Ancient History: Greece : The Conquests of Alexander and Expansion

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : The Conquests Of Alexander And Expansion

Aristotle, a seminal Greek philosopher, is known to have personally tutored which one of the following leaders immediately preceding their conquests?

Possible Answers:

Emperor Xerxes

Julius Caesar

King Leonidas

Alexander III of Macedon

Philip II of Macedon

Correct answer:

Alexander III of Macedon

Explanation:

Alexander III - or Alexander the Great - was personally tutored by Aristotle before he ascended the throne and went on to conquer the Persian empire, so he would be the best choice. Philip II was Alexander's father and he hired Aristotle, although he was not tutored himself, so he would not be a good choice. Leonidas of Sparta did not have any particular ties to Aristotle nor did he conquer the Persians, so he would not be a good answer. Julius Caesar was Roman and lived many centuries after Aristotle, so he too would not be a good answer. Lastly, Emperor Xerxes ruled the Persian empire and did not conquer it, so he would not be a good choice either.

Example Question #2 : The Conquests Of Alexander And Expansion

Which of the following leaders unified mainland Greece and conquered the Persian empire?

Possible Answers:

Philip II of Macedon

Xerxes

Darius III

Alexander III

Correct answer:

Alexander III

Explanation:

Alexander III - also known as Alexander the Great - unified mainland Greece and then used it as a jumping-off point to conquer the known world, so he would be the best choice. Philip II never conquered the Persian empire, so he would not be a good choice. Bother Darius III and Xerxes were Persian emperors themselves, and so did not conquer their own empire, so neither of them would be good answers.

Example Question #3 : The Conquests Of Alexander And Expansion

The efforts of which man led to the rise of Macedon as the dominant state in Greek society in the fourth century BCE?

Possible Answers:

Draco

Solon

Themistocles

Pericles

Philip II

Correct answer:

Philip II

Explanation:

Philip II took the throne in Macedon in the mid-fourth century BCE, in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War (which had greatly weakened the power of the Greek city-states). Philip II made a series of reforms of Macedonian society and greatly strengthened the military. His conquests and defeat of nearby rivals paved the way for the rapid expansion of Macedon under his brilliant young son, Alexander the Great.

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