View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Caligula begin to dread after he tortures Brassus?

2. Agrippina asks Tiberius for permission to marry who?

3. Why did Tiberius not visit his son, Castor, before Castor's death?

4. Claudius's nickname of "Teruncius" translates to:

5. What, according to Claudius, was a great turning point in Tiberius's reign?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Messalina tell Claudius about becoming emperor?

2. Who are the three main conspirators in the plot to assassinate Caligula?

3. How does Calpurnia help Claudius avoid being tried for treason during Caligula's reign?

4. How does the actor, Mnester, prevent a massacre?

5. Who does Germanicus accuse of murdering him?

6. Describe some of Caligula's methods for raising money.

7. Describe Claudius's relationship with his wife, Urgulanilla.

8. What makes Germanicus happy about being appointed to oversee the eastern provinces?

9. What metaphor does Claudius use to describe Tiberius's rule?

10. Why does Livia play up the rivalry between Sejanus and Castor to Tiberius?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did the Roman Republic become a dictatorship? Research and write a paper describing the transition from one system to the other.

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

Pick one of the following characters and contrast the character in the story with his or her historical character:

a) Augustus

b) Tiberius

c) Livia

d) Caligula

e) Claudius

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 526 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample