OCR GCSE Ancient History – Rome
Questions & Answers
Give the name and dates of Rome's first king - ANSWERSRomulus, 753-716
Give the name and dates of Rome's second king - ANSWERSNuma Pompilius, 715-673
Give the name and dates of Rome's third king - ANSWERSTullus Hostilius, 673-642
Give the names and dates of Rome's fourth king - ANSWERSAncus Marcius, 642-616
Give the names and dates of Rome's fifth king (1st Etruscan king) - ANSWERSLucius
Tarquinius Priscus, 616-579
Give the names and dates of Rome's sixth king (2nd Etruscan king) -
ANSWERSServius Tullius, 578-535
Give the names and dates of Rome's seventh and final king (3rd Etruscan king) -
ANSWERSLucius Tarquinius Superbus, 535-509
In what year was the republic established? - ANSWERS509
In what year did the Roman-Etruscan (Porsennan) Wars begin? - ANSWERSc. 508
In what year was the role of dictator created? - ANSWERS501
In what year was the battle of Lake Regilius and the defeat of Superbus? - ANSWERSc.
496
In what year was the First Secession? - ANSWERS494
In what year was the Volero uprising? - ANSWERS471
Give the dates of the three-year period in which both Decemvirates and the second
secession started and ended - ANSWERS451-449
How does Livy describe the accounts of history which he uses? What does he say
about his methodology? - ANSWERS"mainly poetic tales, rather than reliable records of
historical events"
He had "no intention of challenging these tales", because the "ancients must be allowed
to make the foundation of their city ... more impressive by adding the divine to human
history"
,Livy used many sources. Who, however, was likely his most influential source? -
ANSWERSFabius Pictor, a Roman historian writing at the end of the 3rd century,
drawing together all available sources to create a timeline of Roman history.
What was Livy's philosophy? - ANSWERSStoicism (virtue is based on gaining
knowledge)
What was Dionysus of Halicarnassus'saim? - ANSWERSTo emulate Herodotus, by
demonstrating the influence of Greek ideas
Why did early Greek and later Roman authors create Aeneas? - ANSWERSTo link the
foundation of Rome with Homer's Iliad
Describe Aeneas' marriage and the founding of the Latins - ANSWERSAeneas and his
army were Trojan refugees. They arrived in Italy, stealing food to survive. King Latinus
tried to drive him out of Italy, but formed a strong friendship with him after they fought
together against the Etruscans. Aeneas married his daughter, Lavinia, and founded a
city called Lavinium. Over time, the Trojan Lavinium united with local tribes from Latium,
creating a group of people known as the Latins.
Who founded Alba Longa? What were his descendants known as? -
ANSWERSAscanius, the son of Aeneas,
The Silvan Kings
When did Aeneas supposedly found Lavinium? When was it actually founded and by
what? - ANSWERS12th Century, the 10th-7th Century as part of the spread of the
Villanovan civilisation
Describe the legend of Romulus and Remus. - ANSWERSRomulus's grandfather, the
Silvan king Numitor of Alba Longa, was ousted from power by his brother, Amulius.
Amulius murdered Numitor's son (Romulus's uncle) and made his daughter Rhea
(Romulus's mother) a Vestal Virgin to prevent her having children.
Rhea Silvia gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus anyway. To avoid execution,
she told Amulius that the god Mars had made her pregnant. Amulius imprisoned her
and ordered the twins be drowned in the Tiber. Discovered by a she-wolf, they were
nursed until a shepherd discovered them.
The shepherd Faustulus and his wife Larentia suspected they were royalty, but raised
them as their own. A gang of robbers ambushed them, Remus was captured and given
to Amulius but Romulus escaped. Amulius worked out who Remus was, but Romulus
organised an army, killed Amulius, restored Numitor to the throne, and freed Remus.
What did Romans claim Romulus created? - ANSWERSAsylum, City walls for saftey,
political representation with the patron-client system, the Senate
, Why is the story of Romulus inaccurate? - ANSWERSRome was likely founded in the
13th-12th century, whereas the Roman historians give the date of 21st April 753,
chosen for religious reasons.
Only four kings between 753-617 is very unlikely.
Roman historians say no systems were removed, with the Republic just adding to
Romulus' system. This is extremely unlikely.
With which king does Romulus agree to share power? - ANSWERSThe Sabine king
Tatius
Describe Romulus's religious initiatives - ANSWERSLivy: Adopted the customs of local
cities, e.g. AL
Dionysus: Assessed Greek practices and chose the best
Livy: Built a temple to Jupiter to commemorate military success, was influenced by the
Greek legend of Heracles, and transformed into a god with his disappearance
Describe Romulus's military initiatives - ANSWERSMilitary Tribunes organised the call
to arms for each tribe
Centurions commanded each unit, called a century, made of 60-100 men
Celeres were the most loyal soldiers, and acted as the bodyguard for Romulus. They
were drawn from the equites class
Describe the rape of the Sabine women - ANSWERSRomulus needed women for his
new city. He appealed to his neighbours to help him arrange marriages between his
leading men and their women. They all refused. He organised a festival with games,
inviting the Sabines. During it, Romans abducted many young Sabine women, raping
them. Eventually, the women settled. The Sabine king, Titus Tatius, spent 9 months
making allies and preparing for war, just enough time for the Sabine women to have
children. One of his allies, the city of Caenina, did not wait and plundered the outskirts
of Rome. Romulus massacred their army, marching into Caenina. Romulus began the
tradition of spoila opima, building the temple of Jupiter Feretrius.
The Sabines invaded and took much of Rome. Rome's leading general, Hostius
Hostilius, was murdered and there was panic. Romulus prayed to Jupiter and retook the
citidael. The Sabine women entered the battlefield and pleaded for the fighting to stop (if
Rome wins, orphans, if Sabines win, widows). Romulus agreed to share power with
Tatius, building the Forum to cement it.
