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CLST 2102 Exam 1 Questions and Correct
Answers
Why are our literary sources for the history of Rome during the
monarchy problematic? Ans: "an old story with a few facts" and
unreliable, distorted facts due to oral tradition, drinking songs,
patriotism, personal agenda, and fictional gaps; written many
centuries after the fact, literary genre--embellishing A LOT
What made Aeneas appealing as one of the founders of the
Romans? Ans: epic hero from Trojan war and Pietas; devotion to
family, gods, and country
Who was Aeneas' divine parent? Ans: goddess Venus
What was Aeneas' most important quality and what famous image
captured that? Ans: Divine mission and pietas and vergil; Pietas:
devotion to family, gods, and country; Aeneas Flees Burning Troy--
carrying his son & father out during Troy's fall
What is the traditional date (year only) for the founding of Rome?
Ans: 753 BC
Who was the divine parent of Romulus and Remus? Ans: goddess
Mars
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, 2 | Page
What threat did Romulus and Remus survive as infants, and how
did they survive it? Ans: Amulius ordered them exposed to the
Tiber river; divine aid in the form of a shewolf
How was the naming of Rome decided? Ans: Romulus named it
after himself; By having the twins stand on two different hills &
whichever one spotted the most vultures got to name it
Hill People Ans: Tend to be tribal with less complex political
structure
• Traditional lifestyle
• Prefer independence over collectivity
• Will surrender some independence to be part of a larger
community
• Loose confederations
• Tend to move around
Tiber Ans: largest river in peninsular Italy
Virtus Ans: manly excellence (strength, courage, discipline)
Pietas Ans: devotion to family, gods, and country
Dignitas Ans: reputation for worth (honor esteem)
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, 3 | Page
Auctoritas Ans: power that comes from respect
How did Romulus first attract people to his city? Ans: declared
Rome an assylum
What did he do to ensure a permanent population? Ans: Rape of
Sabines
How was the war that followed stopped? Ans: By the women
How does the term "river city" relate to the development of Rome?
Ans: rome became wealthy through river trade; greater wealth
means greater population and communication with more civilized
places
What river flows through Rome? Ans: Tiber River
What type of society seems to have developed in the 9th and 8th
centuries? Ans: Strong family groups (gentes) centered around
important, warrior males
What is Tarpeia's story? Ans: Father was the guard of the citadel
at Rome, often visited the public well outside the gates and talked
with the sabine soldiers, she offered to betray her city and open
the gate if they gave her all of their wrist ornaments, crushed by
the soldiers' shields
© 2025 All rights reserved
CLST 2102 Exam 1 Questions and Correct
Answers
Why are our literary sources for the history of Rome during the
monarchy problematic? Ans: "an old story with a few facts" and
unreliable, distorted facts due to oral tradition, drinking songs,
patriotism, personal agenda, and fictional gaps; written many
centuries after the fact, literary genre--embellishing A LOT
What made Aeneas appealing as one of the founders of the
Romans? Ans: epic hero from Trojan war and Pietas; devotion to
family, gods, and country
Who was Aeneas' divine parent? Ans: goddess Venus
What was Aeneas' most important quality and what famous image
captured that? Ans: Divine mission and pietas and vergil; Pietas:
devotion to family, gods, and country; Aeneas Flees Burning Troy--
carrying his son & father out during Troy's fall
What is the traditional date (year only) for the founding of Rome?
Ans: 753 BC
Who was the divine parent of Romulus and Remus? Ans: goddess
Mars
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What threat did Romulus and Remus survive as infants, and how
did they survive it? Ans: Amulius ordered them exposed to the
Tiber river; divine aid in the form of a shewolf
How was the naming of Rome decided? Ans: Romulus named it
after himself; By having the twins stand on two different hills &
whichever one spotted the most vultures got to name it
Hill People Ans: Tend to be tribal with less complex political
structure
• Traditional lifestyle
• Prefer independence over collectivity
• Will surrender some independence to be part of a larger
community
• Loose confederations
• Tend to move around
Tiber Ans: largest river in peninsular Italy
Virtus Ans: manly excellence (strength, courage, discipline)
Pietas Ans: devotion to family, gods, and country
Dignitas Ans: reputation for worth (honor esteem)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Auctoritas Ans: power that comes from respect
How did Romulus first attract people to his city? Ans: declared
Rome an assylum
What did he do to ensure a permanent population? Ans: Rape of
Sabines
How was the war that followed stopped? Ans: By the women
How does the term "river city" relate to the development of Rome?
Ans: rome became wealthy through river trade; greater wealth
means greater population and communication with more civilized
places
What river flows through Rome? Ans: Tiber River
What type of society seems to have developed in the 9th and 8th
centuries? Ans: Strong family groups (gentes) centered around
important, warrior males
What is Tarpeia's story? Ans: Father was the guard of the citadel
at Rome, often visited the public well outside the gates and talked
with the sabine soldiers, she offered to betray her city and open
the gate if they gave her all of their wrist ornaments, crushed by
the soldiers' shields
© 2025 All rights reserved
