Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 08
Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
8-1
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
4. (p. 138) The Mycenaeans received early, indirect influence from the Egyptians and
Phoenicians through their contact with the
A. Minoans.
B. Persians.
C. Lydians.
D. Macedonians.
E. Aryans.
5. (p. 137) The most notable lavish palace of Minoan culture was located at
A. Troy.
B. Sparta.
C. Athens.
D. Harappa.
E. Knossos.
8-2
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
7. (p. 138) The Spartans were constantly afraid of the prospect of an uprising by serfs known as
A. helots.
B. poleis.
C. Minoans.
D. Athenians.
E. Dravidians.
8-3
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
10. (p. 139) The leader who forged a compromise between Athens's social classes by allowing
the aristocrats to keep their land while also providing representation for the common classes
was
A. Solon.
B. Socrates.
C. Miltiades.
D. Pericles.
E. Plato.
11. (p. 139) Under whose leadership did Athens become the most sophisticated of the poleis?
A. Solon
B. Cleisthenes
C. Pericles
D. Pisistratus
E. Plato
8-4
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
14. (p. 143) The most important port in the Hellenistic world was
A. Alexandria.
B. Athens.
C. Thebes.
D. Persepolis.
E. Sparta.
15. (p. 142) The point at which Alexander had to give up his conquests and return home came in
A. Alexandria.
B. Persepolis.
C. India.
D. Susa.
E. Sparta.
8-5
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
16. (p. 143) Of all the Hellenistic empires, Greek influence was greatest in
A. the Seleucid realm.
B. Ptolemaic Egypt.
C. Carthage.
D. the Antigonid state.
E. the Roman empire.
17. (p. 144) In which polis did women have the most freedom?
A. Sparta
B. Corinth
C. Athens
D. Thebes
E. Syracuse
8-6
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
20. (p. 145) Which of the following did Socrates believe was more important than wealth or
fame?
A. the will of the gods
B. honor
C. love
D. forms or ideas
E. political authority
8-7
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
23. (p. 146) In the Republic, Plato proposed that the true rulers of society should be
A. the descendents of Socrates.
B. the electorate, through a democratic framework.
C. the Spartans because of their emphasis on character and control.
D. the Athenians because of their wealth and fame.
E. a philosophical elite.
24. (p. 146) Which Greek god was the grandson of the earth and sky gods?
A. Apollo
B. Zeus
C. Hera
D. Demeter
E. Dionysus
8-8
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
25. (p. 148) During its early history, Italy was dominated by the
A. Greeks.
B. Persians.
C. Minoans.
D. Etruscans.
E. Assyrians.
26. (p. 148) In the early stages of the Roman republic, the patricians elected two
A. kings.
B. consuls.
C. tribunes.
D. archons.
E. senators.
27. (p. 148) In an effort to alleviate social tensions, which group was allowed to elect two and
then later ten tribunes?
A. plebeians
B. slaves
C. patricians
D. consuls
E. dictators
8-9
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
28. (p. 149) In the early period of Roman expansion, the principal power in the western
Mediterranean was the
A. Greeks.
B. Etruscans.
C. Persians.
D. Gauls.
E. Carthaginians.
29. (p. 149) Rome's monumental struggle with the Carthaginians was known as the
A. Phoenician Wars.
B. Gracchi Wars.
C. Persian Wars.
D. Punic Wars.
E. Sicilian Wars.
8-10
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
33. (p. 151) The reign of Augustus inaugurated a period known as the
A. Punic Wars.
B. pax romana.
C. mare nostrum.
D. carpe deum.
E. Augustan reform.
8-11
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
35. (p. 154) By the second century C.E., how much of the total population of the Roman empire
was represented by slaves?
A. one-hundredth
B. one-twentieth
C. one-tenth
D. one-third
E. two-thirds
8-12
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
38. (p. 154) The most prominent school of moral philosophy in Rome was
A. Stoicism.
B. Epicureanism.
C. Legalism.
D. Mithraism.
E. Neo-Platonism.
39. (p. 155-156) Which of the following religions was NOT popular during the Roman empire?
A. Christianity
B. Mithraism
C. the cult of Cybele
D. Judaism
E. the cult of Isis
8-13
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
40. (p. 156) Jesus of Nazareth's followers called him Christ, which meant
A. "the son of god."
B. "the anointed one."
C. "the redeemer."
D. "the son of man."
E. "the king."
41. (p. 150) The decisive naval battle in the Persian War was at Salamis.
TRUE
42. (p. 139) It was under the leadership of Philip II that Athens became the cultural forefront of
the Greek world.
FALSE
8-14
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
44. (p. 147) Hellenistic philosophers who identified pleasure as the highest good were Stoics.
FALSE
45. (p. 139) Solon was an aristocrat who played a key role in the creation of democracy.
TRUE
46. (p. 148) The tribunes were the wealthy classes in early Rome.
FALSE
47. (p. 148) The Etruscans were a northern Italian tribe that heavily influenced Rome in its early
history.
TRUE
48. (p. 148) The common people in early Rome were called patricians.
FALSE
8-15
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
49. (p. 151) Julius Caesar was the leader who reunified the Roman world and began the pax
romana.
FALSE
50. (p. 156) Paul of Tarsus was the leading figure in the expansion of Christianity beyond
Judaism.
