Travel and Contact with Foreign Cultures
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AP European History › Travel and Contact with Foreign Cultures
The identifying term Magna Graecia refers to __________.
ancient Greek settlements in southern Italy
ancient Greek settlements in North Africa
Greek colonies established along the shores of the Black Sea
Greek colonies established in Anatolia
the rule of Hellenistic culture in Egypt after the conquests of Alexander the Great
Explanation
The term Magna Graecia is a Roman term meaning “Great Greece.” It refers to the ancient Greek settlements in southern Italy and on the island of Sicily. During the period of time before the rise of the Roman Republic, Greek settlements were dominant in southern Italy. This had a lasting impact on the development of Roman and Italian culture.
The Phrygian Kingdom was famous in Greek society __________.
for its extraordinary wealth and reserves of gold
as the birthplace of Achilles
for its martial prowess
for its literary accomplishments and impressive library
as the birthplace of philosophy
Explanation
The Phrygian Kingdom was located in Anatolia, and was powerful in the eighth, seventh, and sixth centuries BCE. It’s most famous ruler was Midas, who is still somewhat famous today (everything he touches turns to gold). The Phrygian Kingdom was very famous in Greek society for its extraordinary wealth and reserves of gold.
Which region was the focus of eighth and seventh BCE Greek colonization?
Sicily and Southern Italy
Black Sea
North Africa
Southern Spain and France
Crete
Explanation
The earliest Greek colonial efforts were directed to southern Italy and Sicily, Magna Graecia. According to literary sources, Pithekoussai (Ischia) was the first Greek colony after the Bronze Age. No until the later 6th c. BCE did Greek city-states seriously colonize other regions of the Mediterranean.
The Lydian people, living in the Middle East, invented __________, which soon passed into Greek society.
metal coinage
bronze weaponry
iron metallurgy
galleys
republicanism
Explanation
The Lydian people were a small kingdom that thrived in the Middle East shortly before the rise of the Persian Empire (the Lydians were conquered by the Persians). The Lydians invented metal coinage, which they passed on to other societies in this part of the world, including the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Which of these best describes Syracuse?
A Greek colony founded in Sicily.
A Greek colony founded in North Africa.
A powerful northern Greek city-state and a constant menace to Athenian society.
A powerful southern Greek city-state and a reliable ally of Athens.
A Phoenician colony founded in North Africa.
Explanation
Syracuse was founded on the island of Sicily during the early years of the Archaic Era. Syracuse was probably the most powerful Greek colony in Magna Graecia (the Roman name for Greek Italy) for much of the history of the ancient Greeks. Notably, Syracuse was a reliable ally of Sparta and fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian War.
Which of these best describes the city of Croton?
A Greek colony in southern Italy, founded by settlers from the Peloponnese.
A Phoenician colony in North Africa which rivaled Greek colonies in this area.
A Greek city-state in northern Greece which controlled access to Mount Olympus.
A Greek city-state in Ionia which led the rebellion against the Persian Empire.
An Etruscan city in northern Italy which went to war against Magna Graecia.
Explanation
Croton was founded in the late eighth century BCE by settlers from the Peloponnese (a region in southern Greece). Croton was one of the larger and more significant Greek colonies in southern Italy.
The Etruscans were a civilization that thrived in __________ and traded extensively with the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians.
Italy
Spain
North Africa
Anatolia
Egypt
Explanation
The Etruscans were the pre-eminent power in northern and central Italy before the rise of the Roman Republic in the fifth century BCE. The Etruscans traded extensively with the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians.
Which of these regions was not colonized by ancient Greeks during the Archaic and Classical Eras?
none; all of these regions were colonized by the ancient Greeks
Southern France
Southern Italy
North Africa
Anatolia
Explanation
Beginning during the Greek Dark Ages, and lasting through the Classical Era, ancient Greeks colonized the Mediterranean world in large numbers. They reached as far as Spain and North Africa in the west and Anatolia in the east. The impact of these colonizations would have far reaching consequences, including the spread of Hellenistic culture (accelerated by the conquests of Alexander the Great) across much of the known world.
Which of these cities was not founded by ancient Greek colonists?
These cities were all founded by ancient Greek colonists.
Neapolis
Tripoli
Syracuse
Byzantium
Explanation
The ancient Greeks were an accomplished seafaring people. They traded widely throughout the Mediterranean and the rest of the known world. To facilitate trade, they established outposts and colonies across the Mediterranean coast and as far east as the coast of the Black Sea. Many of these colonies grew into substantial cities in their own right, such as Neapolis (now Naples), Tripoli (now the capital of Libya), Syracuse, and Byzantium (later Constantinople and then Istanbul).
Which of these people rivaled the ancient Greeks in the colonization of the Mediterranean during the Archaic Era?
The Phoenicians
The Romans
The Egyptians
The Assyrians
The Babylonians
Explanation
During the Archaic Era, the ancient Greeks established colonies all over the Mediterranean world. These colonies were often established by private individuals, seeking wealth and fortune and access to raw materials (particularly metals). The ancient Greeks were not the only people engaged in this pursuit during this time period. The Phoenician people, of modern-day Lebanon, were prominent traders in the Mediterranean and established many colonies in Spain, North Africa, Sicily, and Sardinia.