Q 01/05

Which light, fast oared warship formed the backbone of the Athenian fleet in the Peloponnesian War?

A) Trireme

B) Quinquereme

C) Bireme

D) Penteconter

Answer · why

A) Trireme

Trireme. Its 170 oarsmen sat in three tiers and drove a bronze-clad ram into enemy hulls at the waterline, so a well-drilled crew was the real weapon.

Q 02/05

Which alliance did Athens lead against Sparta in the Peloponnesian War?

A) The Delian League

B) The Peloponnesian League

C) The Boeotian League

D) The Achaean League

Answer · why

A) The Delian League

The Delian League. It was named for the island of Delos, where its treasury was kept until Athens moved the money home in 454 BC and the alliance hard...

Q 03/05

Which foreign power bankrolled a new Spartan fleet late in the Peloponnesian War, tipping the balance against Athens?

A) Carthage

B) Macedon

C) Persia

D) Egypt

Answer · why

C) Persia

Persia. Its gold paid for the fleets that finally beat Athens at sea, and the price was Spartan recognition of the Persian king's claim to the Greek c...

Q 04/05

The opening phase of the Peloponnesian War is named after which Spartan king, who led the first invasions of Attica?

A) Agis II

B) Archidamus II

C) Leonidas I

D) Cleomenes I

Answer · why

B) Archidamus II

Archidamus II. He had warned the Spartans not to rush into the conflict, was outvoted, and then had to lead the invasions that gave the Archidamian Wa...

Q 05/05

Athens lost to Thebes at which battle, fought near a temple of Apollo it had fortified?

A) Delium

B) Mantinea

C) Amphipolis

D) Sybota

Answer · why

A) Delium

Delium. The victors then burned the Athenian garrison out of the fortified temple with a giant bellows-driven fire tube, a primitive flamethrower.