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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Julian claims to support religious freedom, but he clearly favors:
(a) Druidism.
(b) Christianity.
(c) Worship of the Hellenic gods.
(d) Judaism.

2. In the year of the famine in Antioch, the leaders of Antioch:
(a) Make sacrifices to the deities.
(b) Do nothing to prepare.
(c) Build an irrigation system to water the parched crops.
(d) Purchase grain from Egypt.

3. Julian arrives in Antioch on a holiday. It is:
(a) Epiphany.
(b) The Summer Solstice.
(c) The festival that commemorates the death of Adonis.
(d) Christmas.

4. As Augustus, Julian attempts to clean up corruption in the palace by dismissing:
(a) The entertainers and singers.
(b) The kitchen staff.
(c) All of Constantius's former servants.
(d) All the eunuchs.

5. After a key battle against the Persian army, Julian becomes angry when his sacrifice goes awry, and vows:
(a) Never to sacrifice to Aries, the god of war, again.
(b) To double the sacrifice next time.
(c) To sharpen his knife.
(d) To ask God's forgiveness for his transgressions.

Short Answer Questions

1. Just a few miles from the Tigris River, Julian declares a brief respite from the fighting to:

2. Libanius eventually learns that it is ______ who kills Julian.

3. After his initial confrontation with the Persians, Julian slaughters:

4. Priscus says that the omens for Julian personally are:

5. In the cities he visits en route to Persia, Julian attempts to get people to perform:

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene of the battle near Ctesiphon the next day. What does Julian do during the battle? What does he do immediately after the battle?

2. In his memoirs and his journal, Julian insists that his army and the people love him, that he goes to great lengths to avoid confrontation and do right by the populace, and that his ascension to power is due to the will of the people. Some of these recollections are rather self-serving. Describe some examples of these recollections.

3. Julian may have a sense that he is becoming drunk with power and losing touch with real people and real issues. Describe the incident at the baths that illustrates his awareness.

4. After Constantius dies and his will is read, Julian's position as Augustus is solidified and validated. How? What is the first thing Julian does to demonstrate his power?

5. After several months as Augustus, Julian's temperament changes, according to Priscus. How does Julian change and why do you think this change occurs?

6. Describe the situation when Julian enters Persia at the start of the campaign when Julian, his generals and the troops first reach the Euphrates River.

7. Throughout his life, Julian is influenced and makes decisions based on signs, omens and dreams. At one point, he dreams about a tree. Describe this dream and his interpretation of it.

8. Julian claims to be tolerant of different religions. Why does he feel compelled to attempt to initiate religious upheaval among the Romans and convert them from Christianity to Hellenism? What makes him think he can succeed at this monumental task?

9. Shortly after the battle of Ctesiphon, Julian is wounded in another battle when he is pierced in the side by a spear. Describe the incident and tell what the outcome is.

10. Once he is Augustus, how does Julian display his disdain for Christianity?

(see the answer keys)

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