Card 0 of 416
The terrain of ancient Greece did not lend itself well to farming and agricultural pursuits. The craggy mountains and stony land of most of the country was unfit for farming and made travel long and arduous. The land in the valleys, while fertile and more suited for farming, could not support a large population of a few million people and did not lead to a luxurious lifestyle. However, geography had an influence on political life. The mountains divided the country into different regions. There was no single form of government. The villages in the mountain valleys were small and independent. Ancient Greeks were extremely loyal to their own community. The ancient Greeks enjoyed a varied climate with temperatures at 48 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer. For the ancient world, this was a moderate climate conducive to an outdoor life. The outdoor events of the ancient Greeks influenced their world and world of the future.
The lifestyle and politics of the ancient Greeks were influenced by terrain and climate to the extent that it encouraged what activities that would have a future effect on Greece and the world?
The terrain and climate of the valleys was favorable to outdoor public events. The ancient Greeks, especially the men, were able to spend much of their time at these events discussing matters of importance to their community leading to the development of a democratic ideology. While the terrain did lead some of the ancient Greeks to a seafaring life, even sailors would gather to discuss news of their travels and issues of the community. The ancient Greeks did paint, sculpt and build monuments to their gods but this was not due to the climate or the terrain. Sheep and goat farming would be outdoor activities but were more of an occupation and source of food than an opportunity to meet and discuss public matters.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Palace at Pylos is an important archaeological site used to understand the __________.
The Palace at Pylos (sometimes called the Palace of Nestor) is the most extensive, and best preserved, archaeological site of a Mycenaean palace. The palace had many different rooms, serving different functions like storage, bathing, hosting, and sewage.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Ancient Greece was a collection of separate lands occupied by many cultures. One of these cultures were the Minoans. The Minoans were migrants from the Black Sea and Anatolia who settled on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea. They flourished during the middle Bronze Age with a unique talent for art and architecture. Excavations at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros revealed a sophisticated culture. Complex palace structures of two or three stories covering several thousand meters acted as centers for local administration, trade, religious events and political centers in these cities. It is not clear if the palaces had a connection to the governing structure of the civilization; however, it is obvious that the palaces were utilized for local control of the gathering and storage of resources such as wine, oil, grain, precious metals and ceramics. Notably missing in the Minoan civilization were fortified settlements. Unlike other civilizations, the Minoan cities and towns did not have protective walls. While this suggests a peaceful civilization, it should not be interpreted as a lack of ability to defend their cities and towns. Archeological findings of swords, daggers, defensive armor and helmets indicate that battles and wars may have been fought.
What is a logical explanation for the lack of clarity in the relationship of palaces and power structure of the Minoan civilization?
The Minoan palaces were sites of localized control and organization as is seen in the use of the palaces for storage of resources. It is safe to assume that someone organized and controlled this process. The Minoans were presumed to have been governed by the legendary King Minos, hence the name given to the civilization by historians. The leadership of King Minos has been passed down in oral history. The Minoans had an extensive system of writing and examples of their hieroglyphic and Linear A script on clay tablets have been found in archeological digs. Unfortunately, their writings have yet to be fully interpreted. The Minoans were not overrun by the Mycenaean civilization rather they were in and engaged in a cooperative seafaring trade with the Mycenaeans.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of these empires was weakened or destroyed by the Sea-Peoples?
I. New Kingdom of Egypt
II. Hittite
III. Mycenaean
IV. Minoan
V. Cycladic
The Sea-Peoples were a loosely organized, disparate group of bandits and migrants. They emerged out of some unknown catastrophe in Mycenaean Greece. The Sea-Peoples repeatedly invaded the Hittite Empire and the New Kingdom of Egypt in the twelfth and eleventh centuries and contributed to the decline of both.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Who were the aggressors in the Trojan War?
The aggressors in the Trojan War were the Mycenaean Greeks, who sailed across the Aegean Sea to invade the wealthy city of Troy (which was located in modern-day Turkey). The Mycenaeans were most likely motivated by the desire for plunder and personal gain (contrary to the popular account).
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Iliad and The Odyssey are the best known works of which ancient Greek poet?
Homer is best known in the modern world for The Iliad and The Odyssey, so he would be the best choice. Ovid was the epic poet responsible for the Metamorphoses, but he was Roman, so he would not be the best choice. Virgil was also an influential Roman poet and he did not write the works in question, so he would not be a good choice. Lastly, Lord Byron and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were both famous poets, but they lived many thousands of years after the works in question were written, so they would not be good answers.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Linear B fell into disuse after __________.
