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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. To whom does Catiline go for allies?

2. What did Lucius Sylla to with the army?

3. What is Curius' final role in the situation with Catiline?

4. What type of people in general, did Sallust say the army had?

5. What does he tell his followers to carry at all times?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What surprises Petreius about Catiline and what is his response?

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

4. In what manner did Sylla take over the government and what did he do with the army?

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

6. Where is Catiline going with his army and what does Antonio do about it?

7. What does the Senate hear about Manilus and how does it affect Rome?

8. What does Sallust speculate about Piso's murder?

9. What does Cicero do with some of the conspirators and what is their ultimate fate? Who argues for their fate?

10. What did Cicero do when he uncovered Catiline's plans and how did this stymie Cataline's plans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1. What do you think can account for the discrepancy between Sallust's opinions and experiences and recorded history?

2. Who writes history? Are historical records always accurate, mostly accurate, or slightly accurate? How can we know how accurate an historical record is?

3. What are some reasons history has been inadvertently recorded inaccurately? What are some reasons history has been recorded inaccurately intentionally?

4. Do you think it is ever justified to record an event inaccurately? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Sallust concentrates on the action, often presenting everything in very black and white. For example, the good guys such as Cicero are inherently good, while Catiline, of course, is completely bad. It is interesting that when Antonio pardons himself from fighting, Sallust passes no judgment on him.

1. Discuss the problems that can be caused in a situation when good or bad are the only two judgments that can be made about that situation. Use examples from the text and your own life to illustrate your ideas.

2. Rigidity in thinking has been the cause of much disagreements and misunderstanding in the world. When two people or two cultures or two countries are unable to see the viewpoint of another, communication cannot take place. Sallust seeing some persons as all good or all bad is an example of rigid thinking. Discuss a problem in the present time which is caused or aggravated by rigid thinking.

3. Debate the following statement: All people have both good and bad within and no one is all bad or all good. Use examples of well known individuals in history and individuals in this book, to illustrate both sides of the issue.

Essay Topic 3

Sallust presents the Roman army as ill-disciplined brutes. They buy everything instead of making it and live a luxurious life that is not conducive to being men of war.

1. Explain in detail why you think Sallust's evaluation of how soldiers should live is correct or wrong. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss in detail the moral implications of the politicians who send soldiers to war living at a much higher standard than the soldiers. Include in your discussion if you believe the disparity between soldiers' lives and politicians lives make it easier for politicians to use soldiers.

3. Military personnel in America receive fairly low compensation for their jobs although in peacetime the benefits and compensation may seem adequate, when faced with combat, it might seem too little. Discuss what you think is a fair wage for combat soldiers and what they should receive as veterans.

(see the answer keys)

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