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WorksheetsDecline of Ancient Rome
Total questions: 115
Worksheet time: 8hrs 14mins
______________________ were groups that Romans considered to be uncivilized.
Slaves
Barbarians
Huns
Which of the following is considered a legacy of the Roman Empire?
the republic form of government
expanded use of the Greek language
the rapid growth of Islam
belief that not everyone is equal under the law
The decline of the Roman Empire was
accelerated (happened faster) because?
Rome waged war against a single
powerful trade rival.
Rome allowed Christianity to spread.
Rome was conquered by the Islamic
Empire.
Rome faced invasions from many
"Barbarian" tribes.
How did Roman leadership from the
200s - 400s CE contribute to the fall of
the Roman Empire?
Roman leaders during this time were
focused on hurting their own people.
Roman leaders during this time worked
together to transition power peacefully.
Roman leaders during this time were
weak and fought over who had power.
Roman Leaders during this time made
peace with other Empires to conquer
Rome.
Which Barbarian tribe set off a domino effect which pushed many other tribes into Roman territory?
A) The Goths
B) The Huns
C) The Vandals
D) The Franks
Which Barbarian tribe set off a domino effect which pushed many other tribes into Roman territory?
A) The Goths
B) The Huns
C) The Vandals
D) The Franks
What does this diagram illustrate?
events that led to corruption in ancient Rome
effects of the collapse of the Roman Empire
patterns that develop when a government collects taxes
causes of the fall of the Roman Empire
How did the lack of new conquests hurt the Roman Empire?
It put an end to new sources of wealth.
It made Roman leaders appear weak.
It weakened Rome's prominence in the world.
It left the Roman army with little to do.
Which of the following was a key internal weakness of the Roman Empire?
an aging population
political corruption
poor city planning
pressure from foreign invaders
Which of the following was an external reason for Rome's fall?
Germanic invasions
political corruption
diseased crops
over entertained citizens
At its height, the Roman Empire covered 2.5 million square miles. Which was a problem with the size of the Roman Empire?
Areas were cut off because of the lack of roads & bridges.
Areas had no connection with the Roman government.
The emperor received too many messages from areas outside Rome.
To protect the areas, the army grew too big for the Roman government to support.
At its largest, the Roman Empire had 690 million people. Which was a problems with the population of the Roman Empire?
All the people lived in cities which caused pollution.
People could not agree on how the government should be run.
People began fighting each other causing a civil war.
All the people had a different heritage from the Romans.
The Roman Empire had a diverse population that had different cultures & lacked a common heritage. What is the problem with this lack of common heritage?
It can strengthen the empire by having a variety of food.
It can lead to the empire forcing people to adopt the Roman culture.
It can decrease an area's loyalty & connection to the empire.
It can increase an areas's loyalty & connection to the empire.
The Roman Empire had fewer people going to school and fewer talented people going into government. How did this hurt the Roman Empire?
The Roman government began making laws that were silly or trivial.
Many people had to take low paying jobs & couldn't pay for food.
Roman jails became overcrowded because many turned to crime to make money.
New & creative ideas & solutions to problems couldn't happen in the empire.
Why couldn't the Roman Empire maintain the standards its citizens had come to expect?
Most of the people were slaves and didn't pay taxes.
Roman emperors did away with all the help to the poor.
The wealthy Romans stopped paying their taxes.
The Roman Senate stopped taking care of the roads.
Rome had a large percentage of slaves. Which was a problem with having so many slaves?
There was not enough food to feed all the slaves Rome had.
New labor saving devices & ways to do things are not invented.
There were constant slave rebellions in the Empire.
Wealthy people spent a lot of money having to care for the slaves.
Who was the pope?
He was the head of the Roman army.
He was the head of the Christian Church.
He was the head of the Roman Senate.
He was the head of a Roman province.
Which of these is NOT an action that the Pope did as he took over duties of the emperor?
Controlled the army.
Helped the poor & weak.
Collected taxes.
Appointed senators.
What was a problem caused by the Pope gaining power & influence?
Citizens paid the Pope money to be the ruler of the Empire.
Citizens turned to the Pope instead of the Roman Empire.
The Pope decided who would rule the Roman Empire.
Citizens started to worship the Pope like a god.
What was one reason the Roman Empire was in a serious economic crisis?
The emperors spent large amounts of money on the army.
The emperor spent too much money repairing roads & aqueducts.
The empire had a shortage of bronze to make coins with.
