HIEU 322 Quiz 9: Crisis, Change, and the Division of Empire –
Questions and Answers | 2026 Updated | 100% Correct.
2026 Updated | 100% Correct
Total Questions: 100
Questions 1–20: The Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 CE)
1. The Crisis of the Third Century was primarily triggered by
o✅ Simultaneous external invasions (Goths, Persians) + internal civil
wars
2. How many Roman emperors reigned between 235 and 284 CE?
o ✅ At least 20 (the “Barracks Emperors”)
3. Most Barracks Emperors died by
o ✅ Assassination
4. Which foreign power invaded the eastern provinces repeatedly during
the crisis?
o✅ Sassanid Persian Empire
5. Emperor Valerian was famously
o ✅ Captured by the Persians and died in captivity
6. The Gallic Empire (260–274 CE) was a
o ✅ Breakaway western province (Gaul, Britain, Spain)
7. The Palmyrene Empire (270–273 CE) was led by
, o✅ Queen Zenobia
8. Which emperor reunited the Roman Empire after the breakaway empires?
o✅ Aurelian (“Restitutor Orbis”)
9. The Roman economy during the crisis suffered from
o ✅ Massive debasement of coinage and hyperinflation
10. The plague that worsened the crisis was called
o ✅ Plague of Cyprian (251–270 CE)
11. The Germanic tribe that invaded across the Rhine and Danube was
the
o ✅ Goths (later split into Visigoths and Ostrogoths)
12. The Battle of Abrittus (251 CE) resulted in
o ✅ Death of Emperor Decius at the hands of Goths
13. What happened to Roman infrastructure during the crisis?
o ✅ Roads and cities declined due to constant warfare
14. Which emperor abdicated voluntarily after ending the crisis?
o ✅ Diocletian
15. The Roman Senate’s power during the crisis
o ✅ Declined sharply in favor of military commanders
16. Military loyalty shifted from the emperor to
o ✅ Individual generals and provincial armies
17. The term “anarchy” in the crisis refers to
o ✅ Lack of central control, not absence of rulers
18. Emperor Claudius Gothicus earned his name by
o ✅ Defeating the Goths at Naissus (269 CE)
19. During the crisis, trade and commerce
o ✅ Collapsed regionally due to banditry and invasion
Questions and Answers | 2026 Updated | 100% Correct.
2026 Updated | 100% Correct
Total Questions: 100
Questions 1–20: The Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 CE)
1. The Crisis of the Third Century was primarily triggered by
o✅ Simultaneous external invasions (Goths, Persians) + internal civil
wars
2. How many Roman emperors reigned between 235 and 284 CE?
o ✅ At least 20 (the “Barracks Emperors”)
3. Most Barracks Emperors died by
o ✅ Assassination
4. Which foreign power invaded the eastern provinces repeatedly during
the crisis?
o✅ Sassanid Persian Empire
5. Emperor Valerian was famously
o ✅ Captured by the Persians and died in captivity
6. The Gallic Empire (260–274 CE) was a
o ✅ Breakaway western province (Gaul, Britain, Spain)
7. The Palmyrene Empire (270–273 CE) was led by
, o✅ Queen Zenobia
8. Which emperor reunited the Roman Empire after the breakaway empires?
o✅ Aurelian (“Restitutor Orbis”)
9. The Roman economy during the crisis suffered from
o ✅ Massive debasement of coinage and hyperinflation
10. The plague that worsened the crisis was called
o ✅ Plague of Cyprian (251–270 CE)
11. The Germanic tribe that invaded across the Rhine and Danube was
the
o ✅ Goths (later split into Visigoths and Ostrogoths)
12. The Battle of Abrittus (251 CE) resulted in
o ✅ Death of Emperor Decius at the hands of Goths
13. What happened to Roman infrastructure during the crisis?
o ✅ Roads and cities declined due to constant warfare
14. Which emperor abdicated voluntarily after ending the crisis?
o ✅ Diocletian
15. The Roman Senate’s power during the crisis
o ✅ Declined sharply in favor of military commanders
16. Military loyalty shifted from the emperor to
o ✅ Individual generals and provincial armies
17. The term “anarchy” in the crisis refers to
o ✅ Lack of central control, not absence of rulers
18. Emperor Claudius Gothicus earned his name by
o ✅ Defeating the Goths at Naissus (269 CE)
19. During the crisis, trade and commerce
o ✅ Collapsed regionally due to banditry and invasion
