SAT II World History : Greek Philosophies and Innovations
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Europe
Which of these famous Greek individuals is best remembered as a dramatist and a great writer of tragedies?
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
Sophocles
Pericles
Sophocles
Pericles was a political figure and a leader of Athenian democracy. Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle were all philosophers whose works (and philosophies, in the case of Socrates, from whom we have no extant written works), continue to be immensely influential to this day. Sophocles was a dramatist and a renowned writer of tragedies. The ancient Greeks were known for their tragedies and comedies.
Example Question #1 : Europe
Which Greek philosopher postulated the notion of “philosopher kings”?
Pericles
Plato
Aristotle
Pythagoras
Socrates
Plato
In his most famous work, The Republic, Plato argues that for Greek society to become truly enlightened, it is necessary for philosophers to be kings, or else that “kings must genuinely and adequately philosophize.”
Example Question #1 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
Solon is often credited with __________.
establishing positive relations between Athens and Sparta
defeating the Persian navy at the Battle of Salamis
establishing positive relations between Greece and Rome
laying the foundations of Greek democracy
fending off the Persian invasion of mainland Greece
laying the foundations of Greek democracy
Solon was an Athenian statesman in the sixth century BCE. His economic, political, and social reforms were designed to improve the conditions of life in ancient Athens, and although his reforms failed, they are credited with laying the foundations for Greek democracy.
Example Question #2 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
What name is given to the ancient Greek philosophy that emphasizes the role of people in the world and places reason above piety?
Naturalism
Reccesivism
Populism
Humanism
Utilitarianism
Humanism
Ancient Greece developed many philosophies that continue to influence the world today. One of these is Humanism, the belief that reason is more important than piety and that people, not a deity or deities, were at the center of the universe.
Example Question #3 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
Epicureanism is the belief that __________ is the most important aspect of life.
logic and rational thinking
the pursuit of pleasure
piety and godly obedience
physical fitness and military training
secular obedience
the pursuit of pleasure
Epicureanism is a philosophical belief that rejects superstition and divine providence and argues that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important aspect of life. In Epicureanism, the pursuit of pleasure is somewhat removed from a modern philosophy of hedonism; instead, it advocates modest living and actively seeking knowledge as pleasurable pursuits.
Example Question #4 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
The ancient Greek practice that focuses on challenging established ideas through questioning and logical analysis is called __________.
the Ionian Method
the Aristotelian Model
the Platonic Model
the Scientific Method
the Socratic Method
the Socratic Method
The Socratic Method, developed by the famous Greek philosopher Socrates, focuses on challenging established truth by employing logical reasoning and questioning.
Example Question #5 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
Which of these Ancient Greek philosophers was most well known for his system of logic?
Pericles
Zarathustra
Socrates
Herodotus
Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was an Ancient Greek philosopher and a student of Plato. He is most famous for establishing a system of logic that continues to be relevant to this day. The term Aristotelian Logic is named after him and was the dominant form of logical understanding up to the beginning of the Twentieth Century.
Example Question #6 : Greek Philosophies And Innovations
Diophantus of Alexandria is famously credited with ________________.
designing the Athenian code of law
the invention of stoicism
the invention of algebra
the invention of the trireme
using trigonometry to calculate the movements of planets
the invention of algebra
The Hellenic Period of Greek history was a time of great innovation in politics, economics, philosophy, mathematics, and a great deal else. Diophantus of Alexandria was a Greek mathematician who lived in the third century of the common era. He is often credited with the invention of algebra.
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