8th Grade: Ancient Rome Review Questions (+Answers)

Hey 8th graders:

I hope you have fun on your field trip tomorrow morning, but please remember that you have a quiz in my class tomorrow afternoon!!

->As always, you may have 1 page of notes (front side only) out on your desk during the quiz. Please do bring these notes with you--remember it has been proven that those with notes do better than those without!<-

Here are your review questions (+answers)

1. Describe one of the founding stories of Rome. (Latins found cities on hill, eventually they grow together as a city; Greek soldier makes treaty with Latins and marries Latin King's daughter; Romulus and Remus being raised by a wolf, Romulus kills Remus and founds Rome)

2. How many Etruscan kings were there in Rome? (3—7 kings total)

3. Were the Roman kings good or bad and why? (depends-last one was so bad he was removed from power)

4. Was the founder of Rome Latin, Etruscan, or Sabine? (Latin)

5. Name one of the important geographical formations of Rome and explain why it was important. (Palatine Hill, Tiber River, Mediterranean Sea, Italian Peninsula, Alps Mountains, Sicily/Corsica/other islands--importance varies with formation)

6. Why did Rome have the perfect location? (top of a hill, near river, not a coastal city so could not be influenced by outside ideas, etc)

7. What was the first government of Rome? (Monarchy)

8. What was the forum and what was its importance? (meeting area, market place, hangout)

9. What does the word republic mean? (Thing of the people)

10. Who were the patricians? (upper class)

11. Who were the plebeians? (lower class)

12. Who were the consuls? (2 elected members of the senate, one was in charge of army, one in charge of the government/senate)

13. What was the government of the patricians called and what was their governmental role? (Senate, made laws that affected everyone, elected consuls, dictators)

14. What was the government of the plebeians called and what was their governmental role? (Tribune, made laws that affected plebs and vetoed senate laws that affected plebs)

15. What was different about dictators in Ancient Rome? (were elected, served for 6 months only)

16. How did Senators get their job? (inherited)

17. How did members of the tribune get their job? (elected)

18. What were the laws of Rome called and where were they located? (12 Tablets, forum)

19. What was a legion? (basic military unit of 5,000 footsoldiers)

20. What was Rome’s second government? (Republic)

21. How many Punic Wars did we talk about in class? (3)

22. Explain what happened in the Punic Wars (1-Carthaginians attacked, Rome wins, 2-Hannibal comes by land with elephants, Rome wins, 3-Rome attacks Carthage, decimates the city)

23. Explain the importance and death of Julius Caesar (was a senator elected dictator, his policies led to fall of Republic, was killed (possibly) to save republic, etc-specifics!)

24. What was the third government of Rome? (Empire)

25. Who was the first emperor of Rome? (Octavian/Augustus)

26. What is a triumvirate? (ruling group of 3)

27. Who made up the 2^nd triumvirate and what happened to it? (Octavian, Antony, Lepidus—Lepidus died, Octavian and Antony fought, Octavian won, became first emperor)

28. Explain Cleopatra of Egypt’s role in Roman history (relationships with important leaders)

29. Explain the social problems of Ancient Rome (poor have high rent, small homes, bread and circuses, Rich were distracted by entertainments)

30. How did the rise of Christianity cause the decline of Rome? (many, many reasons--use your notes!)

31. What does Pax Romana mean and what was it? (Roman peace, 200 year span of peace followed by 50-year period of war)

32. What group of people eventually caused the fall of Rome and why? (Germans—were hired to fight for Rome, but turned on them and fought with the Visigoths)

33. Who was Constantine? (first Christian Roman Emperor)

34. Give one military, one political, and one social reason for the “fall” of Rome

35. Describe Rome’s policy toward different religions

36. Why were the Romans able to conquer Italy and the Mediterranean world?

37. Do you think the Roman Republic owed its success more to its form of government or its army, and why?

38. How did the Roman Army change over time? (initially all had to be a part, were very loyal to Rome, then became loyal to men, then didn’t have enough so had to hire out)

39. Name and describe how one Roman achievement affects your life today. (varies)

40. Be sure you have read over your four notes pages!!!

Happy studying!
KF