely related to Latin?

a)

Greek and Turkish

b)

Polish and Russian

c)

French and Spanish

d)

German and Danish

50.

Which of the following describes how Latin most influences modern English?

a)

prefixes and roots

b)

numeral style

c)

sentence structure

d)

alphabet style

51.

Which of these traits did the Stoics value most?

a)

courage and self-control

b)

imagination and creativity

c)

personal ambition and wealth

d)

emotions and pleasure

52.

Which feature of American democracy comes from the Romans?

a)

All people are born equal.

b)

Leaders are elected directly by the people.

c)

Government is based on a written constitution.

d)

Citizens have certain rights and responsibilities.

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