Question

state building: roman empire
have have all kinds of exciting stories to tell and disputes to argue. but unlike the story of the development of the republic and the growth of imperial power, which revolutionised almost every aspect of the world of rome, there was no fundamental change in the structure of roman politics, empire, or society between the end of the first century bce and the end of the second century ce.

from mary beard, spqr: a history of ancient rome (new york: liveright publishing corporation, 2015), 335-336.

what is beard’s claim about how the creation of the roman empire affected continuity and change in rome?

choose 1 answer:

a) both the late republic and the early empire were periods of revolutionary political and social change

b) the late republic was a period of political and social stability; the early empire was a period of revolutionary political and social change

c) the late republic was a period of revolutionary political and social change; the early empire was a period of political and social stability

d) both the late republic and early empire were periods of political and social stability

Explanation:

To determine Beard's claim, we analyze the text: "the story of the development of the Republic and the growth of imperial power, which revolutionised almost every aspect of the world of Rome" (indicating the late Republic had revolutionary change) and "there was no fundamental change in the structure of Roman politics, empire, or society between the end of the first century BCE and the end of the second century CE" (indicating the early empire had stability). Now we evaluate the options:

• Option A: Claims both were revolutionary, but the empire had stability. Eliminate.
• Option B: Says Republic was stable (contradicts "revolutionised") and empire was revolutionary (contradicts "no fundamental change"). Eliminate.
• Option C: Matches the analysis: Republic was revolutionary, empire was stable.
• Option D: Claims both were stable, but Republic was revolutionary. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. The late Republic was a period of revolutionary political and social change; the early empire was a period of political and social stability