Deck 7: Empire-Building and Cultural Exchange From India to the Mediterranean, 600-200 B.C.E.

Question 1

Persia's strategic importance lies in its

A) vast supplies of iron deposits.
B) geographic position as conduit between North and South Afroeurasia.
C) geographic position as conduit between the eastern and western portions of Afroeurasia.
D) easy access to the Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and the Mediterranean.

Answer 1

geographic position as conduit between the eastern and western portions of Afroeurasia.

Question 2

The Achaemenid dynasty ruled from which region?

A) the Iranian plateau
B) the Tigris/Euphrates valley
C) the Aegean basin
D) the Nile

Answer 2

the Iranian plateau

Question 3

Under Cyrus II, the Achaemenids achieved which of the following?

A) a lasting peace between the lands of Persia and Mesopotamia
B) a swift and decisive victory over the Greeks
C) the creation of a thriving literary and artistic culture that spread throughout Afroeurasia
D) the conquering of most of the lands of Mesopotamia

Answer 3

the conquering of most of the lands of Mesopotamia

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Achaemenids and the Greeks?

A) The two states mutually respected one another's geographic boundaries.
B) The two states frequently warred with one another, with no decisive victories for either side.
C) The Greeks and Persians united to conquer the Indus valley.
D) Greeks and Persians had little contact with one another and only communicated via trade routes.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the Achaemenid view of rule?

A) The Achaemenids favored ethnically Persian subjects and distrusted non-Persians in the empire.
B) The Achaemenids promoted equality among their subjects as long as they pledged loyalty to the sovereign ruler.
C) The Achaemenids sought to govern a multiethnic empire and constantly sought to bring more populations under their rule.
D) The Achaemenids sought to purge their lands of non-Persian populations and, as a result, exiled large minority groups beyond the borders of the empire.

Question 6

The responsibilities of a Persian satrap included

A) performing religious rituals.
B) collecting revenue for the royal treasury.
C) choosing the Persian emperor.
D) ensuring that farming output was sufficient to support the empire.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding women in the Achaemenid empire?

A) Achaemenid women participated in public affairs more readily than women in other Southwest Asian states.
B) Achaemenid women were permitted to own their own estates and attend the emperor at court.
C) Through marriage, Achaemenid women were able to exert a degree of political influence.
D) Achaemenid women were allowed to participate in military affairs and occasionally led Achaemenid armies.

Question 8

Which of the following was a major consequence of Achaemenid rule?

A) Farsi became the dominant language throughout parts of Southwest Asia and the Indus valley.
B) Trading peoples such as the Phoenicians and Greeks were unable to compete with the trading power of the Achaemenids.
C) Communication greatly improved where the Achaemenids ruled, due to the construction of roads throughout the empire.
D) Cultural uniformity came to replace cultural diversity wherever the Achaemenids ruled.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the impact of Achaemenid rule on trade?

A) Achaemenid rulers allowed their subjects to trade only within the empire to encourage internal self-sufficiency.
B) The Achaemenids expanded trade routes from the Indus valley to the Aegean basin.
C) Achaemenid warfare often disrupted trade and inflated the prices of everyday goods.
D) The Achaemenids often exported raw materials to other urban centers in exchange for luxury goods produced outside of the empire.

Question 10

Ahura Mazda refers to which of the following?

A) Persia's most famous emperor
B) the capitol of the Achaemenid empire
C) the site of a remarkably intact Achaemenid palace
D) the supreme creator deity of the Persians

Question 11

The Avesta recounts which of the following?

A) the teachings of Zoroaster
B) the military victories of the Achaemenids
C) the lives of everyday Achaemenids
D) the legal code of the Achaemenids

Question 12

Which of the following best summarizes Zoroastrianism?

A) a polytheistic religion in which different gods are associated with different aspects of nature
B) a monotheistic religion in which followers must reject earthly pleasures
C) a highly organized religion in which one's social position determines his or her relationship to the supreme deity
D) a monotheistic religion in which people must constantly strive to fight evil in the world

Question 13

Zoroastrianism influenced which of the following religions?

A) Buddhism
B) Christianity
C) Brahmanism
D) Judaism

Question 14

The belief that Achaemenid rulers were compelled by Ahura Mazda to rule justly is similar to which other concept?

A) the Egyptian belief that the pharaohs were divine beings
B) the Israelite belief that God cared deeply for his followers
C) the Brahmin belief that only through good deeds could one reunite with the divine
D) the Chinese belief in the Mandate of Heaven

Question 15

The Achaemenid belief in Ahura Mazda led to which of the following?

A) a campaign to convert all Achaemenid subjects to the teachings of Zoroaster
B) an ascetic lifestyle among the Achaemenid nobility
C) the flourishing of other religious communities throughout the empire
D) frequent rebellions to overthrow unjust rulers who had lost the approval of Ahura Mazda

Question 16

Greece's economic prosperity during the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E. led to which of the following?

A) a flourishing of the arts and sciences
B) the consolidation of Greece's city-states into one kingdom
C) a widening gap between the rich and poor of Greek society
D) the ascendency of certain powerful merchants to noble status

Question 17

Which of the following could be said about Greeks in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E.?

A) Greek culture was fragmented, and inhabitants of one poleis had little in common with inhabitants of another.
B) Greeks remained far weaker militarily compared to other political entities of the day.
C) The concept of a distinct Greek identity did not arise until modern times.
D) Greek identity centered on cultural rather than political unity.

Question 18

All of the following helped to unify Greeks EXCEPT

A) the mythic heroes of the Iliad and Odyssey.
B) a shared monotheistic faith.
C) a common alphabet.
D) competitive games.

Question 19

An oligarchy can best be described as a government in which

A) all power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler.
B) power is shared equally among all citizens.
C) power is concentrated in the hands of a few privileged individuals.
D) religious leaders hold political power.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the city-state of Sparta?

A) Sparta was a type of proto-democracy.
B) Sparta was a highly militarized society.
C) Women in Sparta were banned from all military participation.
D) Sparta was a militarily weak poleis and was frequently invaded by outside forces.

Question 21

Which of the following is a true statement regarding Athenian democracy?

A) All adult men and women could participate in government.
B) Only a few select elected officials could participate in government.
C) Only adult males who had voting rights could participate in government.
D) Only wealthy men and women could participate in government.

Question 22

Despite their exclusion from public affairs, Athenian women

A) participated in the Athenian economy and many religious ceremonies.
B) had a great deal of control over their marriage prospects.
C) could hold large amounts of land and wealth.
D) could serve as judges and jurors in trials.

Question 23

Which of the following best summarizes the Athenian view of slavery?

A) Athenian democracy prohibited slavery.
B) No Greek could be held as a slave in any of the city-states.
C) Though slaves had no legal rights, they were not considered property by Athenians.
D) Despite Athenians' democratic inclinations, slaves were numerous in Athens and were considered property.

Question 24

One important military innovation of the Greek city-states was

A) the use of iron weaponry.
B) cavalry.
C) the phalanx.
D) the chariot.

Question 25

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the flourishing of Greek culture in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.E.?

A) Greek culture was highly influenced by the achievements of earlier civilizations as well as other cultures of the time, such as the Achaemenids.
B) Greek culture was entirely distinct from any other culture of the time.
C) Greeks actively emulated and adopted Achaemenid habits in order to gain favor among Achaemenid ruling elites.
D) The flowering of Greek culture came at the expense of the Greek economy, and though culturally rich, Greeks were economically poor.

Question 26

Unlike the Hebrew faith, Greek religion

A) centered on a sacred scripture.
B) revolved around the teachings of a single prophet.
C) was organized by a highly privileged priestly class.
D) was relatively decentralized and incoherent.

Question 27

Natural philosophy refers to the

A) Greek concept that all complex human civilizations will inevitably participate in philosophical inquiry.
B) Greek idea that laws govern nature and human behavior and that humans can discern these laws through careful investigation.
C) Achaemenid notion that in understanding nature, humans can understand the divine.
D) Hebrew belief that god controls all aspects of nature.

