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Quizzes > History > Ancient & Medieval History

How Well Do You Know Ancient Rome? Take the Quiz!

Ready for a Roman history quiz? Try 10 questions about Ancient Rome now

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration featuring Roman columns and a laurel wreath with ancient Rome quiz title on coral background.

This Ancient Rome quiz helps you review key facts on emperors, legions, roads, and daily life. Answer 10 quick questions to practice for class or play for fun - you may learn a new fact on the way. Want more? Try a harder set or start answering.

According to Roman myth, which twin brothers founded the city of Rome?
Hercules and Bacchus
Aeneas and Dido
Castor and Pollux
Romulus and Remus
The legend tells of twin brothers Romulus and Remus, born to Rhea Silvia and the god Mars. They were abandoned on the Tiber and suckled by a she-wolf until rescued by a shepherd. Romulus later killed Remus and established the city in 753 BC, which he named Rome.
On which river was the city of Rome founded?
Tiber
Nile
Seine
Danube
Rome was established along the banks of the Tiber River, which provided fresh water and trade routes. The river's location helped Rome grow into a commercial center. It remained central to Roman civilization for centuries.
What form of government did Rome have during most of the period before the empire?
Democracy
Monarchy
Republic
Oligarchy
From around 509 BC until 27 BC, Rome was governed as a republic with elected magistrates and representative bodies. Power rested with the Senate and the people rather than a single monarch. This system defined Roman politics and society until Augustus established the imperial system.
Which Carthaginian general famously crossed the Alps with war elephants to invade Italy?
Dido
Hamilcar Barca
Scipio Africanus
Hannibal
During the Second Punic War (218 - 201 BC), Hannibal Barca led an army, including war elephants, from Spain over the Alps into Italy. His daring tactics brought him significant victories at battles such as Cannae. Hannibal's campaign remains one of antiquity's most celebrated military feats.
Which year is traditionally given for the founding of Rome?
476 AD
27 BC
753 BC
1000 BC
Roman historians, notably Varro, placed the founding of Rome in 753 BC. This date became the traditional basis for the Roman calendar. It marks the transition from myth to the beginning of recorded Roman history.
What was the primary language spoken by ancient Romans?
Oscan
Latin
Greek
Etruscan
Latin was the official language of Rome and its empire, used in government, literature, and law. As Rome expanded, Latin influenced or replaced local languages across Europe. It remained the lingua franca of Western scholarship for centuries.
Which structure was built as Rome's large amphitheater for gladiatorial games?
Colosseum
Pantheon
Forum Romanum
Circus Maximus
Commissioned by Emperor Vespasian around AD 70 and completed by Titus in AD 80, the Colosseum hosted gladiatorial combats and public spectacles. It could hold tens of thousands of spectators. Today it stands as a symbol of ancient Roman engineering and culture.
Which neighboring civilization heavily influenced Rome's early religion and architecture?
Egyptians
Carthaginians
Greeks
Etruscans
The Etruscans, inhabiting northern Italy before Rome's expansion, introduced religious rituals, temple designs, and engineering skills. Roman religious offices like the augurs derived from Etruscan models. Their influence shaped the early development of Roman culture.
What Latin title meaning "commander" became the official title of the Roman emperor?
Pontifex Maximus
Tribunus
Imperator
Consul
Imperator was a title granted by troops to victorious generals in the Republic. Julius Caesar and subsequent emperors adopted it as part of their official nomenclature. Over time it evolved into "Emperor" in English.
Which three men formed the First Triumvirate in 60 BC?
Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus
Julius Caesar, Pompey, Cicero
Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Crassus
Pompey, Sulla, Crassus
The informal alliance between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus dominated Roman politics after 60 BC. Each member brought wealth, military power, or political influence to the pact. Their collaboration eventually broke down, leading to civil war.
What phrase did Julius Caesar allegedly declare as he crossed the Rubicon River?
Et tu, Brute?
Carpe diem
Alea iacta est
Veni, vidi, vici
When Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, he broke Roman law by leading his army into Italy. The phrase "Alea iacta est" means "The die is cast," signifying an irreversible decision. This act initiated the civil war that ended the Republic.
Who led the Third Servile War, a large slave uprising against Rome?
Spartacus
Attila
Nero
Hannibal
Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator, escaped from a gladiatorial school in 73 BC and led thousands of slaves in revolt. His forces won several battles against Roman armies. The revolt was eventually crushed by Marcus Licinius Crassus.
What term describes the long period of stability and relative peace across the Roman Empire?
Roman Spring
Bella Civilia
Mare Nostrum
Pax Romana
The Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") lasted roughly from 27 BC under Augustus until AD 180 under Marcus Aurelius. During this era, the empire experienced minimal expansion, stable governance, and flourishing trade. It is seen as the height of Roman power.
What structures did Romans build to transport fresh water into cities?
Canals
Aqueducts
Wells
Fountains
Roman aqueducts used gravity to channel water over long distances from springs and rivers into urban centers. They were engineering marvels, combining arches and precise gradients. Many aqueducts still stand today as a testament to their skill.
