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Quizzes > History

Roman Empire trivia quiz: test your knowledge of ancient Rome

Quick, free Roman history quiz to check your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jerral WilliamsUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Roman helmet laurel wreath columns and scroll on teal background for Empire quiz

This Roman Empire trivia quiz helps you check what you know about emperors, battles, and culture in ancient Rome. Get quick feedback as you play, and learn a few new facts along the way. Want more practice? Try our ancient Rome quiz, take the Roman Republic to Empire quiz, or dive into a Roman military tactics quiz for legions and battle formations.

In which year is the traditional founding of Rome dated?
800 BC
700 BC
600 BC
753 BC
The traditional date for Rome's founding is 753 BC, based on ancient Roman historians like Livy who attributed it to Romulus. Archaeological evidence gives varied dates, but the mythic date remains 753 BC. Romans celebrated this as the birthday of Rome each year. .
Who became the first emperor of Rome after the end of the Roman Republic?
Caligula
Julius Caesar
Nero
Augustus
After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC and the ensuing power struggles, his adopted heir Octavian emerged victorious. In 27 BC, the Senate granted him the name Augustus, establishing him as the first emperor of Rome. This event marked the end of the Roman Republic. .
What does the abbreviation SPQR stand for in ancient Rome?
Senate of Pupils and Romans
Senate and Province of Rome
Senatus Populusque Romanus
Society of Roman People
SPQR is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus, which means 'The Senate and People of Rome.' It was used as an official emblem of the Roman Republic and later the Empire. The acronym appeared on public documents, monuments, and military standards. .
Which structure was the major amphitheatre in Rome used for gladiatorial games?
Roman Forum
Circus Maximus
Colosseum
Pantheon
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was Rome's largest amphitheatre and hosted gladiatorial games, public spectacles, and dramas. It was completed in AD 80 under Emperor Titus. The Circus Maximus, by contrast, was used for chariot races. .
Which river did Julius Caesar cross in 49 BC, igniting civil war in Rome?
Po
Nile
Tiber
Rubicon
In 49 BC, Julius Caesar defied the Senate by crossing the Rubicon River with his army, an act considered declaration of war against Rome. The phrase 'crossing the Rubicon' has since come to mean passing a point of no return. Caesar's move led to civil war and ultimately to his dictatorship. .
At which naval battle did Octavian defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC?
Battle of Zama
Battle of Teutoburg Forest
Battle of Philippi
Battle of Actium
The naval Battle of Actium was fought on September 2, 31 BC, between Octavian's forces and those of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian's victory led to his sole rule and the foundation of the Roman Empire under Augustus. This decisive battle ended the Final War of the Roman Republic. .
What was the primary language spoken in the Western Roman Empire?
Aramaic
Egyptian
Latin
Greek
Latin was the official and administrative language of the Western Roman Empire. Though Greek remained widely spoken in the eastern provinces, Latin dominated law, military command, and literature in the West. The language influenced many modern European tongues. .
Who was the Carthaginian general that led forces against Rome in the Second Punic War?
Hamilcar Barca
Scipio Africanus
Hannibal Barca
Pyrrhus of Epirus
Hannibal Barca, a Carthaginian general, famously led troops, including war elephants, across the Alps to invade Italy during the Second Punic War (218 - 201 BC). He won significant victories at Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae. His campaigns threatened Rome until Scipio Africanus ultimately defeated him. .
What was the primary purpose of the Via Appia (Appian Way) in ancient Rome?
Connect Rome to Brindisi
Link Rome to Carthage
Serve as a religious pilgrimage route
Form a defensive fortification
The Via Appia, built in 312 BC under censor Appius Claudius Caecus, connected Rome first to Capua and was later extended to Brindisi. It served as a vital military and trade route linking the capital to southeastern Italy. Its stone paving set a precedent for Roman road construction. .
In which year did the Western Roman Empire traditionally fall?
410 AD
476 AD
395 AD
1453 AD
In AD 476, the Germanic chieftain Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, marking the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire. Though the Eastern Roman Empire continued for nearly another thousand years, the Western half ceased to function as a unified state. Historians use this date as a symbolic end. .
What was the title of the highest elected political office in the Roman Republic, held by two individuals annually?
Consul
Censor
Tribune
Praetor
Consuls were the highest elected officials in the Roman Republic, with two consuls elected annually to lead the government and armies. They held imperium, or executive authority, and presided over the Senate and assemblies. This dual magistracy balanced power and prevented autocracy. .
In Roman mythology, who was considered the king of the gods?
Pluto
Mars
Jupiter
Apollo
Jupiter was the king of the Roman gods, ruling over the sky and thunder as part of the Capitoline Triad alongside Juno and Minerva. He was the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Zeus. Worship of Jupiter was central to state religion. .
What did the Constitutio Antoniniana (Edict of Caracalla) enact in AD 212?
Reformed the imperial tax system
Made Christianity the official state religion
Abolished slavery throughout the empire
Granted Roman citizenship to all free men in the empire
The Constitutio Antoniniana, issued by Emperor Caracalla in AD 212, granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire. This reform aimed to increase tax revenue and unify the empire under Roman law. It marks a major milestone in Roman legal history. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Roman political dynamics -

    Learn about the structures of power, major rulers and the governance systems that shaped the empire's rise and fall.

  2. Recall key Roman emperors -

    Identify influential figures like Augustus and Constantine, and summarize their main achievements and historical impact.

  3. Analyze pivotal battles -

    Examine important conflicts such as the Battle of Actium and Teutoburg Forest, and assess their consequences for Roman expansion.

  4. Identify daily life and culture -

    Discover Roman customs, social structures and everyday routines to gain insights into ancient society.

  5. Apply trivia knowledge -

    Use quiz facts to deepen your understanding of Roman history and make connections with broader historical contexts.

  6. Assess learning gaps -

    Evaluate your quiz performance to pinpoint areas for further exploration and study in Roman history.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Founding and Republic Structure -

    Study the legendary origins of Rome with Romulus and Remus (753 BC) and the development of the Roman Republic's checks and balances, including the Senate and annually elected consuls. Remember the mnemonic "SPQR" (Senatus Populusque Romanus) to recall the joint authority of Senate and People of Rome (Oxford University Press).

  2. Julius Caesar and the Rise of the Empire -

    Focus on Caesar's military campaigns and political reforms that undermined the Republic, culminating in his assassination on the Ides of March 44 BC (Plutarch's Lives). Use the acronym "C-P-D" (Conquest, Power, Death) to remember Caesar's path from Gaul to dictatorship.

  3. Augustus and the Pax Romana -

    Review Augustus' establishment of the Principate in 27 BC, marking the start of two centuries of relative peace known as the Pax Romana. An easy way to recall his administrative reforms is "PRIME" (Police, Roads, Infrastructure, Military, Economy) (Cambridge University Press).

  4. Legion Structure and Key Battles -

    Understand the organization of Roman legions into cohorts and centuries, and their tactical flexibility at battles like Alesia (52 BC) and Actium (31 BC). Use the "10-6-1" rule to remember each legion's 10 cohorts, 6 centuries per cohort, and 1 centurion per century (National Army Museum).

  5. Everyday Life and Monumental Engineering -

    Examine daily life through housing (insulae vs. domus), food staples like garum, and entertainment such as gladiatorial games. Memorize "GIR" (Garum, Insulae, Roman spectacles) to link culinary habits, urban living, and public events (Journal of Roman Studies).

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