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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. Why does Augustus move the sword-fighters out of the city?

2. Name all of Julia's husbands.

3. Which historian does Claudius hope to emulate?

4. Why was Postumus not arrested at Ostia?

5. The only three men that Tiberius trusted were Sejanus, Nerva, and. . .

Short Essay Questions

1. What praise does Claudius give to his grandmother, Livia?

2. Why does Augustus refuse to eat or drink anything but bread, water, and figs straight from the tree?

3. What argument does Tiberius use with Germanicus to get him to return to Rome?

4. How does Tiberius react to Germanicus's loyal quelling of the troop revolts?

5. How does Germanicus keep the Roman regiments from revolting?

6. Why is it better for Claudius that Livia thinks he is an idiot?

7. Describe the book that Livia writes

8. Why is Rome so vulnerable to attack by the German forces after Varus dies?

9. Why does Claudius wait until Germanicus returns to Rome to tell him that Postumus was innocent?

10. Explain the meaning of the prophecy that the Oracle Sibyl told to Claudius?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that addresses the differences (or similarities) between marriage and divorce in Ancient Rome and in our modern world.

Essay Topic 2

Claudius divides his family into "good" Claudians and "bad" Claudians. What drove the "bad" Claudians? Write a paper addressing the question: Did madness run in the Claudian family?

Essay Topic 3

Historical fiction is a blend of fact and imagination. Write a paper pointing out when Robert Graves is basing his story on fact and when he is allowing himself to imagine what might have happened.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 541 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample