Classical Greece

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AP World History: Modern › Classical Greece

Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following ancient Greek city-states was famous for inventing and practicing democracy?

Athens

Sparta

Corinth

Macedon

Argos

Explanation

Sparta was a prominent city-state in the classical period, however it was ruled by a king, so they did not practice democracy. Macedon was a more traditional kingdom in mainland Greece - not a city-state at all - so that would not be a good choice for this question. Corinth and Argos were city-states but they did not invent democracy, so they would not be the best answer here. Finally, Athens is famous for inventing and practicing democracy, so that would be the best choice here.

2

All of the following features were unique to Sparta EXCEPT _________________.

a large and powerful navy

a unique form of kingship

a mandatory state-run military training program

a social class of slaves called "helots"

a secret police force

Explanation

Sparta was a militaristic and relatively secluded city-state, with a large social emphasis on loyalty and duty. Naval power was not emphasized as much in Sparta as compared to other Greek city-states - thus this answer is correct. The other answers do pertain to accurate aspects of Sparta.

3

Athenian culture most strongly valued _________.

competition

solitude

comedy

duty

wisdom

Explanation

While Athenian culture exuded some of the other features, competition was a hallmark of Athens. This is evident from depictions of the Olympic games and many other frequent small sporting events found on Greek pottery and architecture.

4

Which of the following is considered the father of modern history and wrote an account of the Peloponnesian War?

Herodotus

Homer

Aristotle

Plato

Epicurus

Explanation

Homer was the epic poet who wrote The Odyssey and The Iliad, but he was not known for his accounts of history, so he would not be the best choice. Plato and Aristotle were philosophers of great renown but neither were concerned with historical accounts, so neither of them would be good choices. Epicurus was concerned with philosophy and the problem of evil, so he too would not be a good choice. Lastly, Herodotus is famous for his account of the Peloponnesian War and he was named the father of history by Cicero, so he would be the best answer.

5

The Peloponnesian Wars were mainly fought between ______________ and ________________.

Athens . . . Sparta

Athens . . . Persia

Sparta . . . Rome

Rome . . . Athens

Ionia . . . Sparta

Explanation

The two "superpowers" of Greece, Athens and Sparta, warred against each other in the Peloponnesian Wars during the mid-fifth century BCE. The war resulted in a temporary supremacy of the Spartans in Greece. The other answers are incorrect because they refer to other nearby factions not involved in the conflict.

6

Which of the following attended Plato's Academy in Athens and went on to develop the idea of the syllogism?

Aristotle

Epicurus

Marcus Aurelius

John Locke

Thomas Hobbes

Explanation

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher but he did not attend the Academy nor did he invent the syllogism, so he would not be the best choice. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and Stoic and he did not do either of the acts in question, so he too would not be the best choice. John Locke was an English philosopher that lived many centuries after the Academy, so he would not be a good answer here. And Thomas Hobbes similarly lived many centuries after the Academy, and so he also is not a good choice. Lastly, Aristotle both attended the Academy and developed the syllogism, so he would be the best answer to the question.

7

To protect itself and Greece against external threats, Athens formed the ________________ in the late 5th century, BCE.

Delian League

Melian League

League of Greece

Aegean League

Persian Alliance

Explanation

Athens formed the Delian League with surrounding Greek city-states in order to better coordinate defense against external forces (such as the Persians). The other answers are incorrect because they contain terms not relevant to this part of Ancient Greek history.

8

Which of the following was the Greek mathematician famous for deriving the foundations of modern geometry?

Euclid

Archimedes

Plato

Socrates

Aristotle

Explanation

Archimedes was a mathematician and philosopher, however he was most famous for his discovery of buoyancy, so he would not be the best answer. Plato and Aristotle were philosophers but did not write extensively regarding mathematics, so they would not be good answers here. Socrates was also a philosopher and not a mathematician, so he would not be a good answer. Euclid wrote Elements -the premiere geometry textbook for millennia- and normal geometry is named after him, so he would be the best choice.

9

To the Ancient Greeks, a polis was ________________.

a city

a village

an army

a king

Explanation

The Ancient Greek word polis refers to the large city-states of Greece.

10

Which of the following philosophers was primarily concerned with the problem of evil and living the good life?

Epicurus

Plato

Aristotle

Socrates

Archimedes

Explanation

Archimedes was a philosopher and mathematician; however, he is best known for discovering buoyancy, so he would not be the best choice. Plato and Aristotle were both ancient Greek philosophers, but they are best known for their work regarding the World of Forms and natural philosophy, respectively, so neither of them would be the best choice. Socrates pioneered the dialectic method and had some thoughts about living the good life, but he was not known for an interest in the problem of evil, so he would not be the best answer here. Lastly, Epicurus was concerned both with the good life and the problem of evil, so he would be the best choice here.

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