Lesson test: The first war with Carthage

Sign in

Libre University uses your GitHub account. Signing in is only needed to sit a final test, so the score is kept on your profile.

The first war with Carthage

1.[2p]
Polybius gives a quinquereme 300 rowers and 120 marines. How many men does a fleet of 100 quinqueremes need?

CorrectNot quite: 42000

2.[2p]
What was the corvus?

A boarding bridge that let Roman infantry fight on an enemy deck

Correct

A ram fitted below the waterline of Roman quinqueremes

The answer is: A boarding bridge that let Roman infantry fight on an enemy deck

A signal flag system for keeping a fleet in formation

The answer is: A boarding bridge that let Roman infantry fight on an enemy deck

A light scouting vessel copied from the Carthaginians

The answer is: A boarding bridge that let Roman infantry fight on an enemy deck

3.[1p]
For how many years did the first war with Carthage run, from 264 to 241 BC?

CorrectNot quite: 23

4.[2p]
Polybius says 364 ships sailed from Africa in 255 BC and 80 survived the storm. How many were lost?

CorrectNot quite: 284

5.[2p]
The fleet that won the battle of the Aegates Islands was paid for out of the public treasury.

True

The answer is: False

False

Correct

6.[3p]
Match each event to what happened.

Mylae, 260 BC
Ecnomus, 256 BC
Tunis, 255 BC
Aegates Islands, 241 BC

the defeat that forced Carthage to ask for terms
Rome's first victory at sea, won by boarding
the largest sea battle of antiquity by numbers engaged
the Roman invasion of Africa destroyed by a Spartan commander

Show the answer

Mylae, 260 BC: Rome's first victory at sea, won by boarding Ecnomus, 256 BC: the largest sea battle of antiquity by numbers engaged Tunis, 255 BC: the Roman invasion of Africa destroyed by a Spartan commander Aegates Islands, 241 BC: the defeat that forced Carthage to ask for terms

7.[3p]
Which factor best explains why Rome won?

It could absorb repeated catastrophes and rebuild, while Carthage could not

Correct

Its ships and crews were better than the Carthaginian ones

The answer is: It could absorb repeated catastrophes and rebuild, while Carthage could not

It had more money than Carthage throughout the war

The answer is: It could absorb repeated catastrophes and rebuild, while Carthage could not

Its generals held command for the whole war and learned from experience

The answer is: It could absorb repeated catastrophes and rebuild, while Carthage could not

8.[3p]
How did the government of Sicily differ from the Italian settlement?

Select all that apply

Sicily paid a tithe of its grain instead of supplying troops

Correct

Sicily was assigned to a Roman magistrate as his sphere of duty

Correct

Sicilian cities were given a route to Roman citizenship

The answer is: Sicily paid a tithe of its grain instead of supplying troops, Sicily was assigned to a Roman magistrate as his sphere of duty

Sicilian communities were bound to Rome by treaties of alliance only

The answer is: Sicily paid a tithe of its grain instead of supplying troops, Sicily was assigned to a Roman magistrate as his sphere of duty

9.[3p]
Why does Polybius's condemnation of the seizure of Sardinia in 238 BC carry unusual weight?

He wrote under Roman patronage and generally defends Rome, so the verdict runs against type

Correct

He was a Carthaginian citizen with first-hand knowledge of the negotiations

The answer is: He wrote under Roman patronage and generally defends Rome, so the verdict runs against type

He was present at the annexation as an officer in the Roman fleet

The answer is: He wrote under Roman patronage and generally defends Rome, so the verdict runs against type

He is the only ancient writer who mentions the episode at all

The answer is: He wrote under Roman patronage and generally defends Rome, so the verdict runs against type

1.[2p] Polybius gives a quinquereme 300 rowers and 120 marines. How many men does a fleet of 100 quinqueremes need?

2.[2p] What was the corvus?

3.[1p] For how many years did the first war with Carthage run, from 264 to 241 BC?

4.[2p] Polybius says 364 ships sailed from Africa in 255 BC and 80 survived the storm. How many were lost?

5.[2p] The fleet that won the battle of the Aegates Islands was paid for out of the public treasury.

6.[3p] Match each event to what happened.

7.[3p] Which factor best explains why Rome won?

8.[3p] How did the government of Sicily differ from the Italian settlement?

9.[3p] Why does Polybius's condemnation of the seizure of Sardinia in 238 BC carry unusual weight?

1.[2p]
Polybius gives a quinquereme 300 rowers and 120 marines. How many men does a fleet of 100 quinqueremes need?

2.[2p]
What was the corvus?

3.[1p]
For how many years did the first war with Carthage run, from 264 to 241 BC?

4.[2p]
Polybius says 364 ships sailed from Africa in 255 BC and 80 survived the storm. How many were lost?

5.[2p]
The fleet that won the battle of the Aegates Islands was paid for out of the public treasury.

6.[3p]
Match each event to what happened.

7.[3p]
Which factor best explains why Rome won?

8.[3p]
How did the government of Sicily differ from the Italian settlement?

9.[3p]
Why does Polybius's condemnation of the seizure of Sardinia in 238 BC carry unusual weight?