Important Questions For Class 11 History Chapter 2 An Empire Across Three Continents
Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 2 An Empire Across Three Continents
An Empire Across Three Continents is Chapter 2 of the Class 11 History book Themes in World History, published by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training). The chapter studies the Roman Empire, which stretched across Europe, North Africa and West Asia. It explains how the empire was governed, how its cities, roads and trade worked, how families and slaves lived, and how the empire changed under rulers such as Augustus, Diocletian, Constantine and Justinian.
These Class 11 History Chapter 2 important questions and answers cover 5-mark long answer questions and 1-mark multiple choice questions, along with the pictures and source passages used in the chapter. They help students revise for exams, help parents check preparation at home, and give teachers ready material for class practice. A free printable PDF of the complete set is also available for download.
Important Questions For Class 11 History Chapter 2 An Empire Across Three Continents
An Empire Across Three Continents
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An Empire Across Three Continents
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Question 1. Under Justinian, the Eastern Roman Empire, covering the Balkans and the Levant, reached its peak, as it expanded to cover much of North Africa and Italy. Do you think that Justinian's achievements could be seen only in the context of expansionism?
Answer: No. The Roman emperor Justinian was well known for enacting renowned laws in addition to his role in territorial expansion.
He collected and arranged all the existing Roman laws into a common legal system, known as the Justinian Code (Corpus Juris Civilis).
The basic principles of the Roman legal system were:
1. All men had equal rights according to law.
2. Everyone, irrespective of their social status, was equal in the eyes of the law.
3. No one could be punished without a proper and fair trial in a court of law.
Question 2. Within the Roman Empire, water was used not only for its public baths, but also to power its machines used in its various industries. Can you describe the system used to supply water for these necessary activities?
Answer: When the Romans needed more water for a large town or city but could not find it where it was needed, they built a channel to carry water from afar to its destination.
These channels, made of stone and concrete, are known as aqueducts.
One Roman emperor, Claudius, even had a tunnel built through the hills to carry water from a lake into Rome.
These aqueducts carried fresh water from mountain lakes to the cities, over bridges which were built across rivers and valleys to hold up the aqueducts.
Question 3. The Roman Empire had a vast commercial system, as many items produced within the region were transported across long distances, via both land and sea. In this context, can you elaborate on the role of roads within the Roman Empire?
Answer: The Romans had a unique road system. It was the only one of its kind in the world.
An extraordinary network of roads linked vast territories within the Roman Empire.
Due to these roads, trade and travel within the empire were excellent. Armies could march rapidly and merchants could transport goods over long distances.
The routes worked out by the ancient Romans are still followed in Britain and many other parts of Europe.
Question 4. The first two centuries of the Roman Empire were deemed to be relatively peaceful, as further expansionism was stopped and internal strife was virtually non-existent. Can you discuss the impact of this period on Roman culture?
Answer: The prolonged period of peace from 27 BCE to 193 CE is known as the Pax Romana. The term 'Pax' means peace in Latin.
Around this time, as the expansion of the already vast empire stopped, no other empire or military power was able to match its military might.
Roman citizens were therefore able to concentrate on commerce, education, the arts and literature.
The Romans borrowed ideas and skills from others, especially the Greeks.
Architects, craftsmen, writers and artists within the empire were highly patronised.
Question 5. Under Augustus, the Roman Republic, which had existed since 509 BCE, was replaced by a monarchy. Why do you think the republican system was ended for monarchical rule?
Answer: Though it lasted for almost half a millennium, the Roman Republic, which was essentially an oligarchy, faced both internal and external crises.
Externally, the Roman Republic fought many groups during its expansionist efforts, first within Italy, and then while expanding to cover much of the Mediterranean.
Internally, the upper and lower classes clashed with each other over the issue of the latter's influence in the political sphere.
These internal tensions culminated in civil wars, further aggravated by the rise of popular generals who tried to exert their influence in a dictatorial manner.
After the last of these civil wars ended, the Senate handed over power to the emperor to ensure political stability over a vast realm.
Question 6. For which of the following reasons was slave labour not extensively used on public works at Rome?
(a) Public works required huge labour and slaves were not in large numbers.
(b) Owners did not provide slaves for public works.
(c) The use of slaves was banned in Rome.
(d) Slave labour was expensive.
Answer: (d) Slave labour was expensive.
Free labour was extensively used on public works in Rome because the extensive use of slave labour was too expensive. Unlike hired workers, slaves had to be fed and maintained throughout the year, which increased the cost of holding this kind of labour.
Question 7. In the Roman concept of the family:
(a) adult sons lived with their families.
(b) the wife transferred her property to her husband.
(c) the daughter retained full rights to the property of her natal family.
(d) slaves were included in the family.
