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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. With what does Sallust say his ancestors built great empires?

2. Who does Sallust say Piso treated harshly?

3. Why did Catiline kill his son?

4. How does Catiline prepare his soldiers for battle?

5. What does Sallust say is the result of people wanting their own merits celebrated rather then to record others' merits?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Cicero know of Manilos and what does he do about it? What is he told to do about it?

2. What does Quinton Metellus do about Catiline's army and what kind of situation does that make for Catiline?

3. Who does Catiline attempt to recruit for allies and how do they respond?

4. Why was there a public voting for another consul?

5. What is Catiline's only choice for his army? Who takes over Antonio's army and why? What does he do with the army before they fight?

6. Who does Catiline plan to assassinate and how does Fulvia find out about it?

7. What does Catline do when he realizes he is being defeated?

8. How does Sallust's disgust for greed relate to what Catiline said he wanted to do?

9. What happens when Cicero takes the conspirators to the Senate?

10. What did Catiline do before he was married?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Jugurthine War is presented by Sallust as an historical account of two events in Roman history yet it seems to contain as much subjective opinion as historical facts.

1. Discuss why Sallust's book might be mere propaganda for the Roman government. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Debate the following statement: History should contain only facts not opinions or propaganda.

3. How much propaganda do you think is taught in history classes in the present time? Use examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

From Sallust's perspective, the Jugurthine war was more akin to a civil war between the nobility and the people, and Jugurtha was an excuse for the takeover.

1. Why do you think Sallust calls the Jugurthine War a civil war? Do you agree with this assertion? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. In some ways, some of the wars in which the United States has participated were civil wars, at least from Sallust's perspective. Do you think it is moral or immoral for America to interfere in a civil war in another country? Why or why not?

3. If one believes Sallust's description of civil war, then the American Revolution would have to be considered a civil war. Debate the two sides to this statement.

Essay Topic 3

In many ways, Sallust's recording of events reads more like a novel than an historical document. The book moves along quickly, progressing in short chapters; within the chapters, the writing is not the formal and detailed style a reader would expect from a modern history book.

1. Discuss why you do or do not agree with the above statement using examples from the text to illustrate your opinion.

2. What do you think are the reasons an historian might want to write a book of history that would be interesting for an average reader rather than just historians? What would be the benefit to more people reading a book versus a select few?

3. What do you see are the differences between Sallust's historical accounts of the Catiline Revolt and the Jugurthine War and one that might be written to teach high school students in the 21st. century? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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