Final Examination
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The final examination of Roman History
Identify four (4) of the following and locate each item correctly by its number (e.g. 1, 2, 3) on the map.
| A. |
_______________________ |
Barbarian territory that eventually became a province when Trajan successfully defeated its king, Decebalus. |
| B. | _______________________ | The legions stationed along this natural boundary of the empire declared their governor, Vitellius, princeps. |
| C. | _______________________ | This natural landmark destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. |
| D. | _______________________ | The young Constantine, upon the death of his father, was hailed Augustus of the west in this Roman province. |
| E. | _______________________ | Roman province governed not by a senator, but by a praetorian prefect of equestrian rank due to its strategic importance. |
II. Chronology. (12 pts.)
A. Locate the emperors below on the time-line within their proper half century and in proper relation to other emperors in the same century.
|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------|-------------------|------------------|
30 BC AD 50 100 150 200 250
|
A. |
Vespasian |
C. |
Tiberius |
E. |
Nero |
|
B. |
Commodus |
D. |
Hadrian |
F. |
Caracalla |
B. Locate the items below on the time-line within their proper century and in proper relation to other items in the same century.
-----|----------------------|-----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---
AD 1 100 200 300 400
|
A. |
Diocletian’s Price Edict |
C. |
Death of Domitian |
E. |
Edict of Milan |
|
B. |
Great Fire of Rome |
D. |
Sack of Jerusalem |
F. |
Colosseum built |
III. Answer ten (10) of the following questions. (10 pts.)
| 1. | _________________________ | The main temple in the Forum of Augustus was dedicated to what Roman god? |
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2.
|
_________________________
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Most of the road building in the Roman provinces was carried out by: a) provincials b) soldiers c) slaves |
| 3. | _________________________ | She was a queen of the Iceni, a tribe who rebelled against Roman rule in Britain during the reign of Nero. |
| 4. | _________________________ | This river formed the eastern boundary of Rome’s empire during the reign of Augustus. |
| 5. | _________________________ | This notorious prefect of the praetorian guard instigated a plot to overthrow Tiberius and name himself princeps. |
| 6. | _________________________ | Name of Diocletian’s reorganization of imperial power under two Augustuses and two Caesars. |
| 7. | _________________________ | This emperor argued for the inclusion of Romanized Gauls in the Roman Senate. |
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8.
|
_________________________
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This historian, sometimes referred to as the “Greek Livy,” wrote in Greek an important account of Roman events from 69 BC to AD 49. a) Dio Cassius b) Pliny the Younger c) Polybius d) Herodian |
| 9. | _________________________ | True or False. The abbreviation “cos” on an inscription signifies that the subject was a senator. |
|
10.
|
_________________________
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We think Augustus exiled the poet Ovid to the shores of the Black Sea because: a) Ovid was giving military secrets to the Germans. b.) Ovid was part of a plot to assassinate Augustus. c) Ovid wrote poetry that undermined traditional values. |
| 11. | _________________________ | Wife of Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla, renowned for her intellect. |
IV. Short Identification (20 pts.)
Briefly identify two (2) of the following. Be sure to locate the item within its specific historical context—time and place—and discuss its significance for our knowledge of the ancient Romans.
-
- A side view of the Ara Pacis of Augustus, showing women, men, and children
- Pliny the Younger
- Trib. Pot.
- Diocese
V. Essay. (50 pts.)
Choose one of the following three topics to discuss in a well-written essay. A good essay will have an introduction with thesis statement, a well organized discussion of the thesis based on close reading of the primary sources, and a strong conclusion. At all times write clearly and legibly with correct spelling and punctuation. You may not use any notes during the exam.
- The “End” of the Roman Empire. Consider the many different ways of explaining the “end” of the Roman Empire that we have studied in this course. In your opinion, what are the two or three most or least persuasive of these explanations? Do you think an examination of Rome’s “ending” is a worthwhile undertaking? Explain why or why not. Note: for this question you will most likely wish to consult Murphy’s book, but do not forget about primary sources in Lewis & Reinhold.
- The Evolution of the Principate. Compare the rule of Augustus with that of two other emperors of your choice in order to illustrate continuities and changes in the principate over time. Consult the primary sources in Lewis & Reinhold and in relevant handouts carefully as you formulate your answer.
- Sources for the Study of Roman History. In your opinion, what are the two or three major differences between the primary sources available for the study of the Roman Republic and those available for the study of the Roman Principate? Consider not only types and quantity of evidence, but also quality, that is, how detailed or objective it is. Do not try to be exhaustive in covering every type of evidence for every historical period, but rather select your various evidence and discuss it in order to support your main argument.
