Quiz 1: The Iliad and Odyssey

Question 1

Mesopotamian Writing

Answer 1

Cuniform (3500-3000)

Question 2

Egyptian Writing

Answer 2

heiroglyphs

Question 3

Minoans (2000-1500) govt.

Answer 3

palatial (aristocracy, monopoly, protection)

Question 4

Minoans (2000-1500) economy

Answer 4

redistribution (no market economy)

Question 5

Minoans (2000-1500) commerce

Answer 5

maritime power–oversees trade

Question 6

Minoans (2000-1500) international relations

Answer 6

contact with Egypt

Question 7

Minoans (2000-1500) admin

Answer 7

scribes

Question 8

Mycenaeans (1600-1100)

Answer 8

• 2000-1800 Greek speakers
• Proto-Greek replaces Aegean languages
• fusion of hellenistic and autochthonous cultures
• contact with near East

Question 9

Dark Ages (1000-900)

Answer 9

start of ironworking–technological advances
warfare (weapons found)
population boom

Question 10

Archaic Age 776 BCE

Answer 10

Olympic Games
relationships between greek world
stop of warfare during games

Question 11

Archaic Age 750 BCE

Answer 11

Phoenician Alphabet

simpler system of writing–only 20 letters instead of 90+ based on each sound

Question 12

Archaic Focus on Literature

Answer 12

shows ideals and values
proof of community
recorded memory

Question 13

Homer

Answer 13

Iliad 750 and Odyssey 700
Melesigenes 
born in Asia minor--Ionian
blind poet--Demodecus
travelled around medi.
hostage
mysterious death to Athens

Question 14

Iliad (750 BCE)

Answer 14

song of Troy/Achilles

story of comp. between Achilles and Agamemnon

Question 15

Troy VIa

Answer 15

real Troy–kept being rebuilt, kind of a dump c. 13th C

Question 16

Unitarian Approach

Answer 16

oldest view; Homer was one man who composed and performed

Question 17

Analytic Approach

Answer 17

can take apart the stories into distinct poems (F.A. Wolf)

Question 18

Expansion Theory

Answer 18

took a simple story and expanded as story evolved

Question 19

Compilation Theory

Answer 19

took parts of different poems to create new one

Question 20

Parts of the Odyssey

Answer 20

1-4 Telemachy
8-12 travels of Odysseus
5-7 and 13-24 can all work as one story

Question 21

Oral Theory

Answer 21

sung in Dactylic Hexameter; story was composed orally and then written down

Question 22

Milman Parry

Answer 22

interested in descriptions of characters; believed Homer was oral poet (epithets allowed poets to compose on spot in hexameter)

Question 23

Albert B. Lord

Answer 23

believed poets added episodes into poem on the spot; poems meant to be heard and sung–not read

Question 24

Gregory Nagy

Answer 24

text before 300AD is unsure

Question 25

Background of Trojan War

Answer 25

Wedding of Peleus and Thetis–son of Thetis will be stronger than father

Question 26

Apple of Discord

Answer 26

Nemesis rolls golden apple into wedding; Paris decides who to give it to; Aphrodite gives him Helen; Hera and Athena butthurt they didn’t get apple (against Troy)

Question 27

Conflict in Iliad

Answer 27

Agamemnon v. Achilles–Agamemnon king wants power; Achilles is best soldier wants respect and power; giant pissing contest

Greek v. Trojans–Paris takes Menalaus’ wife Helen; similar cultures (same Gods, language and culture)

Question 28

Death, loss, vengeance Iliad

Answer 28

Achilles/Hector

both are tragic heroes