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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What major battle occurs in the winter of 415 BC?
(a) Sicily versus Macedonia
(b) Sparta versus Italy
(c) Thrace versus Thebes
(d) Athens versus Syracuse

2. What happens at Amphipolis?
(a) Brasidas is defeated by Cleon's forces.
(b) Cleon is defeated by an audacious attack by Brasidas and both generals are killed in the fighting.
(c) Cleon loses his right arm in the battle at Amphipolis.
(d) There is a great battle that ended in a stand-off.

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

4. What is the net result of Gylippus' demand for more and better triremes?
(a) It bankrupts the country.
(b) More of the fighting takes place on the sea.
(c) A disastrous defeat of the Athenian fleet
(d) The ships do not perform as expected.

5. What happens in 411 BC to the Athenian democracy after the defeat at Syracuse?
(a) Martial law is declared to restore order and democracy.
(b) The democracy splits into three separate factions.
(c) All the leaders resign in helplessness.
(d) Athenian democracy collapses under the pressure of assassinations and military defeat.

6. How many battles are fought between Athens and Syracuse?
(a) One
(b) Four
(c) Two
(d) Three

7. What further mischief does a former Athenian general create in 412 BC?
(a) Cleon turns traitor and gives state secrets to Sparta.
(b) Nicias leads a revolt of the Athenian army.
(c) Alcibiades attempts to subvert an Athenian army in the field at Samos.
(d) Demosthenes attempts to establish an oligarchy with himself at its head.

8. What is the resulting military action after the revolt of Chios?
(a) A larger revolt involving more of the Delian League allies
(b) A surprise attack on Athens by Sparta and Syracuse
(c) The arrival of a Persian fleet in the Aegean Sea
(d) A combined Athenian and Argive force achieves a victory at Miletus but then retires as a larger Peloponnesian relief force approaches.

9. 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 leads an Athenian expedition to Thrace where he recaptures some areas formerly subjugated by Sparta.
(d) Cleon is elected to lead the country for life.

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

11. What are the Athenians doing in Italy at about the same time?
(a) Preparing to invade Syracuse
(b) Taking a break from the war
(c) Calling an international conference
(d) Regrouping to attack Peloponnesus

12. From a more historical point of view, how does the peace of Nicias seem to scholars?
(a) It appears to be a gradual cessation of hostilities.
(b) It seems to be misnamed for Nicias and should be credited to Cleon.
(c) It looks like a failed effort at diplomacy.
(d) It does not look like a peace at all.

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

14. What serious setback happens to Athens in 413 BC?
(a) There is an earthquake that destroys the walls around Athens.
(b) The Athenian fleet is decisively destroyed in Sicily during the winter of 413 BC.
(c) All of Athens' allies desert to Sparta.
(d) The plague returns, wiping out two thirds of the Athenian military.

15. How does a lunar eclipse enter into the Athenian plans to withdraw?
(a) It terrifies the Syracusans and causes them to withdraw.
(b) It gives the Syracusans a chance to attack in darkness.
(c) It gives the Athenians a chance to withdraw in darkness.
(d) It iss viewed as an omen and the Athenians wait too long to depart.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the significance of Thucydides' inclusion of the story of Aristogiton and Harmodius?

2. How does Thucydides write about important speeches and rhetoric during his time?

3. After the demise of Athenian democracy, what political force gains control?

4. In 422 BC, what is the financial condition of Athens?

5. What happens to the Athenian attack on Amphipolis?

(see the answer keys)

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