The Persian Wars Quiz

The battle of Thermopylae, despite the Greek defeat, inspired Greek unity and resistance against the Persians.

Athenian strategy to defend against the Persian invasion by using the narrow waters of the Salamis Strait against the Persian fleet.

The decisive naval victory of the Greeks against the Persians at the Salamis Strait, forcing Xerxes to retreat to Persia.

The final land battle of the Persian Wars, where the Greeks decisively defeated the remaining Persian army, effectively ending the Persian threat.

A period after the Persian Wars where the Greeks established a powerful naval alliance led by Athens, aiming to maintain control in the Aegean Sea and prevent a new Persian invasion.

The Athenian leadership of the Delian League led to economic prosperity and the expansion of Athenian power, increasing Athenian influence in the Aegean Sea.

The Delian League's money was used to finance Athenian democracy, providing payments for services like jury duty and boosting participation in politics.

The fear of Athenian growing power and influence, especially from Sparta, who feared Athenian democratic ideals and expansionist policies.

The Delian League, led by Cimon, aimed to expel Persians from Thrace, banish pirates from Scyros, and clear the route to the Hellespont.

Cimon's success in capturing Scyros and enslaving pirates boosted his popularity but also led to defections from the Delian League

The Thasian Revolt against Athenian control of the Thracian Mines was sparked by Athenian economic interests and desire for expansion.

Athens sought control over the Thracian Mines to utilize the gold for Athenian expansion and economic power.

The Thasian revolt demonstrates the tension between Athenian economic interests and the autonomy of other Greek cities within the Delian League.

The Thasian Revolt ended with Thasos surrendering their ships, mines, and paying tribute, highlighting the consequences of defying Athens' power within the Delian League.

Cimon's actions in Thassos sparked political scrutiny in Athens, with accusations of corruption and questioning the rationale behind his military strategies.

Although acquitted, Cimon's political downfall demonstrates the potential for internal conflict and challenges to Athenian power within the Delian League.

A battle fought in 331 BCE between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia, near the village of Gaugamela in present-day northern Iraq. Alexander's army of 50,000 defeated Darius's army of 100,000-200,000, marking a turning point in Alexander's conquest of Persia.

A peace treaty signed in 387 BCE, ending the Corinthian War (395-387 BCE). The treaty, dictated by Artaxerxes II, declared Greek city-states autonomous and free from interference. It acknowledged Sparta's control over the Peloponnese and Persia's control over Asia Minor, ending hostilities between Sparta and its opponents (Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos).

A critical battle fought in 362 BCE near Mantinea, in the Peloponnese, between Thebes and its allies against Sparta, Athens, and their coalition. The battle was a pyrrhic victory for Thebes, with Epaminondas, the Theban leader, dying in the battle, and Thebes losing its dominance over Greece.

A pro-Spartan oligarchic government established in Athens after the city's defeat in the Peloponnesian War. Appointed in 404 BCE with Spartan support, the Thirty Tyrants lasted for eight months and had a deep impact on Athenian democracy. Leaders like Critias, a former student of Socrates, implemented harsh rule and oppression.

The Peace of Nicias was a failed attempt to end the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in 421 BCE.

Athens's influence over its allies, particularly Amohipolis, and Sparta's frustration with this influence contributed to the breakdown of the Peace of Nicias.

The Sicilian Expedition, launched by Athens in 415 BCE, aimed to conquer Sicily, but turned into a disastrous defeat for Athens. This loss marked a turning point in the Peloponnesian War.

The Battle of Ipsos, fought in 301 BCE, was a decisive conflict among Alexander the Great's successors (the Diadochi) for control of his vast empire.

Seleucus I, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy I were among the Diadochi who formed a coalition to defeat Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who had ambitions to reunite Alexander's empire.

The Battle of Ipsos saw the use of war elephants by Seleucus, which gave his forces a key advantage over the traditional tactics of Antigonus' army.

The Battle of Ipsos resulted in the death of Antigonus I and the collapse of his forces, paving the way for the establishment of the Seleucid Empire, led by Seleucus I.

The Peace of Apamea, signed in 188 BCE, ended the Roman-Seleucid War, marking a significant moment in the expansion of Roman power in the eastern Mediterranean.

A military formation developed by Phillip II of Macedon, consisting of heavily armed infantry with long spears (sarissas) arranged in dense ranks. This formation was highly effective against cavalry and infantry, creating an impenetrable wall of spear points.

A long spear or pike, typically 16-18 feet long, used by soldiers in the Macedonian Phalanx.

The Achaean League was a federation of Greek city-states in the Peloponnese, formed to resist the power of larger states like Sparta and Macedon.

A system that allowed citizens of one city to gain rights and privileges in another, effectively creating dual citizenship. This promoted cooperation and mutual benefits between cities.

This federal court resolved disputes between member cities and maintained order in the Achaean League, ensuring a unified legal system across the federation.

The Roman invasion in 146 BCE brought an end to the Achaean League. After the Battle of Corinth, Roman rule was established over the region.

This was a pivotal moment for the Achaean League as Romans intervened, ending their attempt to resist Roman influence and ultimately leading to their defeat.

This war marked the turning point for the Achaean League, weakening their power and paving the way for Roman dominance.

The treaty signed in Apamea in modern-day Turkey, marking a significant defeat for the Seleucid Empire and diminishing their threat to Roman influence in the eastern Mediterranean. The Seleucids were forced to surrender vast territories, reduce their army, pay a large indemnity, and provide a hostage to Rome.

The city of Seleukeia on the Tigris River, founded by Seleucus I in 305 BCE as the new capital of the Seleucid Empire. Its strategic location on a major trade route and its access to the Tigris made it a vital center for commerce and communication throughout the empire.

A pivotal battle fought in 222 BCE between the Achaean League, led by Cleomenes III of Sparta, and a coalition of Macedonian forces led by Antigonus III Doson, supported by the Achaean League and Messenian allies. This battle marked the end of Spartan dominance in the Peloponnese and shifted power in favor of the Achaean League.

Cleomenes III, the king of Sparta, aimed to break the power of the Achaean League but was defeated at the Battle of Sellasia, marking the decline of Spartan power.

King Antigonus III Doson, the king of Macedon, intervened in the conflict between the Achaean League and Sparta, providing military support to the Achaean League and eventually leading the coalition to victory at the Battle of Sellasia.

The Seleucid Empire, founded by Seleucus I, was a vast Hellenistic kingdom that stretched from Asia Minor to the Indus River. The Empire aimed to spread Greek culture and influence throughout its territories.

The Hellenistic Period, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, was a time of cultural exchange and integration between Greek and Eastern cultures, impacting art, literature, and science.