How Well Do You Know the World of Ancient Rome?

Question 1

What Language Did the Romans Primarily Speak?

Question 1

Who Was the First Emperor of Rome?

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What Title Was Given to the Head of the Roman Senate?

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Who Was Assassinated on the Ides of March?

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What Structure Carried Water Into Roman Cities?

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What Was the Roman Colosseum Used for?

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Which Sea Did the Roman Empire Surround?

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Who Led a Massive Slave Revolt Against Rome?

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What Was the Roman Legal Code Called?

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What Term Referred to Common Citizens in Rome?

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What Famous General Crossed the Alps With Elephants?

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Who Defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium?

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What Was the Pax Romana?

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What Was a Roman Legion?

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What Was the Roman Senate?

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Who Was the Roman Goddess of Love?

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What Event Destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD?

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Who Was Rome’s Most Famous Orator?

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What Term Described Roman Peacekeepers or Guards?

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What Was the Roman Forum Used for?

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What Emperor Made Christianity Legal in the Roman Empire?

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Who Wrote the Epic Poem The Aeneid?

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What Roman Structure Was Used for Chariot Races?

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Who Were Romulus and Remus?

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What Was a Roman Bathhouse Called?

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What Was the Title for a Roman Dictator in Emergencies?

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What Roman Emperor Built a Wall Across Northern Britain?

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What Does SPQR Stand for in Latin?

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Who Were the Patricians in Roman Society?

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What Was the Appian Way?

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Who Killed Julius Caesar?

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What Did Roman Gladiators Typically Fight?

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Who Ruled Rome When Jesus Was Crucified?

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What Was the Pantheon’s Dome Made of?

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What Was the Name for Large Roman Estates?

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Who Was the Carthaginian General Rome Feared Most?

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What Roman Class Was Made up of Businessmen and Traders?

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Which Roman Goddess Was Queen of the Gods?

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Who Reorganized the Roman Calendar Into 365 Days?

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What Battle Ended Mark Antony’s Power?

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What River Runs Through the City of Rome?

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What Was a Domus in Roman Life?

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What Building Material Did the Romans Perfect?

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Who Succeeded Augustus as Emperor?

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What Was the Roman Name for the Greek God Zeus?

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What Was the Roman Army's Shield Called?

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What Roman Emperor Is Known for Burning Rome?

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What Was a Tribune in Roman Politics?

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What Did Roman Citizens Wear as Formal Clothing?

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What City Did Rome Destroy in the Third Punic War?

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What Was the Name of the Center Floor in the Colosseum?

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What Was the Hypogeum Beneath the Colosseum Used for?

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What Was the Roman Empire’s Eastern Capital After 330 AD?

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What Was a Roman Census Used for?

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What Was a Lictor in Roman Politics?

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What Was a Centurion in the Roman Army?

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Who Was the Roman God of War?

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What Was a Roman Triumph?

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What Was a Roman Insula?

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What Was the Roman Province of Gaul Today?

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Who Was the Mother of Nero and a Powerful Political Figure?

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What Was the Roman God of the Sea?

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What Was the Role of a Roman Augur?

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What Was the Roman Road System Mainly Used for?

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What Were Fasces a Symbol of?

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What Was the Praetorian Guard’s Primary Role?

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What Did the Roman Calendar Initially Lack?

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Who Was Caligula?

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What Was the Roman Term for a Public Speaker’s Platform?

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What Animal Was Sacred to the Goddess Vesta?

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What Roman Engineering Feat Provided Public Water?

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What Is the Term for a Roman Father’s Legal Authority?

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What Was the Highest Elected Office in the Roman Republic?

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What Was the Roman Empire’s Northern Boundary in Europe?

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Who Was Trajan?

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What Was the Main Meal of the Day in Rome?

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Who Were the Vestal Virgins?

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What Was a Roman Gladiator’s Training School Called?

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What Was the Name of the Period After Nero’s Death in 68 AD?

