Exploring Ancient World Cultures
Quizzes on Ancient Rome
Roman Emperors
Ten Questions
1. Ruling from 161 to 180 CE, this adopted son of Antoninus Pius was more
of a philosopher than an emperor. He wrote a work called The
Meditations in which he laments the plight of humans as "puppets on
the strings of desire." Who was he?
2. This emperor, who ruled from 54 to 68 CE, was blamed for a fire that
destoryed half of Rome. To cover for himself, he blamed the Christians,
having many put to death, including the apostles Peter and Paul. Who was
he?
3. The first emperor to embrace Christianity, he moved the capital of the
empire from Rome to what is today known as Istanbul. In 313, he signed the
Edict of Milan putting an end to Christian persecution. Who was he?
4. Ruling from 361 to 363 CE, this emperor initiated a pagan revival in
the empire after Christianity had already been accepted. For this, he is
sometimes called "The Apostate." Who was he?
5. This lover of Greek culture was the adopted son of Emperor Trajan. He
ruled from 117 to 138 CE and built the Pantheon in Rome. Who was he?
6. This extravagant lover of ritual and architecture ruled the empire
from 284 to 305 CE. He is known for building a palace at Spilato in
Dalmatia that was intended for his retirement. Who was he?
7. This emperor, who ruled from 249 to 251 CE, was known for his
systematic and intense persecution of Christians. In 250, he required
citizens of the empire to carry papers certifying that they had
offered sacrifices to Roman deities before official witnesses. Who was he?
8. This proponent of Christian orthodoxy outlawed paganism in the empire,
but nevertheless ended up excommunicated from the Church by Ambrose of
Milan after he had thousands of Thessalonians put to death for killing a
barbarian military leader. He ruled from 379 to 395 CE. Who was he?
9. This notorius tyrrant who squandered state resources on orgies for the
Roman aristocracy ruled from 37 to 41 CE. He was responsible for
several acts of bloody violence and came to power after killing his
father. The judgment of history seems to be that he was worthless as an
emperor. Who was he?
10. This early emperor was responsible for the most glorious period in
Rome's history. Also known as Octavian, he ruled from 31 BCE to 14 CE and
instituted several public services in the empire, including police and
fire deparments. Who was he?