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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who negotiates with both sides--Sparta and Athens--after the defeat at Syracuse?

2. How does a lunar eclipse enter into the Athenian plans to withdraw?

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

4. What happens in 411 BC to the Athenian democracy after the defeat at Syracuse?

5. How many battles are fought between Athens and Syracuse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What feature of Thucydides' writing would not be acceptable in historical writing today?

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

3. After Gylippus' arrival in Syracuse, what immediate conflict began between Syracuse and the Athenians?

4. Aside from the disintegration of Athens and its allies, what was the political/military condition of the Grecian world in 412 BC?

5. What was Thucydides' intention for his history of the war in terms of future reference?

6. In 422 BC, what caused the popularity of the Athenian general, Cleon, to rise?

7. How did Alcibiades respond to his recall to face charges of blasphemy?

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

9. What commonly held belief did Thucydides reject but observed its impact on the war?

10. What was so alarming about the revolt of Chios?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using information about motives and prejudices among both the Spartans the Athenians, write a paper about the absurdity of war. Evaluate what was actually accomplished from the Peloponnesian War. Include your assessment of war in general.

Essay Topic 2

Look up information on Pericles and Cleon. In a paper, discuss Thucydides' opinions of both men. Evaluate Cleon, an aristocrat, who became a champion of the working class. Since Thucydides was also born into aristocracy, is it possible that his bias against Cleon had more to do with social status than with political ideology? Compare Cleon to the Kennedy family of modern day America.

Essay Topic 3

For most of the Peloponnesian War, Athens was under a land siege. Although it had little influence on the economy of Athens, imagine how it might have affected civilian life and write a paper on your idea of the limitations such a siege would put on a population.

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