Final answer:
The Second Triumvirate, established in 44 BCE, was not a peaceful period nor the restoration of the Roman Republic, but a power-sharing mechanism between three leaders contributing to the end of the Republic and the rise of the Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Second Triumvirate and its Historical Context
The period around 44 BCE marks a significant chapter in Roman history. Following the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 BCE, Rome was not in a peaceful period; rather, it was a time of civil war and disorder. The Second Triumvirate was formed later in the same year, reflecting a power-sharing agreement between three Roman leaders: Octavian (later known as Augustus), Mark Antony, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. This governance structure was instrumental in the eventual transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.
The Second Triumvirate should not be confused with the restoration of the Roman Republic. It was, in fact, more of a consolidation of power among the three leaders/ Triumvirs, which ultimately contributed to the consolidation of power under Augustus, leading to the establishment of the Roman Empire. By 27 BCE, with the rise of Augustus, this transition was more apparent, and it ushered in the Pax Romana, a long and relatively peaceful era in Roman history lasting approximately 200 years.
The Second Triumvirate's power-sharing arrangement did involve violent purges and proscriptions, which were hardly peaceful measures, and led to further civil wars, including the pivotal conflict between Octavian and Mark Antony. Therefore, statement c) 'A power-sharing agreement was established by three Roman leaders' is the correct answer to the provided question.