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What Was a Roman Basilica Originally Used for?

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Who Formed the Second Triumvirate With Octavian?

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What Was a Toga Praetexta?

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What Was the Roman Naval Vessel Called?

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What Was the Highest Roman Priest Called?

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Who Ruled Egypt and Allied With Mark Antony?

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What Was the Roman Marketplace Called?

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What Was the Roman Punishment for Parricide?

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Who Served as a Dictator and Later Returned to Farming?

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What Was the Common Name for Roman Military Sandals?

Question 1

What Was Rome’s Enemy in the Punic Wars?

1

Greek

2

Latin

3

Phoenician

4

Etruscan

Latin was the official language of Rome and remained the foundation of law, science, and government for centuries.

1

Nero

2

Augustus

3

Julius Caesar

4

Tiberius

Augustus, born Octavian, became the first emperor of Rome in 27 BC, marking the end of the Republic.

1

Tribune

2

Consul

3

Praetor

4

Dictator

Two consuls were elected each year to lead the Roman Senate and command the army in the Republic.

1

Caligula

2

Augustus

3

Sulla

4

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was stabbed by senators on March 15, 44 BC, due to fears he’d become a dictator.

1

Pantheon

2

Forum

3

Via Appia

4

Aqueduct

Aqueducts used gravity to transport water from distant sources to Roman baths, fountains, and homes.

1

Gladiator contests

2

Religious ceremonies

3

Government meetings

4

Senate debates

The Colosseum hosted gladiatorial combat and public spectacles, seating over 50,000 Roman spectators.

1

Aegean

2

Black

3

Mediterranean

4

Adriatic

The Roman Empire expanded around the Mediterranean Sea, which they called "Mare Nostrum" or "Our Sea."

1

Brutus

2

Cicero

3

Spartacus

4

Marc Antony

Spartacus, a former gladiator, led a major slave uprising against Rome between 73 and 71 BC.

1

Lex Romana

2

Justinian Code

3

Edict of Milan

4

Twelve Tables

The Twelve Tables were Rome’s first written laws, established in 451 BC to ensure legal transparency and fairness.

1

Equites

2

Plebeians

3

Patricians

4

Praetorians

Plebeians were the lower-class citizens of Rome who gained political power through struggle and reform.

1

Hannibal

2

Cato

3

Scipio

4

Marius

Hannibal, from Carthage, famously invaded Italy with war elephants during the Second Punic War.

1

Julius Caesar

2

Tiberius

3

Octavian

4

Nero

Octavian’s fleet triumphed over Antony and Cleopatra’s forces at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.

1

Period of peace

2

A military campaign

3

A gladiator law

4

An architectural project

The Pax Romana was a 200-year period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire.

1

Political faction

2

Military unit

3

Ship type

4

Religious cult

A legion was the main unit of the Roman army, typically made up of 5,000–6,000 soldiers.

1

Governing council

2

Religious tribunal

3

Merchant guild

4

Military battalion

The Roman Senate was the main political advisory body, composed mainly of patricians and former magistrates.

1

Vesta

2

Minerva

3

Juno

4

Venus

Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty, equivalent to the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

1

Volcanic eruption

2

Invasion

3

Earthquake

4

Flood

Mount Vesuvius erupted violently in 79 AD, burying Pompeii under ash and preserving the city in stunning detail.

1

Tiberius

2

Brutus

3

Cicero

4

Caesar

Cicero was a skilled speaker, statesman, and philosopher known for defending the Republic with eloquence.

1

Praetorians

2

Aediles

3

Pontiffs

4

Quaestors

The Praetorian Guard served as elite troops who protected Roman emperors and held significant political influence.

1

Weapons manufacturing

2

Public gatherings

3

Slave training

4

Bathing

The Roman Forum was the central square for markets, speeches, religious ceremonies, and legal affairs.

1

Nero

2

Hadrian

3

Augustus

4

Constantine

Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, allowing Romans to worship freely without persecution.

