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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. What was Caesar's first step, according to Plutarch, when he was informed of Sylla's power being in decline?

2. What came of Rome after Crassus died, according to Plutarch?

3. Who joined Agis to turn back the laws that placed inherited land under control of a few wealthy families, according to Plutarch?

4. According to Plutarch, how did Caesar begin his rise to power over Rome?

5. How did Plutarch claim Agis and Cleomenes incurred the hatred of the rich and powerful?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Plutarch claim Caesar left Rome while he was a young man?

2. Where does Plutarch report Caesar traveled to for conquests after he was elected as part of the Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus?

3. On what occasion does Plutarch report Cato asked why his preceptor would not give him a sword to kill Sylla while he was being trained in Sylla's palace?

4. How does Plutarch describe Alexander impressing his father by taming a horse?

5. How did Plutarch explain Lysander's misinterpretation of the prophesy regarding the successor to Agis?

6. What did Plutarch identify as the myth regarding Alexander's lineage that Plutarch suggested his mother, Olympus, might have spread?

7. What kind of commander did Plutarch consider Sertorius to be, and where did he fight and defeat Pompey?

8. How does Plutarch explain Agis' objectives affected the politics of Sparta?

9. How does Plutarch claim Athenians responded when they falsely accused Phocion of treason and killed him after a mock trial?

10. What skill did Plutarch claim Caesar used to start building political influence in the Senate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Antony used a speech to turn Rome against the conspirators of Caesar's assassination. He used his influence to persuade Octavius Caesar to have Cicero executed in spite of Cicero's support for Octavius as a ruling member of the triumvirate. Explain why you think that Antony would have such an interest to have Cicero removed from influence based upon what you can identify as Cicero's rhetorical skill against political opponents and Antony's Ambition after the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Essay Topic 2

Plutarch was born a Greek, and as an adult became a Roman Citizen. He wrote during the First Century, A.D., while the Roman Empire was still in its ascendancy. Give details of how Plutarch's background and citizenship influenced his choice of historical figures for which to write biographies, the events he chose to cover, and how he characterized the cities and citizens that were affected by these figures.

Essay Topic 3

Plutarch's biography of Sertorius established a pattern of examining the life of a leader whose live and experiences were intertwined with other lives that were covered by Plutarch. Sertorius directly confronted Pompey in Spain and both were affected by the Roman tyrant Sylla. How were both Sertorius and Pompey affected by Sylla, and how did the different relationships with Sylla influence the confrontation they had with each other?

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