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Roman Society Trivia Quiz

Think you know how the Romans lived? Try this quiz to test your knowledge on Roman society.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rome14. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Rome14

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
249,466

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
817

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Romans had a name for the first day of each month. What was it? Hint

Ides

Kalends

Nones

Numa

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Question 2 of 10

2. All farming in the late Republic was done by slaves.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. How were most ancient Roman doctors regarded? Hint

as respectable citizens

as honest, reliable citizens

as cheaters, liars, and quacks

as backstabbing liars

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was most of the Romans' clothing made of? Hint

cotton

wool

linen

hemp

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Question 5 of 10

5. What were the ideal Roman's four chief virtues? Hint

wisdom, dignity, humanity, and tenacity

justice, freedom, nobility, and courage

mercy, sternness, truthfulness, and confidence

piety, faith, gravity, and perseverance

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Question 6 of 10

6. In ancient Rome, what was a thermopolium? Hint

a bank

a food shop

a theater

a wood shop

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following did the Romans invent? Hint

concrete

paved streets

sewers

quinqueremes

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was the average lifespan for an ancient Roman citizen? Hint

35-45 years

30-40 years

40-50 years

60-70 years

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Question 9 of 10

9. What does Nicopolis mean? Hint

Gigantic city

Victory city

Sister city

City of the Dead

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Question 10 of 10

10. "To robbery, murder and pillage they give the false name of Empire, and when they make a wilderness they call it peace." What man is credited with these words? Hint

Ovid

Suetonius

Tacitus

Livy

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Romans had a name for the first day of each month. What was it?

Answer: Kalends

The Kalends was the first day of the month, from which the word "calendar" is derived. If someone owed interest on a debt, it was due on Kalends.

2. All farming in the late Republic was done by slaves.

Answer: False

Both peasants and slaves worked on farms throughout the provinces, however, due to conquest, there were many more slaves on farms than there were free men.

3. How were most ancient Roman doctors regarded?

Answer: as cheaters, liars, and quacks

The medical profession was considered a low social position, one fit for slaves and non-Latins. As there were no formal educational requirements for the profession, anyone could call themselves a doctor.

4. What was most of the Romans' clothing made of?

Answer: wool

The Romans wore many different dress types for many different occasions. Since needles were not yet established, clothing was held together with pins.

5. What were the ideal Roman's four chief virtues?

Answer: piety, faith, gravity, and perseverance

Other virtues that Romans also valued were: wisdom, seemliness, fellowship, moral strength, logic, taste, intelligibility, word-usage, effort, clarity, pace of narrative, convincing character, morally improving sentiments, dignity, and consistency - just to name some other virtues they valued.

6. In ancient Rome, what was a thermopolium?

Answer: a food shop

A thermopolium was to the Romans what fast-food restaurants are to us today. They were commonly located on the corners where streets met and so they had L-shaped counters.

7. Which of the following did the Romans invent?

Answer: concrete

The concrete the Romans invented was a mixture of lime, water and a gritty substance, such as sand, producing a durable building substance. Sewers and paved streets were used by the Etruscans. Quinqueremes, ships in the Roman fleet, were derived directly from the Carthaginians.

8. What was the average lifespan for an ancient Roman citizen?

Answer: 30-40 years

The average lifespan for a citizen of ancient Rome was 30-40 years, for despite the Roman's advanced culture, their actual knowledge and treatment of disease was poor. A slave's life was much shorter due to hard work and sometimes brutal conditions. Images of skulls and skeletons often decorated dining areas, cusp and bowls. These images simply reminded the Romans "to seize the day".

9. What does Nicopolis mean?

Answer: Victory city

Nicopolis was the city Augustus had built in north-west Greece to commemorate the Battle of Actium, which was the battle in which he defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra.

10. "To robbery, murder and pillage they give the false name of Empire, and when they make a wilderness they call it peace." What man is credited with these words?

Answer: Tacitus

Tacitus is often referred to as one of Rome's greatest historians, drawing comparisons to the likes of Thucydides, the ancient Greeks' foremost historian.

Source: Author Rome14

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