Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations Quiz

Which of the following does NOT describe the Minoan civilization?

• They lived on the Island of Crete and were a mostly peaceful sea-trading civilization.

• They created unique art, including frescoes, which often showed mythological creatures, nature, and people in peaceful activities.

• They built massive palace complexes, like the famous Palace of Knossos, which was thought to resemble the labyrinth in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

• They only focused on war and conquering other lands to expand their empire, which extended from Greece to Egypt and to India.

Which of the following is TRUE about the Mycenaean civilization?

• They are considered the first Greeks and lived on mainland Greece and the Aegean Islands.

• The Mycenaeans were warriors who built strong armies and walled cities led by kings. Their cities, like Mycenae, had thick walls for protection, and their kings controlled armies and trade, making them powerful.

• The Mycenaeans were attacked by sea raiders and the Dorians, who had stronger iron weapons. Fighting between city-states also weakened them, causing cities to be abandoned, trade to stop, and the loss of skills like writing.

• All of the above are correct choices.

This ancient Greek city-state was the largest and most powerful Greek city-state. Its citizens focused on the arts, education, and participated in their democratic government, which they invented!

• Athens

• Sparta

• Thebes

• Delphi

This ancient Greek city-state was known for its warrior society. Their culture was centered on loyalty to the state and military service, with boys trained as soldiers from a young age. They were famous for their strength and discipline in battle.

• Athens

• Sparta

• Thebes

• Corinth

Which of the following does NOT describe the city-state of Athens?

• Athens was a democracy where male citizens over the age of 18 could vote directly on laws in the assembly. This system allowed citizens to have a voice in important government decisions.

• Women in Athens had very few rights. They could not vote or take part in government. Women were expected to take care of the home and children.

• Athens had a strong military, but its navy was the most powerful part. The Athenian navy protected trade routes, defended the city-state, and played a big role in defeating the Persians at the Battle of Salamis.

• Athens focused only on military training for boys, starting at a young age. Boys were taught to become soldiers and spent all of their time preparing for war.

Which of the following does NOT describe the city-state of Sparta?

• Sparta was a militaristic society where boys began military training at the age of 7. They lived in military barracks, learning discipline, survival skills, and how to fight, and became full soldiers by age 20.

• Women in Sparta had more freedom than in other Greek city-states. They could own property, run households, and were encouraged to exercise to stay strong and healthy so they could have strong children.

• Sparta focused heavily on education in the arts, math, and reading literature.

• Sparta had an oligarchy as their form of government, where two kings ruled together.

Which of the following does NOT describe Greece’s geography?

• Greece is very mountainous. The land is full of tall mountains, which made it hard to travel and farm.

• Greece has over 1,000 islands and a lot of coastline. This was useful for fishing, trade, and building strong navies.

• Greece had lots of great farmable land and the early Greeks had no need to trade with others for food or other resources.

• Greece is a peninsula. It is surrounded by water on three sides, which helped the Greeks become great sailors and traders.

Which of the following best describes the Persian Wars?

• The Persian Wars were a series of battles between the Greeks and the Persian Empire from 499 to 449 BCE. The Persians invaded mainland Greece, but the Greeks defeated them and kept their independence.

• The Persian Wars were fought between the Romans and Persians over who would control all of Europe.

• The Persian Wars were a series of battles between Persian animals and Greek gods to see who would rule the world.

• The Persian Wars were a series of battles between the Greeks and the Egyptians to decide who could build the best pyramids, with Sparta leading the construction efforts and Athens designing them.

Which of the following best describes what started the Persian Wars?

• The Greek gods got angry with the Persian Empire and declared war on them.

• Greek cities in Ionia rebelled against Persian rule, and Athens and Eretria sent help. In response, King Darius invaded Greece for revenge for the Athenians' assistance in the Ionian Revolt.

• The Persian king, Darius, started a competition with the Greeks to see who could build the best temples, but the Greeks lost and Darius invaded Greece.

• The Persians wanted to invade Greece because they were jealous of Greek art and culture.

Which of the following best describes the events of the Battle of Marathon?

• The Persian army invaded Greece to punish Athens for helping the Ionian cities rebel. The Athenians, led by General Miltiades, used smart tactics to defeat the larger Persian army at the Battle of Marathon.

• Before the battle, the Athenians sent Pheidippides to Sparta for help, but the Spartans couldn’t join in time, so the Athenians won the battle alone.

• The battle took place on the plains of Marathon, where the Athenians, despite being outnumbered, used the terrain to their advantage.

• All of the above are correct.