The Landmark Thucydides 3.1 To 3.116
A 12-question quiz on The History of the Peloponnesian War, based on The Landmark Thucydides and covering the fourth, fifth and sixth years of the war.
- 1.
What powerful city led the entire island of Lesbos, except Methymna, into rebellion against Athens in the fourth year of the war.
- A.
Thebes
- B.
Sparta
- C.
Corinth
- D.
Mytilene
Correct Answer
D. MytileneExplanation
Mytilene was the powerful city that led the entire island of Lesbos, except Methymna, into rebellion against Athens in the fourth year of the war.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Why did the Mytilenians tell the Spartans they were rebelling against Athens.
- A.
Because they hoped to share in the spoils of a conquered Athens.
- B.
Because Athens had enslaved all her other allies.
- C.
Because they were afraid the Athenians would lose the war.
- D.
Because the Spartans were willing to bribe them to switch sides.
Correct Answer
B. Because Athens had enslaved all her other allies.Explanation
The Mytilenians told the Spartans they were rebelling against Athens because Athens had enslaved all her other allies. This suggests that the Mytilenians were fearful of being enslaved by Athens as well and wanted to avoid this fate by rebelling. By informing the Spartans about Athens' treatment of its allies, they may have hoped to gain support and assistance from the Spartans in their rebellion.Rate this question:
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- 3.
How many warships did Athens have on active service at sea during this summer.
- A.
35
- B.
150
- C.
250
- D.
400
Correct Answer
C. 250Explanation
This 250 ships was the most Athens had ever possessed; Thucydides says that along with the siege of Potidaea, it was the expense of maintaining this huge navy that exhausted her resources.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Who was the Athenian most responsible for convincing the Athenians to vote to put the entire population of Mytilene to death.
- A.
Pericles
- B.
Themistocles
- C.
Diodotus
- D.
Cleon
Correct Answer
D. CleonExplanation
After the Athenians had voted to kill the Mytilenians as Cleon advised, Diodotus convinced them to revoke the mass death sentence in a second vote. Fortunately, the ship carrying the news of the revoked sentence arrived at Lesbos in time to spare the majority of the population.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Why did the Plataeans argue they should be spared by the Spartan judges to whom they appealed after surrendering the city.
- A.
Because during the Persian War, they had fought with the Spartans against the Persians and the Thebans had fought against the Spartans.
- B.
Because executing them would have been a violation of the Geneva Convention.
- C.
Because Athens would seek vengeance for their deaths.
- D.
Because they had been of service to the Spartans during the war.
Correct Answer
A. Because during the Persian War, they had fought with the Spartans against the Persians and the Thebans had fought against the Spartans.Explanation
The Spartan judges weren't interested in past history. They simply noted that they had offered neutrality and the Plataeans had rejected it in favor of enmity and the Athenian alliance.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Which Athenian ally experienced a bloody revolution which caused it to temporarily withdraw from the Delian League?
- A.
Mytilene
- B.
Plataea
- C.
Corcyra
- D.
Potidaea
Correct Answer
C. CorcyraExplanation
Corcyra experienced a bloody revolution which caused it to temporarily withdraw from the Delian League. The revolution was a result of a conflict between the oligarchs and the democrats in Corcyra. The democrats gained control and established a democratic government, leading to the temporary withdrawal of Corcyra from the Delian League.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What was the cause of "every form of iniquity" taking root in Hellenic countries, according to Thucydides?
- A.
The plague
- B.
Revolution
- C.
Athenian imperialism
- D.
The love of money
Correct Answer
B. RevolutionExplanation
According to Thucydides, the cause of "every form of iniquity" taking root in Hellenic countries was revolution. Thucydides believed that revolutions led to a breakdown of order and morality, allowing for corruption and injustice to flourish. This suggests that the social and political upheaval caused by revolution created a fertile ground for various forms of wrongdoing to thrive in Hellenic countries.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Select BOTH of the two reasons given by Thucydides for the Athenian decision to send a fleet to Sicily.
- A.
To forestall a rebellion at Leontini
- B.
To prevent corn from being exported to the Peloponnesus.
- C.
To obtain more lumber in order to build more ships.
- D.
To test the possibility of conquering Sicily
Correct Answer(s)
B. To prevent corn from being exported to the Peloponnesus.
D. To test the possibility of conquering SicilyExplanation
Both B and D are correct.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What was the name of the new city-colony established by Sparta near Thermopylae, the pass made famous by King Leonidas?
- A.
Melos
- B.
New Sparta
- C.
Heraclea
- D.
Leonidas
Correct Answer
C. HeracleaExplanation
Heraclea was the name of the new city-colony established by Sparta near Thermopylae. This city was founded after the Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his Spartan warriors fought against the Persians. Heraclea served as a strategic outpost for Sparta, allowing them to control and defend the region.Rate this question:
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- 10.
How did the Aetolians manage to defeat the Athenian army led by Demosthenes at Aegitium?
- A.
Their lightly armed javelinists were able to prevent the hoplites from closing with them.
- B.
They bribed the Athenians' Messenian guide to lead them into an ambush.
- C.
They significantly outnumbered the Athenians.
- D.
Demonsthenes was an inept general.
Correct Answer
A. Their lightly armed javelinists were able to prevent the hoplites from closing with them.Explanation
The Aetolians managed to defeat the Athenian army led by Demosthenes at Aegitium because their lightly armed javelinists were able to prevent the hoplites from closing with them. This means that the Aetolians were able to keep a distance from the heavily armed Athenian soldiers and use their javelins to attack from afar, making it difficult for the hoplites to engage in close combat. This strategy gave the Aetolians an advantage and allowed them to defeat the Athenians.Rate this question:
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- 11.
How did Demosthenes defeat a larger Peloponnesian army led by Eurylochus at Amphilochia?
- A.
He made use of the mobile tactics previously used against him by the Aetolians.
- B.
His pre-battle speech so inspired the Athenians that they overwhelmed the Ambraciots on the Peloponnesian left.
- C.
He set up an ambush that hit the enemy's left wing from behind once they were engaged.
- D.
He built a very large line of forts and trenches that forced the Peloponnesians to attack him in a strong defensive position.
Correct Answer
C. He set up an ambush that hit the enemy's left wing from behind once they were engaged.Explanation
Demosthenes defeated the larger Peloponnesian army led by Eurylochus at Amphilochia by setting up an ambush that targeted the enemy's left wing from behind once they were engaged. This surprise attack caught the enemy off guard and disrupted their formation, giving Demosthenes the advantage in battle. By strategically attacking the enemy's weaker flank, Demosthenes was able to overcome the numerical superiority of the Peloponnesian army and secure victory.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What rare event marked the end of the sixth year of the war?
- A.
A strange star appeared in the skies for many nights.
- B.
Mount Etna erupted.
- C.
An asteroid struck the Acropolis.
- D.
A tidal wave struck the western coast of the Peloponnesus.
Correct Answer
B. Mount Etna erupted.Explanation
The Mount Etna eruption was said to have been only the third, and the first in fifty years, since Hellenic people had first arrived in Sicily.Rate this question:
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
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May 23, 2008Quiz Created by
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