Welcome to our quiz on Ancient Greece.
Ancient Greece Timeline
Ancient Greece was a Mediterranean civilization created by ethnically and culturally related people, who identified themselves as Hellenes. Scholars differ on when Ancient Greece started and ended. For our quiz, we have prepared questions, which cover over one thousand years of Greek history. We focus mostly on Classical Greece but you will find questions on Archaic and Hellenistic Greece, as well. The mythical times of gods, heroes and hybrid creatures may not be historical but mythology is such an important part of the Greek heritage, we also cover it. The upper bound timeline for this quiz is the Roman conquest of Greece, which was completed in 146 BC. While Ancient Greece continued under Roman occupation, its further history is covered in our quiz on Ancient Rome.
Ancient Greek Accomplishments
While ancient Greeks were conquered by Romans militarily, Romans were certainly conquered by Greeks culturally. Extraordinary accomplishments of Greek art, literature, science, architecture, social organization and warfare were incorporated into the Roman life and survived, greatly influencing development of the Western Civilization. We continue to benefit from ancient Greek achievements in modern times. Democracy, the favored system of government today, was born in ancient Greece. As was the scientific discipline applied to mathematics, physics, medicine and biology. History and historiography both have their roots in ancient Greece. Greek architects and artists joined efforts to produce magnificent works of art with five of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
, being Greek achievements. The most notable ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle proudly occupy the seats of the most important philosophers in history, all leaving lasting effect on the development of Western ethics.
Invitation to Ancient Greece
In our fast evolving modern world, it may be worthwhile to step back and refresh the understanding of our origins. We hope you will enjoy our quiz on Ancient Greece, further your interest in this formative period of the Western civilization and maybe even embark on a trip for an in-person experience to Europe. Greece, Italy and Turkey, all boast impressive ancient Greek legacy, accommodating millions of very satisfied visitors each year.
Themistocles lived out his days as a friend of Artaxerxes I.
In 472 BC the Athenians voted to ostracize Themistocles, their prominent politician and brilliant general. Just eight years earlier, Themistocles had commanded the Greek navy to deliver a crushing blow to the fleet of Xerxes I at Salamis. With their fleet destroyed, the Persians soon realized their plans of the Greek conquest had collapsed. Despite heavy price paid by having their city devastated, the Athenians considered Themistocles their savior. But this ambitious man was too eager to have his accomplishments celebrated and many saw in him a threat to democracy.
In those days, being ostracized only meant a temporary exile but Themistocles had so many enemies that he was effectively banished from his homeland and even had a bounty placed on his head. Gradually relocating farther and farther from Athens, he was smuggled into the Persian-controlled Asia Minor and eventually arrived at the court of Artaxerxes I. The Persian king received his highly respected adversary with a warm welcome. Themistocles was accepted as a friend and came into service of the Persian king as a provincial governor. Thus, Themistocles, the veteran of victory at Marathon and the architect of victory at Salamis, found a safe haven among the Persians, the very people he had stopped from conquering Greece.