Linear B was the written script of the Mycenaean Greeks. It fell into disuse in the immediate aftermath of the decline of the Mycenaean civilization. Linear B was a complicated script and was probably known only by a few, privileged palatial scribes. This helps explain why it was so hastily lost to history during the Greek Dark Ages.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of these Greek wonders was built at Delphi?
The Oracle of Apollo (sometimes called The Oracle at Delphi) was built in northern Greece sometime during the Dark or Archaic ages. It was a place of worship and ceremony for the ancient Greeks. It, along with other oracles, served a very important purpose in Greek religious life. Political and military leaders sought the advice of the holy men who worked and lived at Delphi to try and determine whether the Gods favored the actions they had taken or were considering. Greek rulers would consult the Oracle, for example, before declaring war.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Archilochus is most notable for his __________.
Archilochus is a seventh century BCE lyric poet. Archilochus was one of the most widely esteemed and beloved poets in ancient Greek society. He has been frequently credited (although not definitively) with the invention of the elegy.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
According to tradition and mythology, the Olympic Games were founded in 776 BCE to commemorate _________________.
According to legend, the Olympic games were instituted to celebrate the funeral games of Pelops, the grandfather of Agamemnon. Pelops was renowned for sport in mythology. He won his wife, Hippodameia, during a chariot race at nearby Pisa. He then instituted regular athletic contests during his reign. More generally, athletic competitions were typically held at early Greek funerals.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of these best describes Attica?
Attica is the region around the city-state of Athens. Attica, with its natural harbors, has long been important in the development of Greek culture.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Which of these best describes the Greek concept of Synoecism?
Synoecism is the name given to the process by which a group of smaller communities group together to form a larger, unified city-state. It refers to a process of political unification by which many Greek city-states came into existence.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
Theseus was generally credited by ancient Greeks with __________.
Theseus is a mythological figure who was thought to be the son of Poseidon. He was generally credited by the ancient Greeks (particularly the Athenians) with founding the city of Athens.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Greek Dark Ages are usually said to begin around __________.
The Greek Dark Ages are usually said to begin around 1,000 BCE, and last until the mid-eighth century. The Greek Dark Ages began as a result of the decline of the Mycenaean civilization in the twelfth and eleventh centuries. The Mycenaeans left behind a political and cultural vacuum that remained most unfilled until the rise of the Greek city-states in the eighth century. It is worth noting that some historians consider the Dark Ages to be a misnomer and argue that this period of time was still quite prosperous and advanced. The absence of written records from this time period, however, seems to reinforce the notion of a prolonged Dark Age.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations were destroyed by new arrivals from Macedonia and Epirus. This new group of Greeks, called the Dorians, settled in the war ravaged lands and developed their civilization. The Dorians had a well-developed dialect and settled into communities based on their “tribes”. They were quite different from the Ionian Greeks and are traditionally believed to have been the conquerors of the Peloponnese during the years 1100 to 1000 BCE. According to Greek tradition, their name is attributed to Doris, a small district in central Greece. Tradition holds that the sons of Heracles were driven from their homeland by the Mycenaeans. They took refuge with the king of Doris. Many generations later, the Heraclid brothers led the Dorians back to the Peloponnese to reclaim their heritage. The actual history of the Dorians is obscure. They swept into central Greece from Macedonia and Epirus. From central Greece they moved into the southern Aegean. Based on this tradition and their language historians believe they may have been distant relatives of the Bronze Age Greeks. Shortly after arriving in the old Mycenaean cities, the Dorian economy and trade collapsed. The civilization remained intact and grew as the Dorians expanded their empire throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas and as far as mainland Anatolia, modern day southwestern Turkey. Greek history was passed on by oral tradition from generation to generation eventually influencing Homer, the well-known Greek writer and storyteller.
The arrival of the Dorians began a period in Greek history referred to as which of the following?
