Greek Civilisation, History and Culture
What the domain tests
Civilisation, history and culture tests your knowledge of the Greek world and your ability to use primary evidence. Expect questions on Athenian democracy, Spartan institutions, religion and festivals, warfare and historiography, and the Hellenistic world. Precision with dates, institutions and sources earns marks.
Core rules
- Athenian democracy: the ekklesia (assembly), boule of 500, dikasteria (jury courts), sortition, ostracism and liturgies. Citizenship was restricted; women, metics and slaves were excluded.
- Sparta: dual kingship, gerousia, ephors, agoge, syssitia and helotry. Avoid treating Spartan propaganda as neutral fact.
- Religion and festivals: polis cult, Panathenaia, City Dionysia, Delphic oracle and mystery cults. Theatre was a religious and civic event.
- Chronology: Persian Wars (Marathon 490, Salamis 480, Plataea 479), Delian League, Peloponnesian War (431–404), Alexander and the Hellenistic kingdoms.
Worked example
A question asks how reliable Herodotus and Thucydides are on a fifth-century campaign. Herodotus writes wide-ranging enquiry (ἱστορία), includes anecdotes and divine causation, and often reports what he was told. Thucydides was an Athenian participant, reconstructs speeches, and analyses power and fear. The best answer compares their methods and purpose, then judges specific claims, rather than declaring one "objective".
Traps
Assuming Athenian practice represents all Greece; confusing Greek and Roman institutions; misdating the Peloponnesian War; quoting a source without evaluating its bias.