Once a temple dedicated to the old Roman gods, this famous domed structure was converted to a church after Constantine legalized Christianity.
What is the Pantheon?
100
Easy to defend natural borders, such as this vast geographical feature in northern Africa, helped maintain peace in the Roman Empire.
What is the Sahara Desert?
100
This economic phenomenon, wherein the value of money decreases and the price of goods and services increase, contributed to the empire's decline.
What is inflation?
100
Preferring to honor the traditions of the Republic, this leader did not wear a crown.
Who is Augustus?
100
The roof of the Pantheon.
What is the Rome Dome?
200
Under Caligula, the "bread and circus" crowd were entertained with up to 24 races a day in this famous arena.
What is the Circus Maximus?
200
This legal reform made all the laws in the empire the same.
What is standardization of the legal code?
200
Many weak or bad emperors felt the need to feed and entertain this group of people--to distract them from the real problems facing the empire.
Who are the "bread and circus" people?
200
He was responsible for establishing a border that ran between the North Sea and the Irish Sea.
Who is Hadrian?
200
When paper cash becomes worthless due to inflation.
What is funny money?
300
Featuring arches borrowed from the Etruscans, these structures transported fresh water from the nearby mountains to Rome.
What are aqueducts?
300
In 79 CE, the Roman town of Pompeii was buried in ash as a result of the eruption of this volcano.
What is Mt. Vesuvius?
300
Unlike the United States Constitution, the Roman government did not spell out who would be this--in the event of the emperor's death or demise.
Who is the successor (or heir)?
300
In 313 CE, the emperor Constantine issued this proclamation legalizing Christianity.
What is the Edict of Milan?
300
A courageous gladiator fighting to win his freedom.
What is a brave slave?
400
Its ruins located nearby the Colosseum, this building was the location where people (some free, some slaves) trained to be gladiators.
What is the Ludus Magnus?
400
This was established by Augustus in part for the purposes of determining how much taxes people should pay.
What is a census?
400
Under this theory of rule, Diocletian claimed that his power was authorized by the gods.
What is Rule by Divine Right?
400
Preferring it due to its wealth, this emperor was the first to rule from the eastern part of the Roman Empire.
Who is Diocletian?
400
The Circus Maximus, when chariots are going around the track.
What is the race place?
500
Statues were gathered from around the empire to adorn this Roman capital city.
What is Constantinople?
500
This legal concept, created during Pax Romana and a core element of the modern American justice system, places the burden of proof in a legal case on the prosecution--not the defense.
What is the concept of "innocent until proven guilty."
500
Although the Western Roman Empire is said to have fallen in 476 CE, the Eastern Roman Empire continued on under this new name.
What is the Byzantine Empire?
500
To the Romans, this body of water was "Mare Nostrum"--that is, "Our Sea."
What is the Mediterranean Sea? ("Our Sea")
500
Attila, if only he liked to laugh and joke around all the time, instead of killing people and invading places.