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Roman Science and Invention Trivia Quiz

Roman science did not provide the modern world with many innovations, but here are a few examples of what the Romans were able to accomplish during the republican and imperial periods. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
81,109

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
5

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
3 / 5

Plays
10024

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: Guest 118 (4/5), DeepHistory (4/5), Guest 99 (3/5).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 5

1. The Tepula, Marcia, Alsietina and Anio Novus are names for which important construct of the Roman age? Hint

Colosseums

Aqueducts

Arches

Guardwalls

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Question 2 of 5

2. The Romans used the abacus for counting purposes. What were the beads running along the wires of an abacus called? Hint

Additae

Ferculi

Calculi

Computae

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Question 3 of 5

3. The Romans employed the zero in their system of numbers.

True

False

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Question 4 of 5

4. The Romans used 'cranes' for building purposes.

True

False

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Question 5 of 5

5. The early calendar of the Romans was a lunar calendar that contained 304 days. Which month was the first on this less than accurate early calendar? Hint

Januarius

Februarius

Junius

Martius

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 30 2024 : Guest 118: 4/5
Apr 22 2024 : DeepHistory: 4/5
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 99: 3/5
Apr 08 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 5/5
Mar 31 2024 : Guest 174: 4/5
Mar 30 2024 : Guest 24: 4/5
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 93: 3/5
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 88: 4/5
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 97: 2/5

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Tepula, Marcia, Alsietina and Anio Novus are names for which important construct of the Roman age?

Answer: Aqueducts

The system of Roman aqueducts had a capacity to supply the city with 300 million gallons of water daily...one of the great engineering
accomplishments of Roman times to be sure!

2. The Romans used the abacus for counting purposes. What were the beads running along the wires of an abacus called?

Answer: Calculi

From whence we get the modern word 'calculate'.

3. The Romans employed the zero in their system of numbers.

Answer: False

Amazingly, the concept of zero did not reach Europe until the middle ages, via the Arabs. The Arabs are said to have received the concept of zero via Persia, via India. The Mayans also independently developed the concept of zero in their mathematical system.

4. The Romans used 'cranes' for building purposes.

Answer: True

Cranes were worked by treadmills employing human labor, and functioned with a system of pulleys. Technology on these devices was not improved for over a thousand years, until the Dutch finally made some interesting innovations.

5. The early calendar of the Romans was a lunar calendar that contained 304 days. Which month was the first on this less than accurate early calendar?

Answer: Martius

Martius later became 'March' in the Julian calendar. The months in order for the pre-Julian calendar were: Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quinctilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, December, Januarius and Februarius. During the per-Julian calendar period, the remaining days of the year (61 in all!) were unnamed, and were simply called 'intercalans'.

The later 355 day calendar with January (Iannarils) and February (Februarias) was established during the reign of Numa Pompilius. The remaining days were called 'Intercalans' or 'Mercedonius'. The 355 day calendar was still quite complicated, and during the rule of Julius Caesar the calendar that we label Julian was developed by Sosigenes, and included 365 and occasional leap years.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

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