How Rome went from republic to empire

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Steps from republic to empire

   Year	What happened
   49 BCE	Julius Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River into Italy, starting a civil war
   46 BCE	the Senate named Caesar dictator for 10 years
   44 BCE	Caesar was named dictator for life; on March 15, a group of senators assassinated him
   31 BCE	Octavian, Caesar's adopted heir, defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium
   27 BCE	the Senate gave Octavian the name Augustus; he became Rome's first emperor

   Below the chart: a dictator was given full power in an emergency, usually for a short time.

2. 1.

   What did Caesar do in 49 BCE, Bo asks?

   • Became dictator for life
   • Lost to Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium
   • Took the name Augustus
   • Crossed the Rubicon and began a civil war
3. 2.

   Who assassinated Caesar in 44 BCE, Esme asks?

   • A group of senators
   • Octavian's army
   • Cleopatra's navy
   • The people of Italy
4. 3.

   Whom did Octavian defeat at Actium in 31 BCE, Jun asks?

   • The Senate
   • Mark Antony and Cleopatra
   • Julius Caesar
   • The consuls of the year 509 BCE
5. 4.

   Caesar was named dictator for life. Why might senators see that as a threat, Kira asks?

   • It gave more power to the Senate
   • It made two consuls instead of just one
   • It ended the civil war in 49 BCE
   • It gave one man power like a king's
6. 5.

   What was one effect of Caesar crossing the Rubicon with his army, Luz asks?

   • Peace began at once
   • Augustus was born
   • The Republic grew stronger
   • A civil war began
7. 6.

   Which causes together help explain why the Republic ended, Milo asks?

   • Civil war, a dictator, and Octavian's win
   • The Rubicon by itself
   • A new king who arrived from Persia's lands
   • Actium by itself
8. 7.

   Which came first, Actium or Caesar's assassination, Noah asks?

   • Actium: 31 is a smaller number, so earlier
   • Neither: both are CE
   • Caesar's assassination, in 44 BCE
   • Both in the same year
9. 8.

   How many years passed from the Rubicon in 49 BCE to Augustus in 27 BCE, Pia asks?

   • 76 years
   • 22 years
   • 220 years
   • 2 years
10. 9.

    Which step came last before Rome had an emperor, Ren asks?

    • The 10-year dictatorship, in 46 BCE
    • The Republic's start, in 509 BCE
    • Actium, in 31 BCE
    • The Rubicon, in 49 BCE
11. 10.

    Zee's friend says Julius Caesar was the first Roman emperor. What is the best reply?

    • Disagree: Cleopatra was
    • Disagree: Augustus was the first emperor
    • Agree: Caesar crossed the Rubicon
    • Agree: Caesar was dictator