Roman Civilization

CMS 206 /History 206

Ground Rules:

The test is closed book. You cannot use the web, class notes, textbooks, conversations with friends [or any source but your own memory].

You may take as long as you like to complete the test. It is designed to require one hour of thinking and writing time.

DO NOT EMAIL your exam to me. Print out your answers and put it in my box [208 Pettengill] by 5:00 pm on Friday of Exam Week [April 14, 2000].

Good luck and have a great break.

Identifies:

Imber's advice: Your answers should be relatively brief, but they should supply salient details. For persons: date, place of birth, public role/job (if any), writings and/or accomplishments and reason why this person is of interest to a student of Roman culture. For offices, magistracies or jobs: what was the jurisdiction of this job, what did the person who held it do, who was the typical holder of the job, why this job is of interest to a student of Roman culture. For events: when they happened, who were the participants, what was the issue and what was the resolution; why this event is of interest to a student of Roman culture.. For descriptive terms: rough translation, the idea or thing it describes; why this term is of interest to a student of Roman culture.

Identify 5 of the 10 terms listed below:

1. Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus
2. Cult of the Emperor
3. Draw a floor plan of a typical Roman House which a member of the Roman elite during the late Republic might own. Identify each room in it.
4. ius necandi
5. munera
6. Octavian
7. Consider the name Marcus Tullius Cicero. What is the praenomen, nomen and cognomen. What does each signify. What was Cicero's daughter's name? If he had a second daughter, what would her name be? What was Cicero's wife called?
8. fetiales
9. augury
10. sine manu marriage

Essay Questions:

Imber's advice: Supply background factual information; make reference to specific assigned readings and class discussions.

Answer 1 of the 5 questions below:

1. Consider the depictions of Arria, Murdia and Turia. How are they similar. What do these similarities tell us about Roman women? Consider Juvenal's Sixth Satire on women. What features characterize women according to Juvenal? What do these different representations of Roman women tell us about the way Roman's thought about women. Are these representations historically accurate? If not, what does the difference between the representation and the actual facts suggest?
   
   
2. Describe and discuss three ludi that Romans celebrated. How are they alike and different? What does the comparison tell us about the role of ludi in Roman public life?
   
   
3. When and why did the Roman Republic fall?
   
   
4. Why did the Romans like gladiatorial games?
   
   
5. Why did Romans persecute Christians? Why did the persecutions fail?