1

Cicero

2

Horace

3

Virgil

4

Ovid

Virgil composed The Aeneid to glorify Rome’s origins and connect them to the heroic traditions of ancient Troy.

1

Basilica

2

Colosseum

3

Pantheon

4

Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus could seat over 150,000 people and was used primarily for thrilling chariot races.

1

Senators

2

Founders of Rome

3

Roman gods

4

Gladiators

According to legend, twin brothers Romulus and Remus were raised by a wolf and founded the city of Rome.

1

Tablinum

2

Insula

3

Thermae

4

Domus

Thermae were public bathhouses where Romans relaxed, bathed, exercised, and conducted social or business meetings.

1

Dictator

2

Tribune

3

Magistrate

4

Emperor

A Roman dictator was appointed during crises and held full authority temporarily, usually for six months.

1

Caligula

2

Claudius

3

Tiberius

4

Hadrian

Hadrian’s Wall marked the northern limit of Roman Britain and protected against Scottish tribes.

1

Spiritual Power of Roman Rule

2

Society of Public Romanism

3

Senators Protect Roman Quiet

4

Senatus Populusque Romanus

SPQR means "The Senate and People of Rome" and symbolized the joint authority of the Republic.

1

Wealthy upper class

2

Military generals

3

Priests

4

Foreign slaves

Patricians were aristocratic families who held most of the power and land in the early Roman Republic.

1

A military ship

2

A Roman road

3

A religious path

4

A political agreement

The Appian Way was one of Rome’s earliest and most strategic roads, connecting the capital to southern Italy.

1

Germanic invaders

2

Roman senators

3

His son

4

Egyptian rebels

Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators fearing his growing power and dictatorship ambitions.

1

All of the above

2

Other gladiators

3

Wild animals

4

Criminals

Gladiators often battled each other, wild beasts, or condemned criminals to entertain Roman audiences.

1

Iron

2

Nero

3

Tiberius

4

Augustus

Tiberius was the Roman emperor from 14 to 37 AD, including the period of Jesus’s crucifixion.

1

Concrete

2

Brick

3

Granite

4

Marble

The Pantheon’s massive unreinforced concrete dome remains one of ancient Rome’s greatest architectural achievements.

1

Villas

2

Latifundia

3

Domus

4

Forum

Latifundia were vast agricultural estates worked by slaves that contributed to Rome’s economic and social inequality.

1

Hanno

2

Hannibal

3

Hasdrubal

4

Mago

Hannibal invaded Italy during the Second Punic War and won many battles using clever tactics and war elephants.

1

Legates

2

Plebeians

3

Equites

4

Patricians

Equites were wealthy non-aristocrats who gained influence through trade, finance, and support of military campaigns.

1

Juno

2

Venus

3

Diana

4

Minerva

Juno, the Roman counterpart of Hera, was the queen of the gods and protector of marriage and women.

1

Julius Caesar

2

Nero

3

Augustus

4

Trajan

Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 46 BC, aligning it more closely with the solar year.

1

Cannae

2

Actium

3

Pharsalus

4

Zama

The naval Battle of Actium in 31 BC marked the end of Mark Antony’s influence and Cleopatra’s reign.

1

Danube

2

Tiber

3

Po

4

Rubicon

The Tiber River is Rome’s main waterway and played a vital role in its founding and development.

1

Law court

2

Private house

3

Public market

4

Temple

A domus was the elegant urban home of wealthy Roman citizens, often elaborately decorated and spacious.

1

Concrete

2

Steel

3

Glass

4

Iron

Roman concrete (opus caementicium) enabled construction of enduring structures like aqueducts, domes, and amphitheaters.

1

Caligula

2

Nero

3

Tiberius

4

Claudius

Tiberius, Augustus’s adopted son, ruled from 14 to 37 AD as the second Roman emperor.

1

Mars

2

Neptune

3

Jupiter

4

Apollo

Jupiter was Rome’s chief deity and equivalent to the Greek god Zeus, ruling over all Roman gods.

