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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the significance of Thucydides' inclusion of the story of Aristogiton and Harmodius?
(a) It is an important event that is glossed over lightly.
(b) It is a strange inclusion of Greek superstition.
(c) It is a nearly unique authorial digression from the history of the war itself.
(d) It has nothing to do with either Athens or Sparta.

2. What is the contradiction of Tissapherne's interaction with Sparta?
(a) He makes an alliance with Sparta but also makes a secret alliance with Syracuse.
(b) After making an alliance with Sparta, he continues negotiating with Athens.
(c) Even as he declares an alliance with Sparta, he begins to cut material contributions to the Peloponnesians.
(d) He never intends to keep his promises to Peloponesus.

3. What ultimatum does Athens give to Melos?
(a) Pay tribute or be wholly destroyed
(b) Build triemes for Athens or face an embargo
(c) Join the Delian League or remain neutral
(d) Surrender supporters of Sparta or face the consequences

4. When Alcibiades is eventually recalled for blasphemy, what does he do?
(a) He flees to Sparta.
(b) He goes to Alexandria.
(c) He tears up the summons.
(d) He hires Socrates to defend him.

5. What is the political position of Argos from 418 through 416 BC?
(a) Vascilation between Athens and Sparta
(b) Maintained neutrality
(c) Consistently pro-Athens
(d) Consistently pro Spart

6. What innovation does Gylippus utilize in the second battle at Syracuse?
(a) Catapults
(b) Explosives
(c) Battering rams
(d) Cavalry

7. What unusual plan does Syracuse put into operation against Athens?
(a) Syracusans lead land attacks.
(b) Syracusans put out a rumor that the city has the plague.
(c) Syracuse sends sick civilians into the Athenian ranks to spread disease.
(d) Syracusans build a fleet and attack the Athenian navy.

8. Who arrives in Sicily and changes the course of the conflict with Athens?
(a) Myron
(b) Agamemnon
(c) Brasias
(d) Gylippus

9. What is the relationship of Melos to Athens during the period of the peace of Nicias?
(a) Melos accedes to all Athanian demands and comes under the Athenian umbrella.
(b) Melos seeks to evade entanglement in the Delian League.
(c) Melos then engages Athens in political rhetoric and refuses to yield to Athenian demands.
(d) Melos sends envoys to both Athens and Sparta.

10. What success does Cleon have during the time of Book 5?
(a) Cleon negotiates a cease fire with Crete.
(b) Cleon succeeds in reguilding the Athenian war machine.
(c) Cleon is elected to lead the country for life.
(d) Cleon leads an Athenian expedition to Thrace where he recaptures some areas formerly subjugated by Sparta.

11. What desecration of religious idols is charged to Alcibiades?
(a) The vandalism of the Hermae of Athens
(b) Knocking over the statues of Athena
(c) The stoning of the Oracle at Delphi
(d) Setting fire to the temple of Apollo

12. How are the triremes used in naval combat?
(a) They aim for the enemy ship and ram it.
(b) They come alongside another trireme and break its oars.
(c) They are outfitted with dart throwing devices.
(d) The move in quickly and are able to board the enemy ship.

13. What claim does Alcibiades make when the Phoenician navy remains neutral in the Aegean?
(a) He claims it is his personal influence with the Phoenicians.
(b) He claims that the Phoenicians are little better than pirates.
(c) He claims that rumors of Phoenician ships in the area are false intelligence.
(d) He claims that he enlists the Spartan fleet to battle the Phoenicians.

14. What is the first step in the unraveling of the Athenian force?
(a) Money is playing out in Athens.
(b) The raids on Peloponnesus become ineffective.
(c) The Spartan presence in fortified Decelea causes difficulty in Athens, and Sparta sends reinforcements to Syracuse.
(d) There starts to be a lot of defections.

15. What does Athens do in Scione?
(a) Gains another ally
(b) Prepares for a long winter
(c) Establishes a new military base of operations
(d) Executes the men and enslaves the women and children

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Thucydides say about the new Peloponnesian triremes?

2. After military setbacks, what disagreement arses between Nicias and Demosthenes?

3. What transpires in Syracuse in 414 BC?

4. What removes Syracuse, Sicily, and Italy from the text of Thucydides' history?

5. What further mischief does a former Athenian general create in 412 BC?

(see the answer keys)

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