Ancient Greece via Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle Quiz

Answer: Acropolis

Socrates probably learned his craft from his father Sophroniscus, who was also a stonemason. The Acropolis was an area of high ground in Athens that included the Parthenon. The Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater) is in Rome. The Colossus was a large statue in the harbor for the island of Rhodes. The Mausoleum was a famous tomb in Halicarnassus in modern Turkey.

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle seems to have fallen short in his recording of data with this one. A simple observation of the mouth of several men and several women might have shown him this was false. He did, however, have some good ideas, such as discussing differences between individual animals and groups of animals. For instance, he said that birds could be identified by having feathers, wings, and beaks.

Answer: The Peloponnesian War

Socrates probably fought as a hoplite (a citizen soldier armed with a spear and a shield). Free citizens of Athens were expected to provide their own equipment.

The Peloponnesian War lasted from 431-404 BC and involved Athens and its allies against Sparta and its allies. The Punic Wars were between Rome and Carthage. The Greco-Persian Wars involved those two sides. The Social War was between Rome and its Italian allies.

Answer: The Republic

In "The Republic", Plato describes how specially-trained philosopher-kings would provide the best guidance for a small to medium-sized city-state. "The Prince" is by Niccolo Machiavelli. "The Spirit of the Laws" is by Baron de Montesquieu. "The City of God" is St. Augustine of Hippo.

Answer: Sparta

This discussion takes place in "The Republic". Although Sparta had two kings, it was really the army who ran the show. About 90% of the people were helots (serfs or slaves) and the rest were the citizens who either were soldiers in the army or gave birth to soldiers in the army. Young men in training were purposely underfed and then expected to steal food to make up the difference. If caught, they were severely punished--not for stealing, but for being caught.

Answer: Pythagoras

Pythagoras's ideas were very much influenced by mathematics and music. The Pythagorean Theorem says that the square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs of a right triangle. Or simply, a squared + b squared = c squared. The other three men all lived after Plato's death.

Answer: Syracuse

Syracuse was and is on the island of Sicily. Plato hoped to guide Dionysus towards being a philosopher-king. Plato was ill-treated by Dion and Dionysus, being sold into slavery and imprisoned at different times.

Answer: Alexander III

Philip II of Macedon hired Aristotle as tutor to his son, Alexander III, or the Great, (356-323 BC). As tutor, Aristotle had access to resources and opportunities that only a kingdom could provide. Alexander's conquests included much of what had been part of the Persian Empire. Aristotle actually outlived Alexander by a year, which would have given him the opportunity to study Alexander's career in total. Pericles was a famous leader of the city-state of Athens who died several decades before Aristotle was born. Julius Caesar was a leader in 1st century BC Rome who lived centuries after Aristotle died. Caesar, however, did use Alexander's life as a measuring stick with which to compare his own success.

Answer: Flesh

Empedocles felt that all matter was made up four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. These can be equated with the combinations of hot/cold and dry/wet as well as the four states of matter: solid, liquid, plasma, and gas. Aristotle added "aether", a "divine substance" that connects the heavenly bodies.

Answer: Healing

Asclepius,son of Apollo, was the god of healing. The other three ideas were connected with three better known deities. Hera was the goddess of the family. Hermes was the god of eloquence and wits. Ares was the god of war and violence.