1

Gladius

2

Scutum

3

Lorica

4

Pilum

The scutum was a curved rectangular shield that offered Roman soldiers strong protection during battle.

1

Domitian

2

Caligula

3

Tiberius

4

Nero

Nero allegedly started the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD and blamed Christians to deflect blame.

1

Army commander

2

Tax collector

3

Religious leader

4

Representative of plebeians

Tribunes protected plebeian rights and had the power to veto laws that harmed common citizens.

1

Chiton

2

Sari

3

Toga

4

Tunic

The toga was a draped garment worn by Roman male citizens for public and ceremonial occasions.

1

Athens

2

Alexandria

3

Carthage

4

Sparta

In 146 BC, Rome razed Carthage to the ground, ending the Punic Wars and securing dominance over the western Mediterranean.

1

Forum

2

Arena

3

Podium

4

Hypogeum

The arena was the central sand-covered floor where gladiators and animals fought for entertainment.

1

Secret senate meetings

2

Drainage system

3

Animal cages and lifts

4

Storage of wine

The hypogeum was an underground complex of tunnels, cages, and elevators beneath the Colosseum.

1

Antioch

2

Carthage

3

Constantinople

4

Alexandria

Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium, renamed it Constantinople, and made it a major Roman center.

1

Tax and military records

2

Entertainment scheduling

3

Marriage licenses

4

Agricultural planning

The census was taken every five years to count citizens and assess taxes and military obligations.

1

Bodyguard of magistrates

2

Slave overseer

3

Scribe

4

Tax enforcer

Lictors carried fasces and protected magistrates, symbolizing state power and authority.

1

Spy

2

Emperor’s bodyguard

3

Horseman

4

Commander of 100 men

A centurion was a respected mid-level officer commanding about 80 to 100 legionaries.

1

Mars

2

Vulcan

3

Neptune

4

Saturn

Mars was the fierce Roman god of war, honored by soldiers and linked to Roman valor and conquest.

1

Victory parade

2

Religious ritual

3

New emperor’s coronation

4

Senate meeting

A triumph was a grand parade celebrating a military general’s victory, often with captured treasure and prisoners.

1

Garden

2

Apartment building

3

Temple

4

Ship

Insulae were crowded multi-story apartment blocks that housed most urban residents, especially in cities like Rome.

1

Greece

2

Germany

3

Spain

4

France

Gaul encompassed most of modern-day France and was conquered by Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars.

1

Julia Domna

2

Agrippina the Younger

3

Livia

4

Messalina

Agrippina the Younger was Nero’s ambitious mother and maneuvered politically until Nero had her murdered.

1

Mercury

2

Mars

3

Pluto

4

Neptune

Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, equivalent to the Greek god Poseidon.

1

Oversaw baths

2

Built roads

3

Minted coins

4

Interpreted omens

Augurs interpreted signs from nature, especially bird flight, to guide political and military decisions.

1

Aqueduct maintenance

2

Religious pilgrimage

3

Military movement

4

Animal migration

Roman roads were built to move legions quickly and reliably throughout the vast Roman Empire.

1

Rebellion

2

Commerce

3

Authority and power

4

Slavery

Fasces were bundles of rods with an axe, carried by lictors to symbolize a magistrate’s legal authority.

1

Protect the emperor

2

Collect taxes

3

Build aqueducts

4

Lead the navy

The Praetorian Guard served as elite soldiers guarding the emperor and influencing Roman political affairs.

1

Seven-day weeks

2

Lunar months

3

January and February

4

Leap years

The early Roman calendar began in March and was later revised by Julius Caesar.

1

A poet

2

A gladiator

3

A senator

4

A mad emperor

Caligula ruled with cruelty and erratic behavior, making him infamous among Rome’s worst emperors.

1

Rostra

2

Podium

3

Atrium

4

Velarium

The rostra was a stage in the Forum where politicians addressed the Roman public during speeches.

