Question 1

The Acropolis in Athens is an example of a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

The Acropolis in Athens is a citadel, which is a fortified area within a city typically used for defensive purposes. The Acropolis served as a religious and cultural center in ancient Athens and was also used as a fortress to protect the city from invaders. A tholos is a circular tomb structure, an agora is an open public space for markets and political discussions, and a public bathhouse is a communal facility for bathing and socializing.

Question 2

Which of the following was always awarded to winners of the Olympics?

Accepted Answer

Winners of the Olympics were traditionally awarded wreaths made from olive branches.

Question 3

Until defeated by the Roman legion, the dominant military force in the eastern Mediterranean was the ________.

Accepted Answer

The hoplite phalanx was the dominant military force in the eastern Mediterranean, characterized by a tightly-packed formation of heavily armed soldiers, known as hoplites. However, they were ultimately defeated by the more organized and disciplined Roman legion. Agora refers to a marketplace or public gathering place, citadel is a fortified stronghold, and battalion refers to a military unit typically consisting of several companies. None of these options were the dominant military force in the eastern Mediterranean prior to the Roman conquest.

Question 4

The Spartan assembly consisted of ________.

Accepted Answer

The Spartan assembly, known as the Ekklēsia, consisted of all free Spartan males over the age of thirty. Women, slaves, and foreigners were not allowed to participate in the assembly.

Question 5

The earliest Bronze Age settlements were ________.

Accepted Answer

The earliest known Bronze Age settlements in Greece were on the island of Crete, specifically the Minoan civilization. The other options were also important Bronze Age settlements, but they did not precede the settlements on Crete.

Question 6

Although Homer's Mycenaean heroic characters worshipped gods in temples, in real life it would not have occurred because Mycenaeans ________.

Accepted Answer

Archaeological evidence suggests that Mycenaeans did not build temples but rather worshipped their gods in outdoor sanctuaries. Therefore, it is unlikely that they would have worshipped indoors in temples as depicted in Homer's epics.

Question 7

Hesiod's Works and Days gives insight into the life of a(an) ________.

Accepted Answer

Hesiod's Works and Days is a didactic poem that provides advice and guidance on how to live a life of honest work and morality, particularly for farmers.

Question 8

A magistrate named ________ was elected as an archon in 594 b.c.e.and reformed the economics, politics, and constitution of Athens.

Accepted Answer

The magistrate who reformed Athens in 594 b.c.e. was Solon, not Pisistratus, Hippias, or Clisthenes. Solon's reforms included canceling all debts and freeing those who had been enslaved because of their debts, classifying citizens according to their wealth rather than birth, creating a council of 400 and a popular assembly, and establishing laws that protected individual rights and limited the power of the aristocracy. These reforms laid the foundation for Athenian democracy.

Question 9

Colonization encouraged trade, industry, and the manufacturing of items such as ________.

Accepted Answer

Colonization encouraged trade and industry, which in turn led to the manufacturing of tools and weapons for conquest, as well as pottery and fine artistic metalwork for trade and commerce. Silks may have been traded, but were not typically manufactured in the colonies.

Question 10

A tyrant was a ________ who gained power in an unorthodox way.

Accepted Answer

A monarch is a ruler of a kingdom or empire, and a tyrant is a ruler who gained power in an unorthodox or oppressive way, often ruling with cruelty or injustice. Monarchs who gained power through unorthodox means, such as overthrowing the previous monarch or seizing power in a coup, might be considered tyrants. Colonists, fishermen, and pirates are not necessarily associated with gaining power through unorthodox means.

Question 11

Which of the following poleis is located in Attica?

Accepted Answer

Attica is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens and its surrounding areas. Therefore, the polis located in Attica is Athens.

Question 12

Which of the following correctly identifies the four classes in Homeric society?

Accepted Answer

The four classes in Homeric society were nobles (aristocracy), thetes (free commoners), landless laborers, and slaves. Option A is incorrect as Mycenaeans and Minoans were ancient civilizations that predated Homeric society, while "shepherds" is not a distinct class. Option B is incorrect as "shepherds" is not a distinct class, and "indentured servants" were not present in Homeric society. Option C is incorrect as "knights" were not part of Homeric society.

Question 13

The Greeks' period of freedom ended in the sixth century b.c.e.when the Greek colonial cities of Asia Minor came under the control of Persian ________ of Lydia.

Accepted Answer

The Greek colonial cities of Asia Minor came under the control of Persian King Croesus of Lydia in the sixth century b.c.e.

Question 14

The Spartan constitution contained which element(s) of government?

Accepted Answer

The Spartan constitution contained elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. The two kings, who were from different families, jointly held the monarchy, while the Gerousia (Council of Elders) and the Ephors formed the oligarchic branch of government. The Ephors were appointed by the people and had the power to oversee the kings and veto decisions made by the Gerousia. The Assembly of citizens formed the democratic branch of government, where male citizens could voice their opinions and vote on important issues.

Question 15

Greek colonies, established for the good of the colonists, were sponsored by ________.

Accepted Answer

Greek colonies were sponsored by the mother city. The mother city would usually provide the necessary resources and support needed for the colonists to establish a new colony. This was done in order to expand the sphere of influence of the mother city and to provide new opportunities for its citizens.

Question 16

Some scholars have argued that because the civilizations of Crete reflected the importance of women, they were more ________ than others.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the civilizations of Crete reflected the importance of women suggests a society that valued gender equality and perhaps had a more peaceful and harmonious social structure. Therefore, the best choice is A) tranquil, which conveys a sense of calm and peacefulness. B) aggressive, C) artistic, and D) philosophical are not necessarily related to the role of women in society.

Question 17

Some scholars have suggested that a group of pirates known as ________ destroyed Pylos.

Accepted Answer

The Dorians were a group of people who migrated to Greece and are believed to have contributed to the downfall of Mycenaean civilization. Some scholars have suggested that the Dorians were responsible for the destruction of Pylos, although there is no concrete evidence to support this theory. The other options, Miletus, Cnossus, and tholos, are not known to have been involved in the destruction of Pylos.

Question 18

By the time the last tyrants left, they were universally hated for their ________.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "cruelty and repression" directly matches the context of the sentence and is often associated with tyrants who abuse their power. The other answer choices are not as directly related to the behavior of oppressive rulers.

Question 19

Who was fairly called the "father of Athenian democracy"?

Accepted Answer

Clisthenes is widely considered to be the "father of Athenian democracy" as he introduced many reforms that strengthened the power of the citizen assembly and reduced the influence of aristocratic families. Solon was also an important figure in the development of Athenian democracy, but his reforms were more focused on economic and social issues rather than the political system itself. Pisistratus and Hippias were both tyrants who ruled Athens before the establishment of democracy, so they cannot be considered fathers of democracy.

Question 20

Who ruled Spartan government?

Accepted Answer

The Spartan government was ruled by two kings who were each responsible for leading the Spartan army in battle and overseeing one of the two traditional Spartan tribes. However, they had limited powers and were balanced by a council of elders and an assembly of citizens who made important decisions jointly.

Quiz 2: The Rise of Greek Civilization