The Landmark Thucydides 1.116 To 2.46
A 12-question quiz on The History of the Peloponnesian War, based on The Landmark Thucydides and covering the first year of the war.
- 1.The oracle located at the most important Greek temple inspired Cylon's attempted coup in Athens. Where was it located?
- A.
Athens
- B.
Delphi
- C.
Mount Olympus
- D.
The Acropolis
- 2.Why did the Spartans consider "the curse of the goddess" to be a useful pretext for war against Athens?
- A.
It showed their concern for the honor of the gods to the rest of Greece.
- B.
It strengthened the morale of the Peloponnesian allies to believe that the Athenians were cursed.
- C.
They believed that the goddess Athena would help them in order to punish the Athenians.
- D.
They hoped to cause the Athenians to lose confidence in Pericles.
- 3.Which pair of Hellenic heroes of the Persian War eventually betrayed their cities in favor of King Xerxes of Persia?
- A.
Pericles of Athens and Archidamus of Sparta
- B.
Themistocles of Athens and Leonidas of Sparta
- C.
Themistocles of Athens and Pausanias of Sparta
- D.
Pericles of Athens and Brasidas of Sparta
- 4.What was the one demand in the ultimatum that was delivered by Sparta's third pre-war embassy to Athens?
- A.
To end the siege of Potidaea.
- B.
To rescind the Megarian Decree.
- C.
To permit Hellenic independence.
- D.
To tear down the Long Walls.
- 5.What was the principle military advantage of Athens over the Peloponnesian League according to Pericles.
- A.
The Peloponnesians' lack of money.
- B.
The advantage of sea power over land power.
- C.
The agricultural basis of the Peloponnesian economies.
- D.
The inexperience of the Spartan navy.
- 6.What did Pericles fear would cause Athens to lose its allies?
- A.
An increase in the monetary contributions to the Delian League.
- B.
The inability of Athens to attack them.
- C.
The destruction of Athenian lands and homes.
- D.
An Athenian defeat at sea.
- 7.How long did the Thirty Years' Peace last?
- A.
30 years
- B.
15 years
- C.
10 years
- D.
14 years
- 8.Which city's attack on Plataea broke the peace and started the war?
- A.
Athens
- B.
Thebes
- C.
Corinth
- D.
Megara
- 9.What were the two Peloponnesian city-states that were neutral at the beginning of the war?
- A.
Argos and Achaea
- B.
Mycenae and Corinth
- C.
Messenia and Laconia
- D.
Pellene and Sicyon
- 10.Why did the Athenians turn against Pericles in the first year of the war?
- A.
They discovered he was a pro-Persian traitor.
- B.
He led them into a terrible naval defeat at Salamis.
- C.
He refused to take the field against Archidamus.
- D.
He embezzled the money being saved for the naval reserve.
- 11.Why did the Spartans settle for ravaging the country around Athens instead of taking the city?
- A.
They were afraid to get too close to the superior Athenian infantry.
- B.
Their siegecraft was insufficient to defeat the Athenian walls.
- C.
They were waiting for Theban reinforcements to arrive.
- D.
The oracle at Delphi told them not to.
- 12.What was the estimated value of the annual contribution to Athens from its allies in modern dollars?
- A.
$500,000
- B.
$1 billion
- C.
$850,000
- D.
$9 million
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