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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the feelings of many Athenians leading up to the problems in Sicily?
(a) Many feel that Cleon needs to be in Sicily.
(b) Many feel that Nicias iss unneseccarily inactive.
(c) Many Athenians feel that Sicily is a simple matter.
(d) Most feel that Athens has become invulnerable.

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

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

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

5. Why is Book 5 of the History of the Peloponnesian War such a short book?
(a) There are fewer conflicts spread out over a number of years.
(b) Thucydides has to leave Athens in a hurry.
(c) Much of the history during that time is lost.
(d) There is only one battle during that time.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the text of Thucydides' history end?

2. What are many Syracusans advocating prior to the arrival of Gylippus?

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

4. What is the final year in Thucydides' history?

5. What marks the period of the peace of Nicias from 421 to 413 BC?

Short Essay Questions

1. What shenanigan was attributed to Alcibiades prior to his setting sail for Sicily?

2. During the so-called peace of Nicias, what marked the military conflict between Athens and Sparta?

3. What shift in the balance of power occurred immediately after the disastrous defeat of the Athenian army and navy at Syracuse?

4. What explanation is given to the stylistic density and complexity of History of the Peloponnesian War?

5. Who was the charismatic Athenian who promulgated an anti-Spartan alliance in the Peloponnesus? What weakness did he seem to have?

6. In 411 BC, what happened to Athenian democracy?

7. How did the arrival of Gylippus made a difference in the Athenian attack on Syracuse?

8. What historical turning point is inaugurated by Athens in 415 BC?

9. What unusual twist of fortune occurred for Alcibiades in 411 BC?

10. What is today generally referred to as the peace of Nicias?

(see the answer keys)

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