Question 28

Which of the following best describes the relationship between art and philosophy in Greek society?

A) Artists and philosophers mingled little and often looked down on each other's work.
B) Though valued equally in society, artists and philosophers served very different functions in the Greek poleis.
C) Art and philosophy were viewed as part of the same endeavor to reveal aspects of the natural laws that governed the world.
D) Artists generally were in the employ of wealthy Greek patrons, while philosophers operated largely independently.

Question 29

Which of the following best summarizes Plato's vision of an ideal society?

A) a society ruled by a class of philosopher kings
B) a completely democratic society in which all adult men and women participated fully in public life
C) a society in which only highly educated males could hold public office
D) a society in which slavery was banned

Question 30

Alexander the Great hailed from which territory?

A) Athens
B) Sparta
C) Thebes
D) Macedonia

Question 31

Alexander the Great's view of rule most closely resembled which of the following?

A) the Greek poleis
B) the militarism of Sparta
C) the Egyptian concept of divine rule
D) the Chinese Mandate of Heaven

Question 32

Which of the following was a lasting effect of Alexander the Great's rule, despite its brevity?

A) the spread of Greek culture from the Mediterranean to the Indus valley
B) the adoption of Macedonian as the lingua franca wherever he had conquered
C) the rise of Greek-type democracies throughout the lands of Mesopotamia
D) the spread of the Greek pantheon of gods throughout Afroeurasia

Question 33

The term Hellenistic refers to which of the following?

A) the age that preceded Alexander the Great's rise to power, in which the Greek poleis controlled much of the Mediterranean
B) the age following Alexander the Great's death, in which Greek culture spread widely from the Mediterranean to India
C) the age following the death of Alexander the Great, in which Greek culture declined dramatically
D) the age following Alexander the Great's death, in which the Greek city-states conquered Macedonia and reasserted their independence

Question 34

The Seleucid empire controlled which of the following territories?

A) Egypt
B) India
C) the former lands of the Achaemenid empire
D) the former lands of the Assyrian empire

Question 35

Hellenistic cities all resembled one another in which important way?

A) Greek was the main tongue of all Hellenistic cities.
B) All Hellenistic cities sought to emulate the architecture and layout of Greek city-states.
C) All Hellenistic cities attempted to rid themselves of evidence of Alexander the Great's rule.
D) All Hellenistic cities attempted to emulate the architecture and layout of the Achaemenids.

Question 36

Evidence suggests that upper-class women in Hellenistic cities

A) held less power than did women in the Greek poleis.
B) held full equality with men.
C) were the main bearers of Greek culture.
D) held more rights and had more influence than women in the Greek poleis.

Question 37

The existence of Egyptian coins bearing the face of Arsinoe II alone suggests which of the following?

A) She was able to influence Egypt's economy, but held little power militarily.
B) Her power was derived from her brother and coruler.
C) She was a powerful ruler and influenced many facets of Egyptian life.
D) Her brother and coruler sought to distance himself from his sister, who had fallen out of favor among Egyptians.

Question 38

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding culture in the Hellenistic world?

A) All inhabitants of Hellenistic cities came to speak Greek.
B) Cross-cultural exchange led to the close mingling of Greek and non-Greek cultures throughout the Hellenistic world.
C) The Greek gods came to entirely supplant other deities.
D) Greek culture diffused widely throughout all classes of society, from farmers and laborers to wealthy aristocrats.

Question 39

Cynicism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism can best be described as

A) philosophies in the tradition of the Greek poleis.
B) sharp departures from Greek philosophy.
C) religions combining the beliefs of the Greeks, the Achaemenids, and the Egyptians.
D) types of philosophies in which all forms of reason and observation were rejected in favor of instinct and emotion.

Question 40

The Septuagint refers to which of the following?

A) the historical treatise describing how the Jews of Alexandria adopted the Greek gods and abandoned their monotheism
B) the body of work in which the Greek classics were translated into Hebrew by Jews living in Alexandria
C) the pact made between Ptolemy II and the Jews of Alexandria permitting them to trade freely in that city
D) the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek, undertaken by Jews living in Alexandria

Question 41

Ashoka based his rule on which religion?

