HistoryAges 10+15 questions

Ancient Rome Quiz

Emperors, gladiators, roads and aqueducts: Ancient Rome left its mark across Europe, Britain included. These 15 questions run from the legend of Romulus and Remus to the fall of the Western Empire, with Roman numerals, Hadrian's Wall and the eruption of Vesuvius along the way. Every answer explains the fact behind it.

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The questions

  1. 1.According to legend, which twins founded Rome?

    • ARomulus and Remus
    • BCastor and Pollux
    • CApollo and Artemis
    • DCain and Abel
    Show the answer

    Romulus and Remus. The legend says the twins were raised by a she-wolf, and Romulus gave the city its name.

  2. 2.What was the main language of Ancient Rome?

    • AGreek
    • BItalian
    • CLatin
    • DEtruscan
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    Latin. Latin was the language of Rome; Italian, French, Spanish and others grew out of it.

  3. 3.What was the name of the huge amphitheatre in Rome where gladiators fought?

    • AThe Pantheon
    • BThe Colosseum
    • CThe Forum
    • DThe Circus Maximus
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    The Colosseum. The Colosseum was completed in AD 80 and could hold around 50,000 spectators.

  4. 4.What is XL in Roman numerals?

    • A60
    • B15
    • C110
    • D40
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    40. X is 10 and L is 50; a smaller numeral before a larger one is subtracted, so XL is 50 minus 10.

  5. 5.Ancient Rome was built on seven hills.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. The seven hills include the Palatine, Capitoline and Aventine, all on the east bank of the Tiber.

  6. 6.Which emperor ordered a wall built across northern Britain in AD 122?

    • AHadrian
    • BNero
    • CCaligula
    • DClaudius
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    Hadrian. Hadrian's Wall ran about 73 miles from coast to coast and marked the empire's north-west frontier.

  7. 7.What did the Romans call London?

    • AEboracum
    • BAquae Sulis
    • CLondinium
    • DCamulodunum
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    Londinium. Londinium was founded around AD 47 on the River Thames; Eboracum was York and Aquae Sulis was Bath.

  8. 8.Who was the Roman god of war?

    • AJupiter
    • BMars
    • CNeptune
    • DMercury
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    Mars. Mars was the god of war and one of Rome's most important gods; the month of March is named after him.

  9. 9.Which volcano buried the town of Pompeii in AD 79?

    • AEtna
    • BStromboli
    • CVulcano
    • DVesuvius
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    Vesuvius. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered Pompeii in ash, preserving much of the town to this day.

  10. 10.Julius Caesar was the first Roman emperor.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. Julius Caesar was a dictator; his adopted heir Augustus became the first emperor in 27 BC.

  11. 11.What was a main unit of the Roman army, of roughly 5,000 soldiers, called?

    • AA legion
    • BA phalanx
    • CA regiment
    • DA battalion
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    A legion. A Roman legion had around 5,000 soldiers, divided into smaller units called centuries.

  12. 12.What did Roman aqueducts carry into towns and cities?

    • AGrain
    • BWater
    • CSoldiers
    • DMessages
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    Water. Aqueducts used a gentle downhill slope to carry fresh water, often over many miles.

  13. 13.On which day of 44 BC was Julius Caesar assassinated, known as the Ides of March?

    • A1 March
    • B31 March
    • C15 March
    • D21 March
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    15 March. Caesar was stabbed by a group of senators on 15 March 44 BC.

  14. 14.Hannibal, who crossed the Alps with elephants to attack Rome, came from which city?

    • AAthens
    • BSparta
    • CAlexandria
    • DCarthage
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    Carthage. Hannibal led Carthage's army in the Second Punic War, crossing the Alps in 218 BC.

  15. 15.In which year is the Western Roman Empire traditionally said to have fallen?

    • AAD 410
    • BAD 476
    • CAD 800
    • DAD 1453
    Show the answer

    AD 476. In AD 476 the last western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was removed from power by Odoacer.

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