Q 01/05

Which sea borders Provence to the south?

A) The Adriatic

B) The Mediterranean

C) The Bay of Biscay

D) The Ligurian Sea only

Answer · why

B) The Mediterranean

The region stretches from the lower Rhône in the west to the Italian border in the east.

Q 02/05

Besides being the capital of Provence, Marseille holds which distinction among French cities?

A) It is the largest city by area

B) It has the highest rainfall

C) It is the oldest city in France

D) It is the northernmost port

Answer · why

C) It is the oldest city in France

Greek settlers from Phocaea founded it around 600 BC, making it one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited places.

Q 03/05

Where does the name Provence come from?

A) A Celtic word for sunshine

B) The Provençal word for lavender

C) The Roman Provincia Romana

D) A count named Provencius

Answer · why

C) The Roman Provincia Romana

It was Rome's first province beyond the Alps, and "the province" simply stuck as the region's name.

Q 04/05

Greek colonists from which city founded Massalia, now Marseille, around 600 BC?

A) Athens

B) Phocaea

C) Corinth

D) Syracuse

Answer · why

B) Phocaea

A second wave arrived around 540 BC when the Persians destroyed Phocaea, on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor.

Q 05/05

Which Massalian navigator sailed to Iceland around 330 BC and first described the midnight sun?

A) Pytheas

B) Herodotus

C) Strabo

D) Hanno

Answer · why

A) Pytheas

He also worked out that the tides were linked to the phases of the moon and was the first scientist to describe drift ice.