WESTERN CIVILIZATION MIDTERM 1
STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is a "Dark Age" and when did Greece have one? - ANS Period where there are little to
no surviving archeological records.
Ancient Greece had a dark age from 1100-800 B.C
Are there any surviving records from before the Greek Dark Age? - ANS Yes, there are trade
records from across the Mediterranean to Egypt and the Holy Land
What was the pre-Dark Age rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS Kings (rule of one)
What was the post-Dark Age rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS Oligarchy (rule of a few)
What were the 4 bases for aristocratic rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS 1. Genos (family) -
claimed they were descended from important person or god
2. Oikos (estate) - wealthy landowners
3. Military - prestigious to be in military, armor was expensive
4. Law - came from the gods so those descended from them better at interpreting them
What was the polis? - ANS A type of political and social organization that emerged in Archaic
Greece. Usually organized around an urban center, poleis (plural of polis) fostered markets,
meeting places, and religious worship. Also known as a "city-state"
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is an oligarchy? - ANS rule by a few powerful people
What is a tyrant? - ANS for Greeks another name for king - someone who takes over control
of polis.
What were the two common ways a tyrant could take over in Archaic Greece? - ANS 1.
Colonization-Trade-Agriculture-Rise of artisans/traders-small farmers can't compete-no food-
TYRANNY
2. Increased warfare-powerful military-increased manpower-decline in aristocratic status-
dependency on lower classes-TYRANNY
Were tyrants generally popular? - ANS Yes they often had wide popular support, which is why
they were able to take over
Who were the metoikoi or metics? - ANS Wealthy outisiders sometime granted citizenship
under tyrants
What was Athens? Where was it located? - ANS A powerful polis that would become the
center for intellectual thought and culture in Greece. Also developed a powerful navy. It was
located in Attica
Who was Solon? - ANS Solon helped create democracy in Athens around 594 B.C
What were some of Solon's reforms? (5 answers) - ANS 1. eradicated debt slavery
2. encourages cultivation of olives and grapes - spurred cash-crop farming and agriculture
industry
3. broadened rights of political participation
4. set up courts with citizens as jurors
5. eligibility for political office on property qualifications
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is a "Dark Age" and when did Greece have one? - ANS Period where there are little to
no surviving archeological records.
Ancient Greece had a dark age from 1100-800 B.C
Are there any surviving records from before the Greek Dark Age? - ANS Yes, there are trade
records from across the Mediterranean to Egypt and the Holy Land
What was the pre-Dark Age rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS Kings (rule of one)
What was the post-Dark Age rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS Oligarchy (rule of a few)
What were the 4 bases for aristocratic rule in Archaic Greece? - ANS 1. Genos (family) -
claimed they were descended from important person or god
2. Oikos (estate) - wealthy landowners
3. Military - prestigious to be in military, armor was expensive
4. Law - came from the gods so those descended from them better at interpreting them
What was the polis? - ANS A type of political and social organization that emerged in Archaic
Greece. Usually organized around an urban center, poleis (plural of polis) fostered markets,
meeting places, and religious worship. Also known as a "city-state"
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is an oligarchy? - ANS rule by a few powerful people
What is a tyrant? - ANS for Greeks another name for king - someone who takes over control
of polis.
What were the two common ways a tyrant could take over in Archaic Greece? - ANS 1.
Colonization-Trade-Agriculture-Rise of artisans/traders-small farmers can't compete-no food-
TYRANNY
2. Increased warfare-powerful military-increased manpower-decline in aristocratic status-
dependency on lower classes-TYRANNY
Were tyrants generally popular? - ANS Yes they often had wide popular support, which is why
they were able to take over
Who were the metoikoi or metics? - ANS Wealthy outisiders sometime granted citizenship
under tyrants
What was Athens? Where was it located? - ANS A powerful polis that would become the
center for intellectual thought and culture in Greece. Also developed a powerful navy. It was
located in Attica
Who was Solon? - ANS Solon helped create democracy in Athens around 594 B.C
What were some of Solon's reforms? (5 answers) - ANS 1. eradicated debt slavery
2. encourages cultivation of olives and grapes - spurred cash-crop farming and agriculture
industry
3. broadened rights of political participation
4. set up courts with citizens as jurors
5. eligibility for political office on property qualifications
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
