Ancient History: Greece : Interaction with the Persian Empire

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Ancient History: Greece

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Example Questions

Example Question #34 : The Classical Period (480 323 Bce)

Which Persian king invaded Greece with a massive force in 480 BCE?

Possible Answers:

Darius I

Cyrus I

Bessus

Xerxes I

Correct answer:

Xerxes I

Explanation:

Xerxes I was the son of Darius I. All of the answers are Persian King of Kings, most of whom had direct animosity with the Greeks. But, only Xerxes I invaded (or ruled) in 480 BCE.

Example Question #1 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which of these best describes the Delian League?

Possible Answers:

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Sparta

A school of philosophy based in Athens

A school of philosophy based in Ionian Greece

A sporting competition that preceded the development of the Olympics

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Athens

Correct answer:

An organization of city-states under the leadership of Athens

Explanation:

The Delian League was an organization of city-states and islands under the leadership of Athens. It was formed in the aftermath of the second Persian invasion of Greece and its stated goal was to provide mutual protection from possible future attacks.

Example Question #2 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

The conquest of the Ionian Greeks by __________ in the sixth century BCE paved the way for the Greco-Persian Wars.

Possible Answers:

Xerxes

Ashurbanipal

Darius I

Cyrus the Great

Alexander the Great

Correct answer:

Cyrus the Great

Explanation:

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Persian Empire. His conquest of the Ionian Greeks (those Greeks living in modern-day Turkey) in the sixth century BCE was the beginning of two centuries of conflict between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states.

Example Question #3 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which author wrote the Histories, a prose account describing the Greek wars with Persia?

Possible Answers:

Thucydides

Sallust

Herodotus

Plato

Tacitus

Correct answer:

Herodotus

Explanation:

Herodotus wrote the first "history" text with his description of the Greco-Persian wars. Tacitus and Sallust are both Roman historians who cover the Roman Empire. Thucydides was a Greek historian who described the Peloponnesian War. Plato was a philosopher and student of Socrates.

Example Question #4 : Interaction With The Persian Empire

Which of these statements about Pausanias is inaccurate?

Possible Answers:

He was placed in charge of the Greek campaign, after the end of the Persian Wars, to remove Persian influence from the Greek-speaking world.

He was accused of conspiring with the Persians by his political rivals.

He was a Spartan.

He led the defense of Syracuse from the Carthaginian Empire.

He led the Greek forces to victory against the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

Correct answer:

He led the defense of Syracuse from the Carthaginian Empire.

Explanation:

Pausanias was a Spartan general who played an important role in the latter years of the Persian Wars. He led the Greek forces to victory in the decisive battle of Plataea in 479 BCE. He was then placed in charge of the Greek campaign to eradicate Persian influence from the Greek-speaking world. He would eventually come undone, however, due to the widespread belief that he was conspiring with the Persians to undermine Greek liberty.

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