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Quizzes > History

From Republic to Empire Quiz: Rome, Actium, and Augustus

Quick, free ancient Rome quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Amanda MacbrayneUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art collage of roman columns helmet laurel wreath and scroll on golden yellow background for ancient rome quiz

This quiz helps you review how Rome shifted from Republic to Empire, from Caesar to Augustus and the Battle of Actium, and what changed in power and politics. For more practice, try our Roman Republic transition quiz, explore an ancient Rome quiz, or test yourself with Roman Empire trivia.

What form of government did Rome adopt after overthrowing its monarchy in 509 BC?
Empire
Monarchy
Republic
Oligarchy
In 509 BC, Romans expelled their last king and established the Roman Republic, a system where elected magistrates and the Senate held power rather than a single monarch. The Republic lasted until the rise of Augustus.
Who is considered the first Roman Emperor, marking the transition from Republic to Empire?
Nero
Tiberius
Julius Caesar
Augustus
Octavian was granted the title Augustus by the Senate in 27 BC, becoming Rome's first emperor and inaugurating the Principate. Julius Caesar preceded him as dictator but never held the imperial title.
Which king's expulsion led to the establishment of the Roman Republic?
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Numa Pompilius
Romulus
Tarquinius Priscus
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was the seventh and last king of Rome. His tyrannical rule prompted Roman nobles to revolt in 509 BC, abolishing the monarchy and creating the Republic.
Which institution served as the chief advisory and legislative body during the Roman Republic?
Consulship
Senate
Tribunate
Assembly of Centuries
The Roman Senate was a council of elders (patricians) advising magistrates and shaping policy. Although its decrees (senatus consulta) were not laws per se, they carried immense authority throughout the Republic.
How many consuls were elected annually to govern Rome under the Republic?
Four
One
Three
Two
The Roman Republic elected two consuls each year to share executive power and check one another. They held imperium, led armies, and presided over the Senate and assemblies.
What class of Roman citizens were the patricians?
Freed slaves
Foreign merchants
Common farmers and laborers
Wealthy land-owning aristocrats
Patricians were Rome's elite families, claiming descent from the city's founders. They dominated political offices and held the majority of wealth and power during the early Republic.
Which magistrates were primarily responsible for administering justice in the Roman Republic?
Praetors
Quaestors
Aediles
Censors
Praetors were elected magistrates whose main duty was to oversee the administration of justice, including both civil and criminal courts. Their edicts helped shape Roman law.
Which river did Julius Caesar famously cross in 49 BC, defying Rome's Senate?
Danube
Rubicon
Tiber
Euphrates
Crossing the Rubicon with his army in January 49 BC was a declaration of civil war against the Senate. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has come to mean passing a point of no return.
What was the informal political alliance of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus called?
Populares Coalition
Optimates League
Second Triumvirate
First Triumvirate
The First Triumvirate was an unofficial pact formed in 60 BC by Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus to consolidate power and bypass Senate opposition. Its collapse led to civil war.
Which naval battle in 31 BC ensured Octavian's supremacy and ended the Republic?
Battle of Philippi
Battle of Cannae
Battle of Carrhae
Battle of Actium
The Battle of Actium, fought off western Greece in 31 BC, saw Octavian defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra. It marked the end of the Republic and led to Octavian's sole rule.
What term describes the period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire initiated under Augustus?
Bellum Gallicum
Aurea Aetas
Res Publica
Pax Romana
The Pax Romana, or "Roman Peace," lasted roughly 200 years, from Augustus's reign onward, marked by minimal expansion and internal stability. It facilitated trade and cultural exchange.
Which office was created to protect the interests and rights of the plebeian class?
Censor
Praetor Urbanus
Tribune of the Plebs
Pontifex Maximus
Following the Conflict of the Orders, tribunes of the plebs were elected by plebeians to veto harmful legislation and protect their rights. Their sacrosanct status made interference with them a capital offense.
Which law, passed in 90 BC, extended Roman citizenship to all Italian allies who had not revolted?
Lex Julia
Lex Canuleia
Lex Hortensia
Lex Plautia Papiria
The Lex Julia of 90 BC granted Roman citizenship to Italian communities that remained loyal during the Social War. It helped pacify allies and ended much of the conflict.
Which Roman general reformed the army by recruiting landless citizens, increasing its professional character?
Pompey the Great
Gaius Marius
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Between 107 and 100 BC, Gaius Marius restructured Rome's legions by enlisting non-land-owning citizens and offering pensions, creating a more professional military loyal to its generals.
The 'Social War' (91 - 88 BC) was fought between Rome and which groups?
Carthaginian forces
Gaulish tribes
Macedonian kings
Italian allies seeking citizenship
The Social War pitted Rome against its Italian allies (socii) over demands for full Roman citizenship. After heavy fighting, Rome conceded citizenship rights to stop the rebellion.
After his return to Rome, Lucius Cornelius Sulla assumed which unprecedented office?
Dictator for life
Imperator Perpetuus
Pontifex Maximus
Princeps Senatus
In 82 BC, Sulla was appointed dictator without a term limit, enabling him to enact constitutional reforms and proscriptions. This broke tradition, as earlier dictators served only six-month terms.
Which member of the Second Triumvirate held the title of pontifex maximus after Lepidus was sidelined?
Cicero
Mark Antony
Octavian (Augustus)
Lepidus
After pushing Lepidus out of power, Octavian consolidated titles including pontifex maximus by 12 BC, enhancing his religious and political authority in Rome.
Which Ptolemaic ruler allied with Mark Antony against Octavian?
Ptolemy XIII
Berenice IV
Arsinoe IV
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII formed a political and romantic alliance with Mark Antony, providing financial and military support in his conflicts with Octavian. Their defeat at Actium sealed both their fates.
Which law officially ratified the formation of the Second Triumvirate in 43 BC?
Lex Titia
Lex Pompeia
Lex Manilia
Lex Julia
The Lex Titia, passed in November 43 BC, legally established the Second Triumvirate of Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus for five years with proconsular powers. It formalized their authority to reshape Rome.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Trace the evolution of Roman governance -