Which legal code formed the basis of Roman civil law?
Edict of Milan
Lex Julia
Justinian Code
Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tables, compiled around 450 BC, represented Rome's first attempt to create a publicly displayed code of laws. They covered legal procedure, property rights, and familial relationships. This codification influenced later Roman law and modern legal systems.
Which emperor established the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions?
Constantine
Theodosius
Diocletian
Augustus
Emperor Diocletian (reigned AD 284 - 305) created the Tetrarchy, dividing rule among two senior and two junior emperors to better manage the vast empire. This system separated administration into Eastern and Western halves. It represented a major reorganization of imperial power.
Under which emperor was Christianity first granted legal tolerance in the Roman Empire?
Marcus Aurelius
Trajan
Nero
Constantine
Constantine the Great issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313, granting religious tolerance for Christianity and ending state-sponsored persecution. He also convened the Council of Nicaea to address church unity. His reign marked a turning point for the Christian faith.
Which road, known as the "Queen of Roads," connected Rome with southeastern Italy?
Via Flaminia
Via Sacra
Appian Way
Via Aurelia
The Via Appia, begun in 312 BC, linked Rome to Capua and later to Brindisi in southeastern Italy. It served military, trade, and communication purposes. Its durable construction demonstrates Roman engineering prowess.
Before Rome's expansion, which civilization influenced its early religion, art, and urban planning?
Etruscans
Celts
Carthaginians
Persians
The Etruscans, located north of Rome, introduced governance structures, religious rites, and architectural techniques, including the arch. Roman magistracies and priesthoods derived from their models. Their influence was integral to Rome's formative period.
What did the Roman policy of civitas sine suffragio grant to conquered communities?
Citizenship without voting rights
Tax exemption only
No legal rights
Full Roman citizenship
Civitas sine suffragio allowed communities to enjoy legal protection and serve in the military while withholding political voting privileges. This status facilitated Rome's gradual integration of conquered peoples. It was a key tool in expanding Roman influence.
Which emperor initiated the construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, now known as the Colosseum?
Titus
Nero
Vespasian
Domitian
Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty, began construction of the amphitheater around AD 70 on land cleared after Nero's Golden House. His son Titus completed it in AD 80. The Colosseum became Rome's iconic arena for public spectacles.
What was the primary purpose of Hadrian's Wall in Britain?
Administrative division
Defensive fortification
Trade boundary
Religious frontier
Constructed around AD 122 under Emperor Hadrian, the wall marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. It was designed to control movement, deter incursions by Picts, and demonstrate imperial power. Watchtowers, forts, and patrol roads supported its defenses.
What did the Constitutio Antoniniana (AD 212) grant to residents of the Roman Empire?
Tax exemptions for provinces
Free grain distributions
Roman citizenship to all free men
Land to soldiers
Issued by Emperor Caracalla, the edict extended full Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire. This broadened tax obligations but unified legal status. It represented a major shift in imperial policy.
Which period of internal turmoil and external invasions rocked the Roman Empire in the third century AD?
Barbarian Conspiracy
Great Fire of Rome
Year of the Five Emperors
Crisis of the Third Century
Between AD 235 and 284, Rome faced rapid turnover of emperors, usurpations, economic collapse, and invasions. Known as the Crisis of the Third Century, it nearly caused the empire's disintegration. Diocletian's later reforms restored stability.
Which administrative system did Diocletian establish to govern the vast Roman Empire more effectively?
Tetrarchy
Dictatorship
Feudalism
Senatorial rule
Diocletian introduced the Tetrarchy in AD 293, dividing the empire among two senior emperors and two junior co-emperors. This aimed to address succession disputes and administrative overload. It represented a fundamental reorganization of imperial governance.
Which group famously sacked Rome in AD 410, marking a significant blow to the Western Empire?
Visigoths
Vandals
Huns
Ostrogoths
In AD 410, King Alaric led the Visigoths into Rome, pillaging the city for three days. It was the first time Rome had fallen to a foreign enemy in nearly 800 years. This sack symbolized the declining power of the Western Empire.
During the Republic, what primary function did the Roman Senate serve?
Judicial court
Advisory council to magistrates
Religious authority
Military command
In the Republic, the Senate was a governing body of elder statesmen that advised elected magistrates on policy, finance, and foreign affairs. While it lacked formal legislative power, its influence was profound. It guided major decisions throughout Rome's expansion.
Which naval innovation did Rome employ during the First Punic War to neutralize Carthage's naval superiority?
Corvus boarding bridge
Underwater nets
Ramming prow
Fire ships
Rome invented the corvus, a hinged boarding bridge with a spike, to allow legionaries to board enemy ships during the First Punic War (264 - 241 BC). This tactic turned naval battles into infantry engagements favoring Roman strengths. It was crucial in Rome's eventual victory over Carthage.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Key Emperors -

