Ancient History: Greece : The Classical Period (480- 323 BCE)

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Ancient History: Greece

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

The Delian League was led by __________.

Possible Answers:

Athens

Corinth

Macedonia

Sparta

Persia

Correct answer:

Athens

Explanation:

The Delian League was led by Athens. The Delian League was formed in 477 BCE, in the wake of the second Persian invasion of Greece. It was an organization of city-states, under the direction of Athens, who came together to provide for mutual protection against future Persian invasions. The league, however, quickly devolved into an expression of Athens’ personal power which led to many conflicts within the league. It also led to the rise of the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the outbreak of the devastating Peloponnesian War.

Example Question #31 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

The Second Persian Invasion of Greece featured one of history’s most famous last stands at which of the following events?

Possible Answers:

The Battle of the Bulge

The Punic Wars

The Battle of Thermopylae

The Battle of Waterloo

The Battle of Marathon

Correct answer:

The Battle of Thermopylae

Explanation:

The Battle of Thermopylae featured the last stand of King Leonidas during the Second Persian Invasion and is one of the most famous in history, making this answer the best choice. The Battle of Marathon brought the First Persian Invasion to a halt but was not a part of the Second, so it would not be a good choice. The Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between Rome and Carthage and did not involve Greece or Persia, so that would not be a good choice. The Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Waterloo were both famous battles that happened thousands of years after the event in question, so they would not be good answers either.

Example Question #32 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

In the wake of the Persian Wars this Greek city-state created a short lived empire for itself?

Possible Answers:

Sparta

Athens

Corinth

Thebes

Syracuse

Correct answer:

Athens

Explanation:

In the aftermath of the Persian Wars, the city-state of Athens suddenly found itself in a position of unrivalled power in the Aegean and the rest of the Greek-speaking world. Athens, using its position as the head of the Delian League, was able to create something of an empire in a very short space of time. However, the Athenian Empire would last less than a century before it was torn down by the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War.

Example Question #1 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which Persian king invaded Greece with a massive force in 480 BCE?

Possible Answers:

Cyrus I

Darius I

Xerxes I

Bessus

Correct answer:

Xerxes I

Explanation:

Xerxes I was the son of Darius I. All of the answers are Persian King of Kings, most of whom had direct animosity with the Greeks. But, only Xerxes I invaded (or ruled) in 480 BCE.

Example Question #1 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which of these best describes the Delian League?

Possible Answers:

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Athens

A school of philosophy based in Ionian Greece

A sporting competition that preceded the development of the Olympics

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Sparta

A school of philosophy based in Athens

Correct answer:

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Athens

Explanation:

The Delian League was an organization of city-states and islands under the leadership of Athens. It was formed in the aftermath of the second Persian invasion of Greece and its stated goal was to provide mutual protection from possible future attacks.

Example Question #2 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

The conquest of the Ionian Greeks by __________ in the sixth century BCE paved the way for the Greco-Persian Wars.

Possible Answers:

Xerxes

Alexander the Great

Ashurbanipal

Darius I

Cyrus the Great

Correct answer:

Cyrus the Great

Explanation:

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Persian Empire. His conquest of the Ionian Greeks (those Greeks living in modern-day Turkey) in the sixth century BCE was the beginning of two centuries of conflict between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states.

Example Question #3 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which author wrote the Histories, a prose account describing the Greek wars with Persia?

Possible Answers:

Herodotus

Plato

Thucydides

Sallust

Tacitus

Correct answer:

Herodotus

Explanation:

Herodotus wrote the first "history" text with his description of the Greco-Persian wars. Tacitus and Sallust are both Roman historians who cover the Roman Empire. Thucydides was a Greek historian who described the Peloponnesian War. Plato was a philosopher and student of Socrates.

Example Question #4 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which of these statements about Pausanias is inaccurate?

Possible Answers:

He was placed in charge of the Greek campaign, after the end of the Persian Wars, to remove Persian influence from the Greek-speaking world.

He was accused of conspiring with the Persians by his political rivals.

He was a Spartan.

He led the defense of Syracuse from the Carthaginian Empire.

He led the Greek forces to victory against the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

Correct answer:

He led the defense of Syracuse from the Carthaginian Empire.

Explanation:

Pausanias was a Spartan general who played an important role in the latter years of the Persian Wars. He led the Greek forces to victory in the decisive battle of Plataea in 479 BCE. He was then placed in charge of the Greek campaign to eradicate Persian influence from the Greek-speaking world. He would eventually come undone, however, due to the widespread belief that he was conspiring with the Persians to undermine Greek liberty.

Example Question #33 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

Aristophanes is most frequently remembered as __________.

Possible Answers:

a playwright who wrote influential comedies

a playwright who wrote influential tragedies

a philosopher who contributed to the development of Stoicism

a military tactician who led the Athenian forces at the Battle of Marathon

a philosopher who contributed to the development of Epicureanism

Correct answer:

a playwright who wrote influential comedies

Explanation:

Aristophanes is perhaps the most famous and celebrated of the ancient Greek comedy playwrights. Comedy was widely used in Greek society (particularly in Athens) to satirize and criticize society.

Example Question #34 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

Sophocles is most well known for __________.

Possible Answers:

authoring tragedies

formalizing the Athenian legal code

reforming Athenian democracy

establishing a school of philosophy

authoring dramas

Correct answer:

authoring tragedies

Explanation:

Sophocles is one of the three famous Athenian authors of tragedies, along with Aeschylus and Euripides. Sophocles’ most famous work is probably Oedipus Rex.

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