    Understand the sequence of political changes that transformed Rome from monarchy to republic and ultimately to empire under Augustus.

  2. Identify key historical figures -

    Recognize the roles and influences of leaders like the Tarquins, the Gracchi brothers, Julius Caesar, and Augustus in shaping Roman history.

  3. Analyze power struggles and reforms -

    Examine conflicts such as the Gracchi reforms, Sulla's dictatorship, and Caesar's rise to highlight shifting power dynamics.

  4. Evaluate major events and their impacts -

    Assess how pivotal moments - such as the Punic Wars and the assassination of Caesar - altered Rome's political landscape.

  5. Compare republican and imperial institutions -

    Distinguish between the structures and functions of the republican Senate and consulship versus the imperial system of emperors and praetorian guard.

  6. Apply your knowledge in a quiz format -

    Demonstrate mastery by confidently answering targeted questions on the Republic to Empire transition and reinforcing your Roman history trivia skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Establishment of the Roman Republic (509 BC) -

    The end of the Tarquin monarchy in 509 BC marked Rome's shift to a Republic, symbolized by SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus). This introduced an elected government with checks and balances. For any Ancient Rome quiz on this era, SPQR is your go-to mnemonic.

  2. Magistracies and the Senate's Authority -

    Rome's political framework centered on two annually elected consuls and the advisory Senate, ensuring no single individual held absolute power. The cursus honorum, or "course of honors," set a sequential career path for aspiring politicians. These magistracies and the Senate's authority often appear in Republic to Empire questions, highlighting Rome's balanced constitution.

  3. Conflict of the Orders & Plebeian Rights -

    The long struggle between patricians and plebeians led to crucial reforms like the Twelve Tables (451 BC) and the creation of the Tribune of the Plebs to safeguard commoner rights. Remember "Twelve Tables = Tenable Rights" to lock in this milestone. This clash is a staple of Roman history trivia and showcases early social reform.

  4. Civil Wars & the Fall of the Republic -

    Power struggles between figures like Marius vs. Sulla and Caesar vs. Pompey culminated in civil wars that weakened the Republic, highlighted by Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC. You can't miss the phrase "Alea iacta est" (The die is cast) on any Ancient Rome Republic to Empire quiz. Primary sources such as Plutarch and modern analyses from Oxford policy detail these dramatic shifts.

  5. Augustus and the Birth of the Empire -

    Octavian's victory at Actium (31 BC) and his title "Augustus" in 27 BC signaled the Republic's end and the start of the Principate, ushering in the Pax Romana. An easy formula is "27 BC = Augustus → Empire" to lock in the timeline. These reforms form the core of many transition of Roman government quiz questions and highlight Rome's stable imperial era.

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