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The Drama that was The Persian Wars!

Crafted by Trivia Architect zenphoenixa

Fun Trivia : Quizzes : Persian Empire : The Drama that was The Persian Wars!

Introduction:
"The Persian Wars was one of the great dramas of the Greek world between 490 and 479 BC - treachery, tricks, threats and ... well, Themistocles! See for yourself what an interesting conflict this was, and feel free to use this info in tests or essays! :)"


1. Which one of these could be viewed as a catalyst for the Persian invasion of 490 BC?
    The Ionian Revolt
    Darius' demand for Earth and Water
    The cutting of the Athos Canal
    The bridging of the Strymon and Hellespont


2. Who was the strategist of the Athenians in the Battle of Marathon?
    Militiades
    Cimon
    Themistocles
    Datis


3. Why were the Spartans so late in getting to Marathon?
    They were delayed by their Karneia festival
    The Spartans and Athens had a nasty quarrel
    They were preoccupied with a Helot revolt
    Sparta wasn't informed in time


4. Which of these was NOT a factor influencing Xerxes to invade Greece in 480 BC?
    He had a need for revenge
    He needed to destroy the relationship between Athens and Sparta
    He was under pressure to extend the Persian empire
    He was influenced by Mardonius


5. The Greeks weren't blind - they knew that Xerxes was on the way! In 481 BC, a Congress of 31 Greek states was held to discuss the problem. Which Greek state was given command of both the Greek navy and army?
    Answer: (Help! Is that a Helot behind me?!)


6. What was the name of the mountain pass where the Greeks fought their first battle with the Persians?
    Thermopylae
    Mycale
    Salamis
    Platea


7. Thermopylae was a crucial defensive position and so the Greeks reinforced the pass with all the troops at their disposal.
    True
    False


8. Before we talk about Salamis, we need to do the time warp. Who was it, as early as 493 BC, who started taking the initiative to fortify and protect Athens from the Persians?
    Answer: (I didn't even get any credit for all I did after the war, so much for saving the whole of Greece!)


9. The Decree of Themistocles ensured the evacuation of Athens in six days. Which one of these was NOT commanded by the decree?
    Compensation of 100 obols was to be given to each citizen for evacuating in such short notice
    Athenian women and children were to be sent to Salamis, Aegina and Troezen
    Ostracised individuals were to be recalled
    The Acropolis was to be guarded by a garrison and priests and priestesses


10. The Peloponnesians weren't impressed with Themistocles' insistence to face the Persians at Salamis. Before their dissent could get any worse, what trick did Themistocles pull?
    He sent a letter to Xerxes hinting at Greek treachery and withdrawal
    He disguised himself as Xerxes and positioned himself on a vantage point at Salamis
    He visited the Persian camp and offered to betray Greece
    He got Aristides to dress up as a woman to seduce the Spartan commander


11. Which one of these famous playwrights was an eyewitness of the battle of Salamis?
    Aristophanes
    Plato
    Euripedes
    Aeschylus


12. After his devastating defeat at Salamis, Xerxes fled Greece because he was scared witless. True or false?
    True
    False


13. It seems that Sparta was once again unwilling to take quick action against the Persians to follow up the Greek victory at Salamis. What did Athens threaten to do if Sparta didn't start moving?
    Athens threatened to ally herself with Argos, Sparta's chief enemy
    Athens threatened to withdraw the Athenian navy
    Athens threatened to declare war with Sparta
    Athens threatened to withdraw from the war


14. The Battle of Platea turned out a victory for the Greeks - which of these two factors were vital contributors to this victory?
    The defection of the Persian conscripts and the revolt of the Ionians
    The Athenian naval prowess and the unity of the Greeks
    The Spartans' discipline and the errors of the Persian tactics
    The early defeat of the Persian cavalry and the disorganised Persians


15. The final battle of the Persian Wars took place at Mycale. The Greeks won another victory of course, but what other significant event occurred in this battle?
    Persia successfully bribed the Spartan King
    Sparta made it clear that she wanted a naval empire of her own
    The Ionians revolted against the Persians
    The Athenians openly rejected Spartan help


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