1

Bull

2

Wolf

3

Donkey

4

Eagle

Donkeys were sacred to Vesta and protected her temple’s hearth and fire in ancient Roman rituals.

1

Porticos

2

Colonnades

3

Aqueducts

4

Catacombs

Aqueducts transported water from distant sources to cities for use in baths, fountains, and homes.

1

Patria potestas

2

Res publica

3

Lex Julia

4

Cursus honorum

Patria potestas gave Roman fathers complete legal control over their children and household decisions.

1

Censor

2

Consul

3

Praetor

4

Tribune

Consuls were elected annually and held supreme civil and military authority, leading the government together.

1

Tiber River

2

Rhine River

3

Seine River

4

Danube River

The Rhine River marked the Empire’s northern frontier, separating Roman lands from Germanic tribes.

1

Famous general

2

Tax collector

3

Expansionist emperor

4

Playwright

Trajan expanded the empire to its largest size and built impressive public works like Trajan’s Forum.

1

Ientaculum

2

Vesperna

3

Prandium

4

Cena

Cena was the large evening meal for Romans, often featuring multiple courses and socializing.

1

Gladiator trainers

2

Priestesses of Vesta

3

Military medics

4

Wives of senators

The Vestal Virgins kept the sacred flame of Vesta burning and took vows of chastity for 30 years.

1

Thermae

2

Ludus

3

Gymnasium

4

Basilica

A ludus trained gladiators in combat skills under strict conditions before fighting in arenas.

1

Time of Troubles

2

Pax Romana

3

Second Triumvirate

4

Year of the Four Emperors

After Nero’s death, four men claimed the throne in a chaotic year of civil war and succession.

1

Bathing

2

Legal proceedings

3

Worship

4

Dining

Basilicas were large public halls for legal matters and business before being adapted into Christian churches.

1

Cicero and Crassus

2

Sulla and Marius

3

Brutus and Cassius

4

Antony and Lepidus

Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus joined forces to avenge Caesar and divide power after his assassination.

1

Toga with purple border

2

Funeral shroud

3

Battle armor

4

Religious sash

The toga praetexta, worn by magistrates and boys, had a purple border symbolizing authority or protection.

1

Bireme

2

Quadrireme

3

Trireme

4

Corvus

A trireme had three tiers of rowers and was used in many Roman naval battles.

1

Haruspex

2

Augur

3

Vestal

4

Pontifex Maximus

The Pontifex Maximus was the chief priest of Rome and later became a title used by emperors.

1

Cleopatra

2

Livia

3

Julia

4

Octavia

Cleopatra aligned with Antony in opposition to Octavian and later died after their defeat.

1

Velarium

2

Insula

3

Forum

4

Pons

The Forum was the heart of commerce, politics, and religion in any Roman city.

1

Crucifixion

2

Beheading

3

Poena cullei

4

Stoning

Poena cullei involved being sewn into a sack with animals and thrown into a river.

1

Marius

2

Cato

3

Cincinnatus

4

Sulla

Cincinnatus is celebrated for relinquishing power after leading Rome in battle, embodying republican virtue.

1

Braccae

2

Tunicae

3

Togas

4

Caligae

Caligae were durable hobnailed boots worn by legionaries on long marches and during combat.

1

Gaul

2

Carthage

3

Parthia

4

Macedon

Carthage was Rome’s powerful maritime rival in the Punic Wars, ultimately destroyed in the third conflict.

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Think you know your Roman emperors from your gladiators? This quiz will test your knowledge of ancient Rome’s politics, gods, architecture, and conquests to see just how well you understand one of history’s most powerful civilizations.

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At TastyArea, we offer an engaging and interactive way to challenge your knowledge across pop culture, entertainment, history, sports, and more. Our trivia quizzes are crafted to entertain and educate, providing a fun learning experience that's accessible from anywhere. With a diverse selection of topics, you're bound to discover something that sparks your interest.