Question 1

Described by the geographer Strabo as "the wisest of the Iberians," the ______ inherited the Tartessian culture in ancient Spain.

Accepted Answer

The Turdetani were an ancient people of the Iberian Peninsula who inherited the Tartessian culture, as described by the geographer Strabo.

Question 2

In around 300 BCE, a Greek sailor named ______ sailed up the Atlantic coast from Marseille as far as Britain, and, among other things, was the first Greek known to connect the tides with the motion of the moon.

Accepted Answer

Pytheas was a Greek explorer and geographer from the Greek colony of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) who is known for his voyage to Britain and for being the first Greek to associate the tides with the moon's motion.

Question 3

The ______ were a largely peaceful agricultural people who developed systems and strategies for living in Saharan desert landscapes that saw little rain.

Accepted Answer

The Garamantes were an ancient civilization in the Sahara Desert known for their advanced irrigation systems and agricultural practices, allowing them to thrive in arid conditions.

Question 4

The two chief divinities in the Carthaginian pantheon were a divine couple named ______.

Accepted Answer

Tanit and Ba'al Hammon were the chief deities in the Carthaginian pantheon, often worshipped as a divine couple.

Question 5

The ______ Age is defined as the period following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE through 31 BCE.

Accepted Answer

The Hellenistic Age is the period from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE to the rise of the Roman Empire in 31 BCE.

Question 6

The center of Ptolemaic power was ______.

Accepted Answer

The center of Ptolemaic power was Egypt. The Ptolemies were a dynasty of Greek rulers who ruled Egypt from 305 to 30 BC. They were founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a general of Alexander the Great. The Ptolemies made Alexandria their capital and built a great library and museum there.

Question 7

The most heterogeneous of the states that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great stretched from Anatolia in the west to the borders of India in the east, and was controlled by the ______ Dynasty.

Accepted Answer

The Seleucid Dynasty controlled a vast and diverse empire that extended from Anatolia to the borders of India, making it the most heterogeneous of the successor states after Alexander the Great's empire fragmented.

Question 8

Petra was the capital city of the ______.

Accepted Answer

Petra was the capital city of the Nabataeans, an Arab people who inhabited the region from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD.

Question 9

The Greeks generally regarded the Scythians as bloodthirsty and barbaric, but the Scythian philosopher ______ was numbered among the Seven Wise Men of the Greek world.

Accepted Answer

Anacharsis was a Scythian philosopher who was considered one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, despite the general Greek perception of Scythians as barbaric.

Question 10

The "Silk Road" was a four-thousand-mile long trade route that connected ______, and went on from there to Syria.

Accepted Answer

The Silk Road was an ancient trade route that connected China to Parthia (in modern-day Iran), facilitating trade and cultural exchange between the East and the West.

Question 11

Celtic warfare was strongly influenced by Greek tactics, in which tight, disciplined ranks of heavily armored men advanced together towards the enemy.

Accepted Answer

Celtic warfare was characterized by less formalized tactics, often involving individual heroism and less emphasis on tight formations compared to Greek phalanx tactics.

Question 12

Through its trade networks and the exploitation of its own considerable natural resources, Carthage became the most prosperous city in the ancient world.

Accepted Answer

Carthage was a major power in the ancient world, known for its extensive trade networks and wealth derived from both trade and its natural resources, making it one of the most prosperous cities of its time.

Question 13

Antigonus I Monophthalmos' undermining of Jewish practices, including the notorious "abomination of desolation" in the Temple in Jerusalem, precipitated the successful revolt against him in 165 BCE and the liberation of Jerusalem.

Accepted Answer

Antigonus I Monophthalmos was a Macedonian nobleman and general, not involved in Jewish history. The "abomination of desolation" and the revolt in 165 BCE refer to the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which led to the Maccabean Revolt.

Question 14

The wealth of the Scythians is attested by the variety of golden artifacts discovered by archaeologists.

Accepted Answer

The Scythians, a nomadic people from Central Asia, are known for their rich burial sites containing numerous golden artifacts, indicating their wealth and craftsmanship.

Question 15

The most effective part of the Parthian army was its cavalry.

Accepted Answer

The Parthian army was renowned for its cavalry, particularly the heavily armored cataphracts and the highly skilled horse archers, which were crucial to their military success.

Quiz 1: The Wider World of Early Rome: Cultural Encounters