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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
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
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
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
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How was the naming of Rome decided? Ans: Romulus named it
after himself
Virtus Ans: manly excellence (strength, courage, discipline)
Pietas Ans: devotion to family, gods, and country
Dignitas Ans: reputation for worth (honor esteem)
Auctoritas Ans: power that comes from respect
How did Romulus first attract people to his city? Ans: declared
Rome an assylum
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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
the gate if they gave her all of their wrist ornaments, crushed by
the soldiers' shields
For what is Numa Pompilius known? Ans: established a
framework of roman state religion, established a vestal virgins
How did Numa give extra authority to his actions? Ans: visions of
talking to a nymph at night
What is the story of the Horatii and Curatii? Ans: two sets of
triplet brothers; during reign of Tullus Hostilius and war between
Rome and Alba Long, agreed that settlement of the dispute would
depend on the outcome of a battle between two families; one
horatii brother won the fight and killed a curiatii betrothed and
said "so perish any roman who mourns the enemy"
How did Rome change physically in the 7th and 6th centuries?
Ans: earthmoving project raises the level of the city by up to 6 ft;
forum was drained and paved; temples and stone atrium style
houses were built
What is our best source of information about the Etruscans? Ans:
their tombs
In addition to agriculture, what was the Etruscans major source of
wealth? Ans: minerals; tin and copper
© 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
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
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
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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
How was the naming of Rome decided? Ans: Romulus named it
after himself
Virtus Ans: manly excellence (strength, courage, discipline)
Pietas Ans: devotion to family, gods, and country
Dignitas Ans: reputation for worth (honor esteem)
Auctoritas Ans: power that comes from respect
How did Romulus first attract people to his city? Ans: declared
Rome an assylum
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
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
the gate if they gave her all of their wrist ornaments, crushed by
the soldiers' shields
For what is Numa Pompilius known? Ans: established a
framework of roman state religion, established a vestal virgins
How did Numa give extra authority to his actions? Ans: visions of
talking to a nymph at night
What is the story of the Horatii and Curatii? Ans: two sets of
triplet brothers; during reign of Tullus Hostilius and war between
Rome and Alba Long, agreed that settlement of the dispute would
depend on the outcome of a battle between two families; one
horatii brother won the fight and killed a curiatii betrothed and
said "so perish any roman who mourns the enemy"
How did Rome change physically in the 7th and 6th centuries?
Ans: earthmoving project raises the level of the city by up to 6 ft;
forum was drained and paved; temples and stone atrium style
houses were built
What is our best source of information about the Etruscans? Ans:
their tombs
In addition to agriculture, what was the Etruscans major source of
wealth? Ans: minerals; tin and copper
© 2025 All rights reserved