The Dorians were a less developed culture than the Minoans and Mycenaeans. Their only contribution to world technology was the iron slashing sword. During their reign in Greece, the art of writing was lost. There were no written records for 400 years. History was passed on by oral tradition. For this reason, historians often refer to the age of the Dorians as the “dark age” of Greece.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Dorians did make contributions to the art, architecture and politics of Greece. The Dorian and Ionian styles of art and architecture developed side by side but with distinct differences. The Doric style was restrained, massive and simple. The Ionic style was graceful, elegant and ornate. The Dorian style of choral lyrics also dominated Greek tragedy. Politically the Dorians followed the practice of the Mycenaeans in identifying with the locality in which they lived rather than with the homelands of their ancestors. In the mercantile cities of Corinth, Rhodes and Argos, the Dorians initial plan was to maintain political power for themselves. But they eventually merged with the conquered native populations. In contrast, in areas such as Sparta and Crete, the Dorians maintained political power and became a military ruling class. In so doing, they halted the growth of society politically and culturally to maintain dominance over the conquered people. By 750 BCE, the city state or the “polis” was the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece. The polis encompassed the city and its surrounding villages. The citizens gathered at the agora and the acropolis to discuss city government. It was not unusual for tyrants to seize power in clashes between rulers, nobles, wealthy citizens or the average citizen. These tyrants were hailed as leaders working for the interests of the ordinary period setting up building programs that provided jobs and housing for their supporters.
What form(s) of government would one expect to see in Greece during the Doric civilization?
During the Dorian period one would see a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy in Greece. The Dorians, living under the rule of the military tyrants, would not have a Democracy or a Democratic Republic form of government. A Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy. The Dorian tyrants ruled by military power not by use of their wealth. The concept of a Democratic Republic is a modern form of government. The Democratic Republic form of government combines the best elements of a democracy and republic allowing the citizens to govern through elected officials. Therefore, during the Dorian period when Greece was ruled by tyrants one would expect to see a monarchy.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The ancient Greek term “kleos” might most reasonably be translated as __________.
The ancient Greek term “kleos” is best translated as “glorious reputation.” It means something like, “What others hear being said about you.” It was of vital importance to the ancient Greeks of the Archaic Era and carried a similar sort of meaning as the word “honor” or “chivalry” in medieval European society. “Kleos” was the reason for doing heroic deeds and the motivation behind many “glorious” deaths in battle.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
After the Second Messenian War, most Messenians were enslaved by the Spartans and described collectively as _________________.
After the Second Messenian War, most Messenians were enslaved as helots. helots were bound to a stretch of land and forced to till the soil. A large portion of the harvest was given to the Spartans. Without a need to farm the soil themselves, the Spartans devoted all of their time to training for war.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Homeric epics tell the story of __________.
The Homeric epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey, tell the story of the Trojan War. The Trojan War probably did actually take place, although the account of it told by Homer is most likely highly fictionalized. The Iliad tells the story of the Greek invasion of Troy and The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus’ attempts to get home after the war has ended.
Compare your answer with the correct one above
The Mycenaean civilization consisted of Indo-Europeans who settled in the Greek mainland in circa 2000 BCE. Their name comes from their capital city of Mycenae. The Mycenaeans settled in southern Greece, along a steep rocky mountain ridge. Mycenae was protected by a wall 20 feet thick that could withstand any attack. The Mycenaeans were ruled by warrior kings who controlled Mycenae as well as the cities of Tiryns and Athens (circa 1600 to 1100 BCE). The Mycenaeans came into contact with the Minoans circa 1500 BCE. They learned the benefits of sea trading from the Minoans and were soon sailing throughout the eastern Mediterranean Sea. They traded with the inhabitants of the Aegean islands and the coastal towns of Anatolia and ports in Syria, Egypt, Italy and Crete. The Minoans influenced Mycenaean culture as well. The Mycenaeans adapted the Minoan system of writing to their form of the Greek language and decorated vases with Minoan designs. The combination of Minoan and Mycenaean ideas formed the core of Greek religious practices, art, politics and literature.
The interaction between the Mycenaeans and Minoans had a direct effect on which of the following?
The Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations were highly developed in all forms of culture and politics. Their ideology was fanned the growth of Western civilization. They were not the only culture in the Mediterranean that were seafarers and had developed trade routes. Nor is there evidence to support colonization of the northern African coastal areas or influence upon the Egyptian form of writing. The Egyptians developed their own form of hieroglyphics independent of the Mycenaean culture. The Trojan War was a major event in Mycenaean history and while legend says that it lasted for ten years, it did not have much influence on Western Civilization. The Egyptians developed their own form of hieroglyphics independent of the Mycenaean culture. Many ancient nations explored northern Africa but there is no solid evidence of any colonization of the area.
Compare your answer with the correct one above