The emperor kept all the money & refused to spend it on anything.
Rome stopped conquering new lands. How did this impact the Roman Empire?
It hurt the Roman Empire because they had to raise taxes to make up for lost trade, taxes, & resources.
It hurt the Roman Empire because they now had to buy slaves from the Huns to have enough to work in the fields.
It helped the Roman Empire because it helped them save the money & resources new territories would have cost.
It helped the Roman Empire because it didn't add more people with different heritages into the empire.
Why did the Roman Empire have severe unemployment?
The laws passed by the Roman Senate.
The invasions of the barbarians.
The dependence on slave labor.
The laziness of Roman citizens.
Roman citizens are buying fewer goods. How did that impact (effect) the artisans & shopkeepers?
They are losing money because fewer goods are being produced & bought.
They are losing money because Roman citizens are making their own goods.
They are losing money because citizens are buying cheap foreign goods.
They are losing money because citizens are saving the money they have.
What happens because of inflation?
Prices rise slowly and the purchasing power (value) of money increases.
Prices get bigger until they pop.
People can buy more things because goods are cheaper.
Prices rise rapidly & purchasing power (value) of money decreases.
Why was the Roman Empire experiencing inflation?
The Roman government began putting less silver in their coins.
The Roman government passed laws setting high prices for goods.
The invasions of the barbarians caused prices for goods to rise.
The emperor stole all the silver to make a giant eagle statue.
How did inflation impact (effect) Ancient Rome?
Roman coins were worth more so people began spending more.
Roman coins were worth more so people became wealthier.
Roman coins were not worth as much so people made jewelry out of them.
Roman coins were not worth as much so people starting trading or bartering.
Most emperors were generals (military leaders) not politicians. What was a problem with having a general in charge?
They came up with military instead of diplomatic (talking things out) solutions.
They were always gone fighting Northern invaders.
They spent more time hanging out with their troops than running the empire.
They wanted to spend money on the military rather than fixing the roads.
Rome had a new emperor every three & a half years. Why was this a problem for the Roman Empire?
Roman citizens would not listen or follow the new emperors.
New emperors kept adding land and territories to the empire.
The Roman Army would not listen or follow the new emperor.
New emperors were always learning while trying to run the empire.
What are mercenaries?
Foreign soldiers who fight for money.
Bodyguards for the emperor.
People who spread their religion to others.
Artisans who create weapons.
There were many problems with the Roman army having mercenaries. Which one is a problem?
Mercenaries had to leave at the end of each month to go home.
Mercenaries worried about their families and left the army early.
Mercenaries did not have a connection to the land/area they defended.
Mercenaries were more interested in weapons than fighting.
Mercenaries caused problems for the Roman Empire in many ways, but one specific problem was _____________.
the mercenaries made the Roman Empire vulnerable (easy) to attack.
the Roman Empire couldn't afford to hire enough mercenaries to fight.
the Roman Empire had to pay more money for them than Roman soldiers.
The Roman Empire sent them to Byzantium to protect the city from attack.
Which one of the following is NOT a reason why the Roman Empire was invaded from the North?
They wanted a warmer climate with better grazing for livestock.
They were attracted to the wealth & culture of the Roman Empire.
They liked the warm coastal areas & nice beaches.
They were fleeing from the Huns who were invading from Mongolia.
In 410 C.E. the Visigoths looted Rome. Why did the Germanic tribes keep invading the Roman Empire?
The Germanic tribes knew the Empire was weak & could not defend itself.
The Germanic tribes new that the Romans would not fight back.
The Germanic tribes wanted to free all the slaves taken from the North.
The Germanic tribes wanted the riches of the other cities in Italy, Like Pompeii.
What did the invasions of the Germanic tribes ultimately cause to happen?
The Germanic tribes unite (bring together) the entire Roman Empire into one large German empire.
The Roman Empire reunites into one large empire and they fight together to defeat the invading Germanic tribes.
The western Roman Empire (capital Rome) falls while the eastern Empire remains & becomes the Byzantine Empire.
The eastern Roman Empire (capital Constantinople) falls while the western Empire remains & becomes the Byzantine Empire.
What solution did Diocletian come up with to solve the problem of inconsistent leadership (a new leader every 3.5 years)?
He declares that the emperor has to serve a 20 year term & must train the next emperor.
He create the office of vice-emperor and appoints assistants who will become the next emperors.
He creates a school that will teach senators how to become a good and effective emperor.
He put the Roman Senate back in charge of the government & eliminates the office of emperor.