TRUE
Essay Questions
51. Second-century historian Arrian proposed that Alexander the Great, "had an uncanny
instinct for the right course." What were Alexander's main goals? Was his ambition his
greatest strength or most dangerous weakness?
52. Socrates believed that, "no evil can happen to a good man, either in life, or after death."
How would Socrates define a good man? What were the foundations of his thought?
8-16
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
53. What part did slaves play in Athens and Sparta? How did Greek law treat slaves?
54. Discuss the philosophical contributions of the ancient Greeks. How did thinkers such as
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the later Hellenistic philosophers shape the world?
55. Examine the influence of the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Minoans on the early Greeks.
What Greek characteristics express these influences? In what ways were the Greeks different
from these other societies?
56. In what ways were the Mycenaeans similar to the later Athenians and Spartans of the
classical age? What legacy did the Mycenaean period leave behind?
8-17
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
57. What were the achievements and limitations of Greek democracy? In what ways could the
experiences of the Greeks have influenced the early American thinkers in the formation of
their republic?
58. What were the major historical legacies of the Hellenistic age? In what ways was this
period different from the earlier Hellenic age?
59. Discuss the Greek Olympic Games. What can these games tell us about the nature of the
Greeks?
60. What could the nature of Greek drama and comedy tell us about how the Greeks viewed
themselves? What makes their drama and comedy unique?
8-18
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
61. Discuss the nature of the Homeric epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. How influential
were these works to the Greeks? In what ways do these works express the Greek worldview?
62. Examine the social structure of the ancient Greeks. What role did women play in their
society? Were there variations of the social structure among the different city-states?
63. Examine the relationship between the Greeks and Persians. How influential were the
Persian Wars on later Greek history?
64. Examine Greek exploration and colonization. What do these actions say about the Greek
economic, social, and intellectual worlds?
8-19
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
65. Examine the career of Alexander of Macedon. What factors drove him onto the world
stage? How did he influence history?
66. How did geography influence the political structure of ancient Greece? Why didn't the
Greeks ever unify? What brought them together? What tore them apart?
67. Look at the map of Greek colonies on page 137. What role did Greek sailors and
merchants play in cultural as well as economic expansion? How did sailing and adventure
express the nature of the Greeks?
68. Discuss the cultural and architectural splendor of Athens as represented in the picture on
page 134. Remember that some of these buildings were built with money from the Delian
League. What might this fact say about Athenian arrogance?
8-20
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
69. What is Socrates' view of death? (see Textbook: Sources from the Past: Socrates' View on
Death). How does this view relate to his pursuit of truth? How did it relate to his own death?
70. Discuss the concept of pax romana. What were the outstanding characteristics of this
period? How were the Romans able to unify this region and hold it together for such a long
period of time?
71. The reign of Augustus Caesar is usually seen as the beginning of a glorious age. The
historian Tacitus, however, noticed many problems, including the fact that the, "legal system .
. . was wholly incapacitated by violence, favoritism, and—most of all—bribery." Which of
these views is correct? What were the achievements and shortcomings of Augustus's reign?
72. Examine the role that family played in ancient Rome. What role did women play inside
and outside the home? Did women have more or less freedom in Rome than in other
societies?
8-21
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
73. Examine the reign of Augustus Caesar. What steps did he take to restore order and
implement the pax romana? What were the long-term effects of his influence?
74. Examine the intellectual world of the Romans. How did the Greeks influence the
Romans? In what ways were they different?
75. Why did the Romans create such a huge and long-lasting empire, when the Greeks were
never able to unify? Did character play a role?
76. Compare and contrast the Roman and Chinese empires. What made these states so
powerful and influential for such a long period of time?
8-22
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
77. How did trade shape the Roman world? Discuss the implications of the Mediterranean as
mare nostrum. How did trade work to bring the Roman world together?
78. Compare the status of women in Rome to their status in the rest of the ancient world. How
was the role of women different in Rome than in the Greek city-states?
79. Compare the Punic Wars to the Persian Wars. In what ways were both events pivotal?
What might have happened if the wars had turned out differently?
80. What were the main achievements and limitations of the Roman republic and Roman
empire? What were the key turning points in Roman history?
8-23
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
81. Examine the constantly changing religious world of the Romans. Explain the Roman role
in the rise of Christianity.
82. Discuss the Roman concept of citizenship. Relate it to the success of Roman expansion.
How does citizenship relate to the ideals of Roman character?
83. Discuss the reign of Julius Caesar. How did he transform the Roman state? How great was
his influence on the later Roman empire?
84. Look at the picture of the Roman forum on page 149. What do the ruins tell us about
public life in Roman times?
8-24
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 08 - Mediterranean Society under the Greeks and the Romans
85. Look at the picture of the Pantheon on page 155. What can this picture tell us about the
importance of religion to the Romans? What does it say about Roman architectural skills?
86. Examine the map of the expansion of the Roman republic on page 150. What role did the
Punic Wars play in that expansion? What strains could such a rapid expansion have placed on
the republic?
87. Examine the map of the Roman empire on page 152. Compare the size and diversity of
this empire to other empires covered earlier in the class. Why did roads and trade play such a
key role in Roman success?
8-25
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.