    Readers will be able to recall major Roman emperors such as Julius Caesar and Augustus and summarize their impact on the empire.

  2. Identify Architectural Icons -

    Readers will recognize iconic structures like the Colosseum and aqueducts and describe their architectural significance.

  3. Differentiate Political Roles -

    Readers will distinguish between key political offices such as the Senate, consul, and dictator in Ancient Rome.

  4. Sequence Historical Events -

    Readers will sequence major events in the rise and fall of the Roman Republic and Empire accurately.

  5. Analyze Military Strategies -

    Readers will analyze fundamental Roman military tactics and their role in the empire's expansion.

  6. Evaluate Cultural Influence -

    Readers will evaluate how Roman law, language, and engineering continue to influence modern society.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Founding of Rome and the Monarchy -

    According to legend recorded by Cambridge University Press, Rome's origins trace to Romulus and Remus (c. 753 BC), twins raised by a she-wolf. Use the mnemonic "R&R" (Romulus & Remus) to remember the city's royal start before the Republic. Early kings like Numa Pompilius set religious and legal precedents that shaped later Roman institutions.

  2. Roman Republic Government Structure -

    The Republic (509 - 27 BC) balanced power among two consuls, the Senate, and popular assemblies, as detailed by the University of Oxford's classics department. Recall SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus) to link Senate authority with the people. Consuls held imperium for one year, while tribunes protected plebeian rights, reinforcing Rome's checks and balances.

  3. Military Organization and Tactics -

    Roman legions (about 5,000 soldiers each) were divided into cohorts and centuries, a system outlined by the Journal of Roman Studies. Remember "Testudo" (Latin for "tortoise") to visualize the iconic shield-wall formation used in sieges. This disciplined structure let Rome conquer vast territories from Hispania to Mesopotamia.

  4. Engineering Marvels: Aqueducts and Architecture -

    Romans built over 500 miles of aqueducts using a slight gradient (~1:4800) to channel water, as documented by MIT's ancient engineering studies. The keystone-centered arch distributed loads efficiently - think of the Pont du Gard in France. A handy trick: "A = Aqueduct slope Aids flow" to recall their precision.

  5. Pax Romana and Key Emperors -

    The Pax Romana (27 BC - AD 180) ushered in two centuries of relative peace under emperors like Augustus and Trajan, according to Oxford's ancient history series. Use the phrase "I, Veni- Vidi- Vici" to link Julius Caesar's legacy with Augustus's reforms. This era's stability fueled trade, arts and monumental projects across the Empire.

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