A) Judaism
B) Buddhism
C) Brahmanism
D) Hellenism

Question 42

According to Buddhist teachings, a person might free him/herself from suffering by

A) rejecting earthly pleasures and living an ascetic life.
B) closely following the social rules of Brahmanism.
C) rejecting the lesser deities of Brahmanism.
D) using one's wealth or influence to help others.

Question 43

Nirvana can best be described as

A) the good deeds one must perform in order to reunite with the divine.
B) the punishments one must endure for doing evil in the world.
C) a freeing from the cycle of death and rebirth and reunification with the divine.
D) the divine state that only the Brahmin priestly class could obtain.

Question 44

Which of the following best describes the relationship between Brahmanism and Buddhism?

A) Buddhism was a highly controversial movement that sought to oppose Brahmanism.
B) Buddhism rose out of Brahmanism and accepted many of its basic tenets.
C) Buddhism rejected the polytheistic beliefs of Brahmanism.
D) Buddhists attempted to destroy the rigid social system espoused by Brahmanism.

Question 45

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the position of women within Buddhist thought?

A) Women were viewed as ritually impure and incapable of achieving salvation.
B) Women were encouraged to become Buddhist leaders and preachers.
C) Women could only achieve salvation with the help of men.
D) Though women were considered to be inferior to men, they too could achieve salvation.

Question 46

An important tenet of Jainism is the

A) prohibition against killing any life form no matter how small.
B) belief that wealth and prosperity are signs that you have moved ahead in the reincarnation cycle.
C) idea that violence is justified when used to protect and uphold the divine will.
D) belief that women can obtain salvation more easily than men.

Question 47

Emperor Ashoka's vision of dhamma caused him to

A) rule his realm with a ruthless and iron hand.
B) uphold the revered status of Brahmin priests.
C) urge responsible behavior toward one another regardless of class.
D) raise the status of women in his empire.

Question 48

Emperor Ashoka is responsible for which of the following?

A) improved communication and trade throughout India
B) an increase in the spread of Brahmanism
C) a decline in the spread of Buddhism
D) the suppression of non-Buddhist faiths

Question 49

The pastoral nomadic populations of Inner Eurasia organized their communities according to which of the following?

A) religion
B) kinship
C) language
D) social class

Question 50

The silk roads refer to which of the following?

A) the especially well-crafted roads constructed by Emperor Ashoka
B) the sea passages along which luxury goods were traded from East Asia to the Mediterranean
C) the sections of Chinese cities in which silk producers and merchants were permitted to sell their wares
D) the region of Inner Eurasia across which many luxury goods passed as trade increased throughout Afroeurasia

Question 51

Discuss the rise of the Achaemenid empire. Describe its cultural, political, economic, and religious character. In which ways was the Achaemenid empire different than previous empires, and in which important ways did it parallel both previous and contemporaneous empires?

Question 52

Explain the concept of natural philosophy originated by the Greeks. Which subjects did natural philosophers explore, and what types of questions did they ask? How did the Greeks go about solving the questions of natural philosophy? What role did the emergence of natural philosophy play in Greek society?

Question 53

Explore the short but pivotal reign of Alexander the Great. Describe his conception of rule and his relationship to his subjects. What are some of the critical legacies of Alexander the Great's rule?

Question 54

What is Hellenism? How did Hellenism spread throughout Afroeurasia? How did Hellenism affect the political, economic, religious, and cultural lives of many Afroeurasian cities?

Question 55

Compare and contrast Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. Describe the basic tenets of both religions. How did both religions arise, and how did they spread? How did each affect the societies where they were adopted?

Question 56

Discuss the position of women in the Hellenistic world. What role did women play in public as well as private affairs? Provide examples of the types of activities women engaged in, and how the roles and responsibilities of women may have varied from region to region.

Question 57

Explore the role that trade played throughout Afroeurasia both before the rise of Alexander the Great and after his death. Discuss the relationship between trade and culture. How did trade both promote cultural diversity and bring cultures together? How did politics affect trade, and trade affect politics?