Greek History and Politics

Archaic and Classical Institutions

15 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 15 questions

  1. According to the Athenian Constitution, members of which highest property class were eligible for election as archons and admission to the Areopagus?
  2. To break aristocratic family power networks, how many tribes based on area of residence (deme) did Cleisthenes introduce in classical Athens?
  3. Introduced by Cleisthenes, what procedure whereby at least 6,000 citizens voted would exile a citizen for ten years?
  4. In addition, he reorganized the Boule, created with 400 members under Solon, so that it had who, 50 from each tribe?
  5. Which rocky hill in Athens, hosting the popular assembly, served as the material embodiment of the principle of equal speech (isēgoría) for all citizens?
  6. It began with the Athenian general who recommending that his city fight a defensive war, avoiding battle against the superior land forces led by Sparta, and importing everything needful by maintaining…
  7. Which disease has traditionally been considered an outbreak of the plague in ancient Athens?
  8. What was the name of the 50-year peace treaty concluded between Athens and Sparta in 421 BC?
  9. Against his wishes, Nicias was appointed general for Sicily along with Lamachus and which other commander?
  10. Which naval confrontation in 405 BC was the decisive final engagement of the Peloponnesian War?
  11. The elite 300-strong infantry unit that crushed the Spartan line at Leuctra was known as what?
  12. Following his victories in 338 BC, King Philip II of Macedon was recognized as military leader of which pan-Hellenic confederation allied against Persia?
  13. At the ancient Phrygian capital of Gordium, Alexander "undid" which hitherto unsolvable feat, said to await the future "king of Asia"?
  14. As Alexander could not attack the city from the sea, he built what structure stretching out to the island?
  15. Henceforth, Alexander often referred to Zeus- what as his true father, and after his death, currency depicted him adorned with horns, using the Horns of Ammon as a symbol of his divinity?

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