Study Guide for the Threshold of Democracy Quiz
Tuesday, 9/3/13
The quiz consists of a series of multiple choice questions asking you to identify different
elements of classical Greek history, the nature of Athenian democracy, and major themes in
Plato’s Republic. All factions will take the quiz as individual teams, and indeterminates will form
their own team for the quiz as well. Each team will receive the same quiz grade. The team with
the highest grade will receive a special prize for the first game session.
Historical Background: Be able to identify the major figures and events behind the current
crisis facing Athens in 403BC. You will find your lecture notes and the Historical Background
section in the book (pages 39-47) of assistance. In particular, be able to address:
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The Fundamental Elements of Greek Civilization: Understand the basic
features of classical Greek civilization, such as the place of Homer’s epics in
Greek literature, the nature of Greek mythology, how Greeks understand the
nature of the polis, and the common features of Greek cities like the acropolis and
the agora.
The Social Division of Athenians: Understand the major factions within the city,
what constitutes citizenship, and what roles metics and thetes have in city life.
The Nature of Athenian Democracy: What are the basic institutions of Athenian
government? How do the Athenian people pick leaders within their Assembly and
law courts? What values inform the structure of Athenian democracy? What role
do actions like ostracism have in Athenian politics?
The History of the Persian Wars & the Peloponnesian War: How was Sparta
the great rival of Athens, and what were the values of Spartan life? What brought
the Persian Empire into conflict with Greece? How did the Greeks defend
themselves? How did Athens emerge from the Persian Wars as an empire, and
how did this lead to conflict with Sparta? What major events dominated the
Peloponnesian War, and how did Athens tumble from glory?
Primary Documents: Be able to explain some of the major ideas embedded the
in the major primary documents in Appendices B & C (pages 59-101). In
particular, study the Funeral Oration of Pericles (59).
Plato’s Republic: Understand and be able to describe some of the major arguments and themes
in The Republic. In particular, focus most of your energy studying Parts 1-6 and Part 9. Here are
some topics to explore for the game:
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Socrates’s ideal of the Guardians and their role in ruling the city (Parts 2, 4, 8)
The role of communal life in Socrates’s ideal city
The role of art and poetry in educating the Guardians in Socrates’s ideal city
(Book 3)
 Debates on the Nature of Justice (Parts 1-2 & 5)
 The Ring of Gyges and Human Goodness (Part 2)
 Communal Living, Traditional Values, and the Role of Women in Socrates’s
ideal city (Part 6)
 The Advantages and Failures of Various Forms of Government (Book 9)