Ancient Rome HIST 422 (Master Deck)

Master Deck Set

Who established the Principate?

Augustus

Who were the Julio-Cludian emperors in order?

Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero

Why is Tiberius remembered negatively?

Paranoia, treason trials, and retreat to Capri.

What island did Tiberius retire to?

Capri

What was the name of Caligula's famous horse?

Incitatus

Which emperor conquered Britain?

Claudius

Who was Nero's mother?

Agrippina

Who did Nero blame for the Great Fire of Rome?

Christians

In what year did the Great Fire of Rome occur?

AD 64

What happened in AD 69?

The Year of the Four Emperors.

Who were the Four Emperors?

Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.

Who founded the Flavian Dynasty?

Vespasian

What did the Lex de Imperio Vespasiani do?

Formally granted imperial powers to Vespasian.

What happened in AD 79?

Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Who wrote the eyewitness account of Vesuvius?

Pliny the Younger

Who died during the eruption while attempting rescues?

Pliny the Elder

Why is Pompeii important?

It preserves everyday Roman life.

Who led the revolt in Britain in AD 60–61?

Boudicca

Why did Boudicca revolt?

Romans confiscated her property, flogged her, and assaulted her daughters.

Which historian is the main source for Nero and Boudicca?

Tacitus

What was the Pax Romana?

A long period of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Roman Empire.

Which emperor expanded Rome to its greatest territorial extent?

Trajan

What region did Trajan conquer?

Dacia

Which emperor shifted Rome from expansion to defense?

Hadrian

Who built Hadrian's Wall?

Hadrian

Why was Hadrian's Wall built?

To defend Roman Britain from northern tribes.

What famous temple was rebuilt under Hadrian?

The Pantheon

Who governed Bithynia-Pontus and wrote to Trajan?

Pliny the Younger

Why did Trajan reject Pliny's request for a fire brigade?

He feared political factions or secret societies.

What was the Alimenta?

An early Roman welfare program begun under Nerva.

What did wealthy Romans often fund for their communities?

Baths, aqueducts, temples, theaters, and other public works.

Which Roman writer is famous for his satires about life in Rome?

Juvenal

Where were gladiatorial games held?

The Colosseum

Where were chariot races held?

The Circus Maximus

Who was known as the philosopher emperor?

Marcus Aurelius

What book did Marcus Aurelius write?

Meditations

What philosophy did Marcus Aurelius follow?

Stoicism

What virtues are emphasized in Stoicism?

Reason, self-control, duty, and virtue.

What responsibilities did Roman governors have?

Managing finances, public works, infrastructure, and reporting to the emperor.

What broader trend marks the end of Marcus Aurelius' reign?

The end of the Pax Romana and increasing frontier pressures.

What was the Third Century Crisis?

A period of political, military, and economic instability in the Roman Empire.

Why did Diocletian reform the empire?

To restore stability after the Third Century Crisis.

What was the Tetrarchy?

A system of rule by four emperors created by Diocletian.

How many Augusti served in the Tetrarchy?

Two.

How many Caesars served in the Tetrarchy?

Two.

Why did the Tetrarchy fail?

Rival emperors fought for power after Diocletian retired.

Why were Christians persecuted by Rome?

They refused emperor worship and public sacrifices.

Which emperor began the Great Persecution?

Diocletian.

Who was Perpetua?

A Christian martyr whose prison diary became an important Christian text.

What battle made Constantine sole ruler in the West?

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge (AD 312).

What vision did Constantine reportedly see before battle?

'By this sign conquer.'

What did the Edict of Milan accomplish?

It legalized Christianity and ended official persecution.

Did the Edict of Milan make Christianity the official religion?

No.

What council did Constantine call in AD 325?

The Council of Nicaea.

Why did Constantine support Christianity?

To unify and strengthen the empire politically.

When was Constantine baptized?

On his deathbed.

What city became Constantine's new capital?

Constantinople.

What does the Ichthys (fish) symbolize?

Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior.

What are catacombs?

Underground Christian burial sites.

Who was Zenobia?

Queen of Palmyra who challenged Roman rule.

Who defeated Zenobia?

Aurelian.

Who was Hypatia?

A philosopher associated with Alexandria killed by a Christian mob.

What year marks the traditional fall of the Western Roman Empire?

AD 476.

Who was the last Western Roman emperor?

Romulus Augustulus.

Who deposed Romulus Augustulus?

Odoacer.

Who led the Visigoths during the sack of Rome?

Alaric.

When was Rome sacked by the Visigoths?

AD 410.

Which Germanic group sacked Rome in AD 455?

The Vandals.

Who was Attila?

Leader of the Huns.

What battle exposed major Roman military weakness in AD 378?

The Battle of Adrianople.

Which emperor died at Adrianople?

Valens.

Who was the last emperor to rule both East and West?

Theodosius I.

What were the Foederati?

Barbarian groups settled in the empire in exchange for military service.

Who wrote The City of God?

St. Augustine.

Why did Augustine write The City of God?

To defend Christianity after the sack of Rome.

What major province did the Vandals seize?

North Africa.

According to Ammianus Marcellinus, what weakened Rome internally?

Luxury, corruption, and declining civic values.

Did one single cause bring down Rome?

No, multiple internal and external causes combined.

What migration increased pressure on Rome's borders?

The migration of the Huns.

Why was North Africa important to Rome?

It provided grain and tax revenue.

Why is the Byzantine Empire considered Roman?

It preserved Roman government, law, and imperial authority.

What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire?

Constantinople.

Who attempted to reconquer the Western Roman Empire?

Justinian I.

Who was Justinian's greatest general?

Belisarius.

What was the Corpus Juris Civilis?

Justinian's codification of Roman law.

Why is the Justinian Code important?

It influenced later European legal systems.

What famous church did Justinian build?

Hagia Sophia.

Who was Theodora?

Justinian's influential wife.

What was the Nika Revolt?

A major revolt in Constantinople crushed by Justinian.

Who convinced Justinian not to flee during the Nika Revolt?

Theodora.

What was Iconoclasm?

The controversy over religious images.

What happened in the Great Schism of 1054?

Christianity split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Who founded Islam?

Muhammad.

What is the Hijra?

Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in AD 622.

What is the Quran?

The holy book of Islam.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.