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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is leading the enemy troops as Sulla and his men near Rome?

2. How many servants does Crassus have when he escapes to Spain?

3. What role does Andromachus play in the plans Crassus has to avoid the Parthians?

4. Which part of Marius's life is obscured by Plutarch, according to Warner?

5. How many total terms does Marius serve as consul?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sulla approach a possible confrontation with the younger Marius?

2. How does Marius distinguish himself when he is voted into the office of tribune?

3. Where does the expression, "one of Marius's mules" originate?

4. What kinds of omens does Crassus receive on his way to Syria and how does he respond to them?

5. What is interesting about the way Marius first tries to stand for the aedileship?

6. How does Sulla rule over Rome for the second time?

7. What happens to Crassus's family and why does he return to Rome?

8. Why does Sulla give up the dictatorship and how does he live his life at this point?

9. What is Crassus's main vice, and how is this displayed?

10. What does Sulla do after taking Rome again, this time, from Telesinus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marius displays his constant resolve in a variety of different ways throughout his life.

1) Explain how Marius loses two political battles in one day, and why the way he handles each of them is important.

2) Describe the way Marius views his involvement in the wars that he fights, how he chooses to train himself and his troops, and explain the origin of the saying, "one of Marius's mules."

3) Describe at least two other examples of how Marius shows his resolve or the inability to accept defeat, and why that is a significant part of his life.

Essay Topic 2

Plutarch mentions that Caesar has a more impressive military career than any of the other Roman leaders mentioned in the book. Analyze Caesar's military experience and the way he chooses to fight his battles, citing specific examples of what earns him so much respect from his soldiers and the people of Rome. Also, describe the way Caesar's military accomplishments compare to those of the other leaders and if your analysis supports Plutarch's opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Omens played a big part of the way Romans lived their lives and made their decisions.

1) Using each of the six figures for which Plutarch provides a biography, describe the different omens that they encounter and the way that they choose to react to them.

2) Analyze the differences or similarities between how the Roman leaders responded to omens during their lives, and the results of their regard for them.

3) Explain what you think the significance of omens were in general to the Roman Republic and the people who lived during that time.

(see the answer keys)

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