To deal with the size of the empire, Diocletian divides the empire into two parts. Why is this a problem?
Power shifts to the east (capital: Constantinople) because it is wealthier and safer.
Resources are spread too many ways & citizens begin to revolt because of the lack of food.
The emperor & vice-emperor cannot agree on how to rule and end up fighting a civil war.
Power remains in the west (capital: Rome) because it is wealthier & safer.
How did Diocletian stop inflation?
He made a law setting the amount of silver in each coin & had all coins weighed before being distributed.
He made a law requiring all silver to be used only for coins & put to death anyone using silver for other things.
He made a law where the government was the only ones who could sell goods and anyone selling would be put in jail.
He made a law that set prices for all major goods and put to death anyone charging or paying too much.
What is one way Emperor Diocletian tried to solve the economic problems of the Roman Empire?
He reforms the imperial tax system by allowing citizens to pay taxes with goods instead of money.
He creates more skilled workers by establishing schools that train citizens in trades that are vital to the empire.
He changes the imperial tax system by charging provinces higher taxes than those paid in Italy.
He makes a law that if citizens do not pay taxes they will be forced to work on farms for 10 years.
How does Emperor Diocletian deal with the rebellions in the provinces?
He put rebelling governors to death.
He puts a general in charge of the provinces.
He lets the citizens vote for the governor.
He breaks provinces into smaller parts.
What change does Emperor Diocletian make to the army?
He requires all male citizens under 25 to serve in the army.
He makes the infantry (foot) soldiers the largest part of the army.
He creates mobile field armies that can move quickly to a problem.
He puts the army along the borders to help protect against invasion.
Who was the Roman General and seven time Consul who revolutionized the Roman Army by paying men who did not own land to serve in the army.
Cincinnatus
Marius
Sulla
Pompey
What two brothers were assassinated for trying to give land to the poor people in Rome?
Romulus and Remus
The Gracchi Brothers
The Bryan Brothers
The Brothers Karamazov
What General marched on Rome, became a Dictator and and killed his enemies, but then stepped down.
Marius
Sulla
Crassus
Cassius
This great Roman General was part of the First Triumvirate and was married to Julius Caesar's daughter.
Octavian
Lepidus
Mark Anthony
Pompey
This Roman General won the Battle of Alesia against the Gauls and later became Dictator for Life. He was assassinated by a group of Senators.
Gracchus
Caesar
Pompey
Cato
Who were the three Senators who lead the assassination of Julius Caesar?
Octavian, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus
Augustus, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus
Brutus, Cato, and Cassius
Sulla, Marius, and Crassus
These two first united to defeat the Senate, then fought for dominance in Rome. They were both close to Caesar, one the grand nephew and heir of Caesar, the other his top General.
Octavian and Mark Antony
Hirtius and Pansa
Marius and Sulla
Cato and Brutus
This was the first, and perhaps greatest Roman Emperor. Although cold and brutal in his rise to power, he ended civil war in Rome and ushered in the Pax Roma (Roman Peace)
Agustus
Claudius
Nero
Caligula
This unlikely Emperor stuttered and walked with a limp, but conquered Britain and truly listened the concerns of Roman people. He was poised by his wife, leading to the reign of Nero.
Vespasian
Caligula
Tiberius
Claudius
One of the greatest Emperors, he ruled from 98 to 177 CE. He was reasonable in his relations with both Patricians and Plebeians. He expanded public building projects and increased social welfare programs.
Tiberius
Nero
Vespasian
Trajan
This Philosopher Emperor was known for his writings and wisdom. He was a good Emperor, but appointed his mad son, Commodus, to be Emperor after his death.
Caligula
Trajan
Nero
Marcus Aurelius
The First Christian Emperor, he ended the persucuation of Christians and moved the capital of the Empire to Constantinople, creating the Byzantine Empire (Roman Empire East)
Marcus Aurelius
Tiberius
Constantine
Nero
The City of Rome was taken 410 CE by:
Hannibal the younger and the Carthaginians
Attila and the Huns
Alaric and the Visigoths
Genghis Khan and the Monguls
What do we (American's) take from Rome?
Rule of Law, Republic, Civic Duty
Democracy, Rule of Man, Monotheism
Hinduism, Castes, Harsh Climates
The Number System we use as well as the system of weights and measures
Why did Rome Fall?
