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Herodotus - Book 1

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Herodotus is often called the "Father of History" because he was the first to...

a)

invent a writing system to record deeds/events

b)

attempt to explain the causes of great deeds/events

c)

record great deeds/events so they would not be forgotten

d)

name his son History

2.

Which does Herodotus NOT say is a reason for the hostility between the Greeks and barbarians?

a)

the abduction of Helle

b)

the abduction of Io

c)

the abduction of Europa

d)

the abduction of Helen

3.

What nationality was Croesus?

a)

Lydian

b)

Persian

c)

Trojan

d)

Carian

4.

According to Herodotus, Croesus was the first barbarian to...

a)

exact punishment from the Greeks for abducting Medea

b)

amass great wealth

c)

learn to speak Greek

d)

subjugate Greek cities

5.

How did Croesus' ancestor Gyges become a king?

a)

He killed his king and usurped the throne

b)

He founded a new city

c)

He was installed as king by the Great King of Persia

6.

Kandaules' wife insisted that Gyges kill her husband and usurp the throne because...

a)

Kandaules was planning to divorce her and marry her sister

b)

she could see that Gyges had a noble and just character

c)

Gyges had seen her naked

d)

she had loved Gyges since childhood

7.

What traveling Athenian does Croesus try to impress by showing off his immense opulence?

a)

Tellus

b)

Cyrus

c)

Theseus

d)

Solon

8.

Whom did Solon NOT name as one of the most fortunate people he had ever seen?

a)

Cleobis

b)

Croesus

c)

Tellus

d)

Biton

9.

Solon explains that he did not name Croesus as the most fortunate person he'd seen because...

a)

mo' money = mo' problems

b)

you can't judge how fortunate someone is until they are dead

c)

despite Croesus' wealth, he had no son to be his heir

d)

Croesus had not conquered the Persian Empire

10.

Croesus dreamed that his son would be killed in what way?

a)

stabbed with an iron spear

b)

drowned in a pool of wine

c)

mauled by a savage boar

d)

poisoned by tainted meat

11.

How does the Pythia respond when Croesus' delegates ask if he should fight the Persians?

a)

If he fights the Persians, he will win great glory.

b)

If he fights the Persians, he will destroy his great empire.

c)

If he fights the Persians, his son will die.

d)

If he fights the Persians, he will destroy a great empire.

12.

Which geographic area was NOT listed as a base of support for a political faction at Athens ?

a)

hill district

b)

coastal district

c)

forest district

d)

plains district

13.

Which was NOT a tactic used by Peisistratos in an attempt to seize power at Athens?

a)

oracular flatulence

b)

self-harm

c)

animal cruelty

d)

cosplay

14.

In Solon's story, how does the goddess Hera reward Cleobis and Biton for pulling their mother's wagon to the festival?

a)

with wealth (τιμή)

b)

with glory and fame (κλέος)

c)

with beauty / good looks

d)

with death

15.

Cyrus uses horses' natural fear and distrust of what animal to defeat the cavalry of Croesus?

a)

goats

b)

bees

c)

pigs

d)

camels

16.

What happened to Croesus after being defeated by Cyrus and losing his kingdom?

a)

He became a trusted advisor

b)

He had molted gold poured down his throat

c)

He was drawn and quartered

d)

He was imprisoned and starved to death

17.

What did the Median king Astyages dream about that made him believe his grandson would destroy him?

a)

A lion cub killed its father

b)

An ancient tree was struck by lightning and killed

c)

His daughter urinated over all of Asia

d)

He kept running but couldn't seem to move anywhere

18.

Who am I? There was a sign that I would grow up and upset the status quo, so my family told a third party to kill me.

a)

Cyrus

b)

Paris / Alexandros

c)

Oedipus

d)

Romulus

19.

Who am I? I angered someone so they secretly killed my children and tricked me into an act of cannibalism.

a)

Harpagos

b)

Thyestes

c)

Walder Frey

d)

Tereus

20.

Who am I? I was raised by a female canine.

a)

Cyrus

b)

Romulus

c)

Remus

d)

Camilla

21.

To determine the best course of action, the Persians used to debate important matters twice, first ____ and then ____.

a)

first tired, then well-rested

b)

first hungry, then satiated

c)

first in the ancient Sumerian language, then in Persian.

d)

first drunk, then sober

22.

According to Herodotus, how did the Persians greet people of greatly higher status?

a)

They kissed their lips

b)

They kissed their cheek

c)

They bowed

d)

They kissed their hands

23.

According to Herodotus, which was NOT an element of the common core in the Persian education system?

a)

Ride well (horsemanship)

b)

Shoot straight (archery)

c)

Speak the truth (honesty)

d)

Eat fresh (Subway)

24.

According to Herodotus, what unusual funerary custom is observed by the Persians?

a)

Their corpses are mauled by dogs and/or birds

b)

Their corpses are positioned upright and spoken to as if still alive

c)

Their corpses are consumed by close relatives

d)

Their wealth was divided among the community by lot

25.

Who was tricked into complicity with their enemy's plans by consuming too much alcohol?

a)

the Massagetai

b)

Polyphemus

c)

the Trojans

d)

definitely not me

26.

What did Queen Tomyris do with the head of Cyrus after he was killed in battle?

a)

made it into a drinking cup

b)

preserved it in a wineskin

c)

mounted it on the wall

d)

sent it to Herodotus