Answer: (d) slaves were included in the family.
Roman society was made up of widespread nuclear families. Adult sons did not live with their families. Slaves were included in the family. The typical form of marriage was one where the wife did not transfer her property to the husband but retained full rights to the property of her natal family.
Question 8. Which of the following was kept in Dressel 20 containers?
(a) Wine
(b) Olive oil
(c) Water
(d) Salt
Answer: (b) Olive oil
In the Roman period, Spanish olive oil was carried in a container called Dressel 20. The container got its name from the archaeologist who first established its form. Dressel 20 containers are widely scattered across sites in the Mediterranean region, which suggests that Spanish olive oil circulated widely.
Question 9. Which of the following are INCORRECT pairs of language and region?
1. Coptic – Spain
2. Punic – North Africa
3. Celtic – Egypt
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
The correct pairs of language and region are: Coptic – Egypt; Punic – North Africa; Celtic – Spain.
Question 10. In the above image, there is a statue of the first Roman emperor. He established the regime in 27 BCE and called it the 'Principate'. The ruler is:
(a) Augustus
(b) Diocletian
(c) Justinian
(d) Constantine
Answer: (a) Augustus
The statue shown in the image is of Augustus. He was the sole ruler and the only real source of authority in the Roman Empire, but the fiction was kept alive that he was actually only the 'leading citizen' (Princeps), not the absolute ruler.
Question 11. Why was there a rapid expansion of the governing classes during the fourth century in the Roman Empire?
(a) Introduction of a new pure gold coin
(b) Creation of a second capital in Constantinople
(c) Augustine becoming the bishop of Hippo
(d) Conversion of Constantine to Christianity
Answer: (b) Creation of a second capital in Constantinople
After the creation of a second capital at Constantinople, a new senate was formed for the new capital and new senators emerged in the empire. Therefore, the fourth century was a period of rapid expansion for the governing classes.
Question 12. Which of the following is NOT one of the steps that Diocletian took to consolidate the 'cut back'?
(a) Fortification of the frontiers
(b) Reorganisation of provincial boundaries
(c) Separation of civilian and military functions
(d) Decreasing the power of the military commanders
Answer: (d) Decreasing the power of the military commanders
The 'cut back' refers to the process in which the Roman emperor Diocletian abandoned territories with little strategic or economic value when he saw that the empire was over-expanded. To strengthen it, Diocletian also fortified the frontiers, reorganised provincial boundaries, separated civilian from military functions and granted greater autonomy to the military commanders (duces).
Question 13. If a place is an urban centre in the Roman Empire, which of the following characteristics would be present in it?
1. One or more small cities under its jurisdiction
2. A magistrate
3. A city council
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
A Roman city was an urban centre with its own magistrates, city council and one or more villages that were under its jurisdiction and paid taxes. One city could not be under the jurisdiction of another city.
Question 14. How was the Senate a medium to judge a Roman emperor?
(a) A good emperor behaved well with senators, but bad emperors did not.
(b) A good emperor considered himself equal to senators, while bad emperors placed themselves above them.
(c) A good emperor kept Italians out of the Senate while bad emperors did not.
(d) A good emperor kept himself away from the affairs of the Senate but bad emperors did not.
Answer: (a) A good emperor behaved well with senators, but bad emperors did not.
Roman emperors were judged by how they behaved towards the Senate. The worst emperors were hostile to the senatorial class, behaving with suspicion, brutality and violence.
Question 15. On the Treatment of Slaves
'Soon afterwards the City Prefect, Lucius Pedanius Secundus, was murdered by one of his slaves. After the murder, ancient custom required that every slave residing under the same roof must be executed. But a crowd gathered, eager to save so many innocent lives; and rioting began. The senate-house was besieged. Inside, there was feeling against excessive severity, but the majority opposed any change (…) [The senators] favouring execution prevailed. However, great crowds ready with stones and torches prevented the order from being carried out. Nero rebuked the population by edict, and lined with troops the whole route along which those condemned were taken for execution.' – Tacitus (55–117), historian of the early empire.
What could be the most likely reason for the execution of all slaves of the same household for the crime of one, despite fierce public opposition?
(a) To maintain senatorial dominance
(b) To continue prevalent customs
(c) To deter future public protests
(d) To prevent the scope of slave revolts
Answer: (d) To prevent the scope of slave revolts
According to Roman custom, the lives of slaves were entirely dependent on their masters. The assassination of an official by his own slave was a shocking event for the senators. To instil fear in the minds of slaves from other households, discourage them from harming their masters, and pre-empt any potential slave revolts, it was deemed necessary to execute all slaves belonging to the assassinated official.
Related Study Material on Extramarks
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 1
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 3
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 4
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 5
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 6
- Important Questions for Class 11 History Chapter 7