DBQ 1: The Ancient Roman Civilization 7th Grade

Name ________________________________________________ Date ________________

DBQ : The Ancient Roman Civilization- (The total marks available is 50- so each mark is worth 2%)

Instructions- You must answer all the questions in each section

1. Answer Section A- Knowledge and Understanding questions
2. Answer Section B- Document(sources) based questions
3. Answer Section C- Write a well-organized 4-paragraph essay

Section A: Knowledge and Understanding. (24 marks)

1. Define the following words: (2 marks per definition=16 marks)

A) Empire
B) Plebeian
C) Partrician
D) Senate
E) Consul
F) Republic
G) Assembly
H) Dictator

2. Why was Julius Caesar assassinated? (1 mark)

3. Give two reasons why Rome wanted to expand (2 marks)

4. Give three reasons why the Roman army was successful? (3 marks)

5. Explain how bias can be useful to Historians. (2 marks)

Section B: DBQ- SOURCE SKILLS- (14 marks)

Read the source carefully. Highlight important information, then answer the question below the source.
Source 1.
“Our tyrant deserved his death for having made an exception of the one thing that was the blackest crime of all . . .
Behold, here you have a man [Caesar] who was ambitious to be king of the Roman People and master of the whole
world; and he achieved it! The man who maintains that such an ambition is morally right is a madman, for he justifies
the destruction of law and liberty . . .
Cicero 43 BC A Roman Philosopher and Patrician

Question: According to the above source, explain why Julius Caesar was disliked by the Senate. Use quotes from
source 1 to explain your point. (3 marks)

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 DBQ 1: The Ancient Roman Civilization 7th Grade

Name ________________________________________________ Date ________________

Source 2.
Caesar was ready to return home to Rome from war (before he was in power), he was told by the Roman Senate
not to show up with his army. They told him he was only allowed to return to Rome as a private citizen, not as a
general or ruler. Why? Julius Caesar was beginning to appear unstoppable. The Rubicon is a river that back then
ran as a border between Gaul and Italy. If Caesar disobeyed the Senate’s mandate by crossing the river with his
army, he would essentially be declaring war against Rome itself! What do you think he did? Historians say that
Caesar crossed the water without a second thought. Within minutes, he was well on his way toward Rome with the
ambition of taking complete control of it. To this day, the expression “crossing the Rubicon” refers to someone
making a strong decision that can’t be reversed.
Modern day History book

Question:
What does this source tell us about Julius Caesar? Why might people have feared him? What does crossing the
Rubicon mean? (3 marks)

Source 3
The Senate rose in respect for his position when they saw [Caesar] entering. Those who were to have part in the
plot stood near him . . . All quickly [uncovered] their daggers and rushed at him . . . Caesar rose to defend himself
and in the uproar Casca shouted out in Greek to his brother. The brother heard him and drove his sword into the
ribs. After a moment, Cassius made a slash at his face, and Brutus pierced him in the side . . . They were just like
men doing battle against him. Under the mass of wounds, he fell at the foot of Pompey’s statue. Everyone wanted to
seem to have had some part in the murder, and there was not one of them who failed to strike his body as it lay
there, until, wounded thirty-five times, he breathed his last breath
Nicolaus of Damascus, Book “Life of Caesar” 14 AD (a Greek historian)

Question:
What tone (Happy or sad) is this written in? What type of source is this? Can we trust this source (is it biased)? Give
a reason for your answer. (3 marks)

Source 4
A [madness] fell upon certain men through jealousy of Caesar’s [popularity] and hatred of his [promotion] . . .
Democracy, indeed, has a fair-appearing name and conveys the impression of bringing equal rights to all through
equal laws, but its results [are not the same.] Monarchy, on the [other hand], has an unpleasant sound, but is a most
practical form of government to live under. For it is easier to find a single excellent man, than many of them . . .”
Cassius Dio, Book: “Roman History” AD 200 (Roman Consul & Historian)

Question:
How does this man feel about the murder? How can you tell? (quote the source to support your answer) (2 marks)

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 DBQ 1: The Ancient Roman Civilization 7th Grade

Name ________________________________________________ Date ________________

Source 5.
“He died in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and was among the gods, not only by a formal decree [they declared
Caesar a God after he died], but also in the conviction of the common people. For at the honorary games which his
heir Augustus gave in honor of his [death], a comet shone for seven days and was believed to be the soul of Caesar,
who had been taken to heaven”
Suetonius, Book “Life of Julius Caesar” (Roman Historian) 140 AD

Question:
What does this suggest about people’ attitude towards Caesar death? (1 mark)
Is this source reliable? Why? (2 marks)

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 DBQ 1: The Ancient Roman Civilization 7th Grade

Name ________________________________________________ Date ________________

Section C- Essay question using PEEL paragraphs (12 marks)

Write a well-organized 4-paragraph essay proving/disproving the statement. The essay needs to include an
introduction, 2 main paragraphs and a conclusion. You need to write a minimum of 6 lines for each paragraph.

Question- “Julius Caesar deserved to be assassinated” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Instructions for section C

 The essay should be logically presented and must include information from
 1) The 5 sources in section B of this synthesis performance and 2) Your own knowledge that you learnt in
class or in your research outside History lessons.
  Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence known as a Point(P).
 You should write using PEEL paragraphs. P=point, E=Explain, E=examples(evidence), L=Link.

The following is the essay rubric for the section C essay question- Total =12 marks

1. STRUCTURE-INTRODUCTION (2 marks)
Students must state A ) The main idea of the question and B) Introduce what the essay will be about.
Level 0- Neither of the aims A) or B) of the essay are covered in the introduction (0 marks)
Level 1 – The main idea is stated but somewhat unclear - Topic sentences are introduced with moderate clarity
(1 mark)
Level 2 – The main idea is precisely stated - Topic sentences are clearly introduced (2 marks)

2. EXPLANATION (4 marks)
Arguments are related to Julius Caesar deserving and not deserving to be assassinated .
Level 1 - Arguments are unrelated (0 marks)
Level 2 - Arguments are unclear and nor logically related to the main idea (1 mark)
Level 3 - Arguments are usually clear and/or logically related to the main idea (2-3 marks)
Level 4 - Arguments are quite clear and logically related to the main idea (4 marks)

3. EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES (4 marks) -

Relevant supporting evidence - Sufficient quantity of facts used
Level 1 - Limited support of points, evidence mostly irrelevant - Limited or unrelated facts used (1 mark)
Level 2 - Some points have been supported, some evidence not relevant - Insufficient or missing some facts
(2 marks)
Level 3 - Most points have been supported with relevant evidence - Sufficient use of facts (3 marks)
Level 4 - Each point has been supported with relevant evidence (4 marks)

4. STRUCTURE-CONCLUSION (2 marks)
Summarizes main idea(s) - Summarizes topic sentences
Level 0- Neither the main idea or topic sentences are summarized (0 marks)
Level 1 – The main idea is summarized but somewhat unclear - Topic sentences are summarized but unclear (1
mark)
Level 2 - The main idea is clearly summarized - Topic sentences are clearly summarized (2 marks)

END ~ In the words of Julius Caesar “Veni, vidi, vici” which translates “I came, I saw, I conquered.” I really hope
you conquer this test. All the best! ~ Mr Adrian 