Let Those Greeks Speak: Part 1 Quiz

Answer: Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was the son of Philip II of Macedon. He was born in 356 BC. After inheriting the throne of his country, he united all the Greek city-states, apart from Sparta, and conquered the Persian Empire, spreading the Greek civilization and culture up to the Indus river. Undefeated in battle and adored as ruler, Alexander the Great was, is and will be one of the most honored and admired people in world history.

Answer: Pericles

Pericles was born around 495 BC. He was arguably the most renowned statesman in the Golden Age of Athens. He made Athens the most influential power in Ancient Greece. He was also a central figure in the shaping of Athenian democracy to such an extent that he ranks among the most successful populist politicians in the world.

Answer: Socrates

Socrates was one of the most influential and studied philosophers that ever lived. His teachings are the basis of Western philosophy. Although any writings by Socrates himself have not been found, probably because he wrote none himself, he is known by what his followers wrote about him and his philosophy.

Answer: Plato

Plato was a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He founded the Academy in Athens. He wrote numerous texts, such as "The Republic" and "The Apology". His writings constitute the basic source for understanding Platonism, the philosophical doctrine based on Plato and his teachings.

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle was arguably one of the greatest and most influential philosophers in history. He was the teacher of Alexander the Great. His philosophy is a cornerstone for Western philosophy. Apart from being a philosopher, he was also a scientist, writing about logic, zoology, ethics, poetry, language, physics and much more.

Answer: Pythagoras

Pythagoras was a philosopher and mathematician. He was probably the first to call himself a philosopher and his teachings had a great influence in the Ancient Greek philosophy, especially on Plato. As for the latter occupation, he discovered the Pythagorean theorem which has the greatest number of proofs.

Answer: Demosthenes

Demosthenes is perhaps the most well-known orator and spokesman of Ancient Greece. After learning rhetoric by studying speeches of other prominent spokespersons, he devoted himself to combatting, with the power of words, the expansion of the Kingdom of Macedon, led by Philip II. Demosthenes was a staunch advocate of Athenian supremacy and believed that an alliance with Philip would turn Athens into a mere satellite, a follower of Macedon. Today, he is remembered as the perfect example of an orator.

Answer: Diogenes

Diogenes of Sinope was one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. Diogenes believed that virtue is shown chiefly by one's actions and not proved theoretically. He called himself a cosmopolitan and lived in the simplest possible way, sleeping in a "pithos", a ceramic jar, in the marketplace. His writings and doctrines later helped to model Stoicism.

Answer: Protagoras

Protagoras was a pre-Socratic philosopher, belonging to the Sophist movement. Plato classified him as the number one of the Sophists. He is famous for saying that "man is the measure of all things".

Answer: Thucydides

Thucydides was an Athenian historian, philosopher and general. He wrote the history of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, fought between 427 and 404 BC. Apart from writing the military and political history of the war that shocked the ancient world, he sought to explain human behavior in ages of plagues, massacres and other incidents which occur in civil wars.

He and his work are admired worldwide and held in high esteem by students and historians.