Question

state building: roman empire initiatives and inventions; and the participants would 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. another historian might best challenge beard’s argument by showing that choose 1 answer: a the power of roman emperors was not really absolute b the same political offices that existed under augustus still existed at the end of the second century ce c there were no “events, battles, assassinations, political standoffs, new initiatives and inventions” d social structures in the first century ce were very different than in the second century ce

Explanation:

Beard's argument is that there was no fundamental change in Roman politics, empire, or society from the end of the first century BCE to the end of the second century CE. To challenge this, a historian would need to show a fundamental change.

• Option A: Discussing emperor's power not being absolute doesn't directly challenge the lack of fundamental change in structure.
• Option B: Saying the same political offices existed supports Beard's argument, not challenges it.
• Option C: Claiming no events etc. also supports the idea of no change.
• Option D: Showing social structures in the first century CE were very different from the second century CE shows a fundamental change in society, which challenges Beard's argument.

Answer:

D. social structures in the first century CE were very different than in the second century CE