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Quiz about Battles that Changed the World Actium
Quiz about Battles that Changed the World Actium

Battles that Changed the World: Actium Quiz


The 'Battles that Changed the World' series continues with Actium and the Roman Empire.

A multiple-choice quiz by Historygod. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Historygod
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
269,188
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1377
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The Battle of Actium took place during the Roman Civil War. The two sides were supporters of the 'top dogs' of the time and fought in the Gulf of Actium just off the coast of Greece. What is the date of the Battle of Actium? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The battle was between the 'big dogs' of the Roman Empire. They fought, each trying to become the new leader. Who were these two 'big dogs' that fought at Actium? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Mark Antony realized that Octavian's forces were superior. He tried to even the odds by getting help from a queen. Who was this queen who promised that her forces would even the sides? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Octavian's fleet was by far more powerful than Antony's. They were almost twice the size of Antony. The commander of Octavian's fleet boldly led his ships into the heart of Antony's fleet. Who was this naval commander? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Unfortunately for Mark Antony, not only was he 'outshipped' and outmanned, but some solders were already dead and many were also sick. This made matters even worse for Antony. What disease did his ship crew get? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Antony's ships were quinqueremes, a warship that was propelled by oars and was developed from the earlier trireme, that had massive rams as well as bronze plates and square cut timbers along the boat. What was the main ship of Octavian's fleet? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A general in Mark Antony's fleet defected before the battle, joining forces with Octavian. He took with him the plans Antony had created. Who was this traitor? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Mark Antony's fleet was destroyed by Octavian's fleet, which knew his battle plans. The Egyptian fleet watched the battle. Then the Egyptian ruler gave an order. What was it? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Though Mark Antony won the Battle of Alexandria later on, his forces deserted him. In one night he lost 19 infantry legions and 12,000 calvary. Mark Antony committed suicide rather than surrender to Octavian. The Egyptian leader tried to negotiate a surrender, but was unable to do so and also committed suicide. How? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Octavian became the supreme ruler of Rome calling himself Augustus Caesar. His defeat of Mark Antony at Actium turned the entire war around - and the course of history. Octavian decreed a festival to celebrate his victory over Mark Antony at Actium. What is the name of this festival? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Battle of Actium took place during the Roman Civil War. The two sides were supporters of the 'top dogs' of the time and fought in the Gulf of Actium just off the coast of Greece. What is the date of the Battle of Actium?

Answer: September 2, 31 BC

September 2 (about 450 years earlier, in 490 BC) is also the day that Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to spread the news of the victory and died on the spot. (That is a legend that I spoke about in Battles that Changed the World: Marathon).
2. The battle was between the 'big dogs' of the Roman Empire. They fought, each trying to become the new leader. Who were these two 'big dogs' that fought at Actium?

Answer: Octavian and Mark Antony

Mark Antony was a friend of Julius Caesar as well as a Roman politician and general. Octavian was the nephew of Julius Caesar whom Caesar named as his heir. These two were part of the triumvirate, but, due to a disagreement, it fell apart and civil war broke out between the two sides.
3. Mark Antony realized that Octavian's forces were superior. He tried to even the odds by getting help from a queen. Who was this queen who promised that her forces would even the sides?

Answer: Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt. She promised Mark Antony that her forces would even the sides. It didn't. She committed suicide alongside Antony when they lost.
4. Octavian's fleet was by far more powerful than Antony's. They were almost twice the size of Antony. The commander of Octavian's fleet boldly led his ships into the heart of Antony's fleet. Who was this naval commander?

Answer: Agrippa

Agrippa arranged his ships in an arc formation, thus blocking the retreat of Mark Antony.
5. Unfortunately for Mark Antony, not only was he 'outshipped' and outmanned, but some solders were already dead and many were also sick. This made matters even worse for Antony. What disease did his ship crew get?

Answer: Malaria

His crew suffered from malaria, which is a disease that causes flu-like sypmtoms. It is very debilitating and may even result in coma or death. Approximately 1-3 million people, mostly children, die of this disease each year.
6. Antony's ships were quinqueremes, a warship that was propelled by oars and was developed from the earlier trireme, that had massive rams as well as bronze plates and square cut timbers along the boat. What was the main ship of Octavian's fleet?

Answer: Liburnians

Liburnians were smaller than the quinqueremes Antony had, but Octavian's crews were better trained and a lot fresher. They could also outmaneuver Mark Antony's fleet since their ships were lighter - and they weren't suffering from malaria.
7. A general in Mark Antony's fleet defected before the battle, joining forces with Octavian. He took with him the plans Antony had created. Who was this traitor?

Answer: Delius

Delius brought over Antony's plans and this helped Octavian greatly. Antony was going to have his biggest ships attack the northern part of Agrippa's fleet and ram a hole there. Octavian though, made sure to keep his ships out of Mark Antony's range. Just like Ephialtes at Thermopylae, a traitor played a key role in the outcome of a battle.
8. Mark Antony's fleet was destroyed by Octavian's fleet, which knew his battle plans. The Egyptian fleet watched the battle. Then the Egyptian ruler gave an order. What was it?

Answer: To run away

Cleopatra ordered her ships to retreat to the open sea. Mark Antony also escaped in a small boat. The rest of the fleet was either captured or sunk by Octavian's forces.
9. Though Mark Antony won the Battle of Alexandria later on, his forces deserted him. In one night he lost 19 infantry legions and 12,000 calvary. Mark Antony committed suicide rather than surrender to Octavian. The Egyptian leader tried to negotiate a surrender, but was unable to do so and also committed suicide. How?

Answer: By a poisonous snake-bite

Cleopatra died on August 12, 30 BC, as she let an asp bite her. This left Octavian to rule Egypt as well as become the leader of the Roman Empire.
10. Octavian became the supreme ruler of Rome calling himself Augustus Caesar. His defeat of Mark Antony at Actium turned the entire war around - and the course of history. Octavian decreed a festival to celebrate his victory over Mark Antony at Actium. What is the name of this festival?

Answer: Actia

Octavian also set up a monument made from the bronze rams he took from Mark Antony's fleet. Thus, we see again how one battle changed the course of history. What might have happened if Mark Antony had won at Actium? What would of happened if Delius hadn't betrayed Mark Antony? What would have happened if Cleopatra had led her fleet into the midst of the battle? No one knows and no one will ever know.

I enjoyed creating this quiz and hope to continue the series with the next battle.
Source: Author Historygod

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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