All Ancient History: Rome Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Fall Of Rome
What factor did not contribute to the fall of Rome?
Attacks and invasions by Barbarian tribes
Decreasing political effectiveness of the Senate
Decreasing loyalty of the Roman legion
Devastating climate change
Economic strife due to overspending
Devastating climate change
The Western Roman empire did not experience devastating climate change. The other answers did contribute to the fall of Rome, indicating the complexity of its decline. It is important to remember that this decline was an extremely slow and drawn out process. Just as there is truth to the saying "Rome was not built in a day", so too did it not fall in a day.
Example Question #1 : Fall Of Rome
The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields was part of the invasion of Roman territory by __________.
Theodoric I
Odoacer
Alaric the Visigoth
Tamerlane
Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun
The Battle of the Catalaunian Fields was fought in the middle of the fifth century, in the midst of the decline of the Western Roman Empire. It was fought between an alliance of Roman and Visigothic soldiers against the forces of Attila the Hun. The battle ended in a stalemate, but can be best understood as part of the decline of Rome. The Roman army was unable to match the range and tactics of Attila, and massive parts of Roman Europe were pillaged.
Example Question #3 : Fall Of Rome
After the Fall of Rome, what did the rulers of the empire focus on to establish themselves as a strong government?
Colonization of countries in Asia and Africa
Export taxes
Relations with neighboring countries
Separating from the Church
Government welfare
Relations with neighboring countries
The correct answer is relationships with neighboring countries because the new government tried to model themselves after Constantinople. If you chose separating from the church, remember that Constantine brought Catholicism into Rome. They were not trying to separate until later in the Roman Empire. If you chose colonizing Asia or Africa, remember that these conquests did not begin until way later as well. Keep time frame in mind while making your choices.
Example Question #4 : Fall Of Rome
Odoacer is notable for __________.
instituting a series of reforms of the Roman Republic
resisting the Roman conquest of central Europe
deposing the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire
destroying the Roman Senate and sacking the city of Rome
leading the eastern portion of the empire after Diocletian’s reforms
deposing the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire
Odoacer led a revolt of the Roman armed forces during the waning days of the Roman Empire. He deposed the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, in 476 CE, and brought to an end the rule of the Western Roman Empire. Odoacer took the title of First King of Italy and enjoyed the political support of the Roman Senate.
Example Question #5 : Fall Of Rome
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire continued as __________.
the Byzantine Empire
the Ottoman Empire
the Parthian Empire
the Ptolemaic Kingdom
the Roman Republic
the Byzantine Empire
The Roman Empire was divided into western and eastern empires during the reign of Diocletian in 285 CE. The Western Roman Empire would last for almost two centuries, before succumbing to a series of barbarian conquests and military coups; the Eastern Roman Empire, however, would last until the fifteenth century. The Byzantine Empire is the name generally used by historians to refer to the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Example Question #6 : Fall Of Rome
__________ was the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Augustus Caesar
Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus Pius
Trajan
Romulus Augustus
Romulus Augustus
Romulus Augustus was the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He reigned briefly in 475 and 476 CE, before being deposed by Odoacer. The end of Romulus Augustus’ reign is said to mark the end of the Western Roman Empire, although the transition was hardly smooth.
Example Question #2 : Fall Of Rome
Alaric the Visigoth is notable for __________.
surrendering to Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars
ruling over the Eastern Roman Empire during the fifth century
defeating Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars
leading the sack of Rome
forcing the Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity
leading the sack of Rome
Alaric the Visigoth was the leader of a Germanic group of people (called the Visigoths) in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. He led a devastating sack of the city of Rome in 410 CE, which contributed heavily to the decline of the Western Roman Empire. It was also of great symbolic significance for people living in this time period, because it was the first time Rome had been sacked in more than seven hundred years.