It didn't, it's capital really moved to Paris
It grew to large to defend, it's citizens no longer lived it's values, it became corrupt
The greater civilization of the Phoenicians finally conquered Rome
Rome lost 30 Legions in a doomed invasion of Sicily
For how long did Roman civilization thrive?
Almost a thousand years
Over two thousand years
Less than a century
Five hundred years
What were the three major reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire?
Alien invasions, time travel incidents, and magic
Religious conflicts, overpopulation, and agricultural failure
Natural disasters, poor education, and technological stagnation
Bad leadership, economic weakness, and invasions
How many emperors did Rome have in a span of about 50 years ending in A.D. 284?
22
5
10
50
What led to food shortages during the economic weaknesses of the Roman Empire?
Attacks on farms and disrupted trade
A plague that killed most of the crops
A massive drought throughout the empire
The use of crops for fuel instead of food
Who invaded the Roman Empire causing further decline?
Viking raiders
The armies of Atlantis
Martians and Venusians
Germanic tribes and Persian armies
In what year did the Roman Empire officially split into two?
A.D. 284
A.D. 500
A.D. 100
A.D. 395
Who was the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire?
Julius Caesar
Romulus Augustulus
Constantine
Nero
What did the Eastern Roman Empire become known as?
The Ottoman Empire
The Empire of the Rising Sun
The Byzantine Empire
The Holy Roman Empire
What form of government was developed in ancient Rome?
The republican form of government
Absolute monarchy
Direct democracy
Theocratic rule
What is one aspect of the American legal system that comes from Roman ideas?
The use of a jury of peers
A person is considered innocent until proven guilty
Trial by combat
The right to bear arms
The increased size of Rome’s army and a prolonged economic crisis threatened the stability of the Roman Empire after Pax Romana had ended
True
False
The Huns were a Germanic tribe that occasionally raided Rome’s frontiers.
True
False
After the Pax Romana, weak leaders and economic troubles hurt the Roman Empire.
True
False
Constantine built a new capital city in the village of Byzantium because the eastern half of the Roman Empire was richer and better defended than the west.
True
False
Which of the following would have contributed to the loss of value of Roman money (inflation)
the minting of new coins using copper and lead instead of gold and silver in order to maintain the money supply
the layoff of thousands of soldiers to save money
the flood of foreign currency into Rome as a result of increased trade
When Rome divided it split into?
Northern and Southern Empire
New Rome and Ancient Rome
Eastern and Western Empire
Old and New Rome
A fundamental problem for Rome was that its borders were too long to be adequately defended by the Roman legions.
True
False
a barbarian
soldier for hire.
another name for a roman soldier
a slang term for a poor roman
person who is called uncivilized and primitive by ancient Romans.
Barbarians...
settled on land within the Roman Empire
fought in the army as mercenaries
were paid HUGE sums of money to not attack Roman cities and villages
All the above answers are correct
Capital city of the Roman empire and the center of Roman civilization until 476 AD
Rome
Alexandria
Byzantium
Cypress
Capital city of the Eastern Roman Empire and the center of Roman civilization after the fall of the West
Rome
Constantine
Constantinople
Antioch
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Army size decreases to the point it could no longer hold off Germanic tribes.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
In a span of about 100 years, Rome had 37 different emperors. Most were murdered by the army or by their own bodyguards.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Massive plantations called Latifundias used slave labor to farm the land leaving thousands of roman farmers out of work.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Barbarians were used as mercenaries to fill the shortage of troops in the legions.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Barbarians were given land deep inside roman territory for the promise of good behavior and had to swear loyalty to the emperor.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
The Pretorian Guard was responsible for the murder of many emperors and sold the throne to the highest bidders.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Christianity shifted roman culture from polytheistic to monotheistic.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Roman emperors spent lavish sums of money on personal projects including the Baths, Coliseum and the Pantheon.
social
military
economic
political
The following statement belongs in one (1) of the categories below. Each represents a reason for the fall of the Roman Empire. Select the BEST option.
Trade declined in the west but grew in the east.
social
military
economic
political
The Germanic tribes included Franks, Vandals and Goths.
True
False
The first christian emperor and was responsible for moving the capitol of the empire from Rome to Byzantium.
Julius Caesar
Constantine
Diocletian
Caesar Augustus
The map best explains:
The growth of the Roman Empire during Pax Romana
Economic problems in the late Roman Empire
The movement of barbarians within the Roman Empire
The spread of disease in the late Imperial Period
This is an example of what?
It's capital city was Rome.
It's capital city was Constantinople.
