Ancient Greece: democracy and citizenship

How the Greeks lived, fought and invented democracy

Name:

Date:

Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Which Greek city is famous for inventing democracy? A) Athens B) Sparta C) Rome D) Troy
Answer:
2
Which Greek city was famous for its tough warriors and strict training? A) Sparta B) Athens C) Olympia D) Corinth
Answer:
3
True or false? In Athenian democracy, women and enslaved people were allowed to vote. A) True B) False
Answer:
4
What does the Greek word 'democracy' mean? A) Rule by the people B) Rule by one king C) Rule by the rich D) Rule by the army
Answer:
5
Fill in the blank. The word 'democracy' comes from Greek words meaning 'rule by the ___'.
Answer:
6
Athenian democracy was called 'direct democracy'. What does that mean? A) Citizens themselves voted on laws, not just representatives B) Only the king made all the laws C) People had to walk directly to court D) Only the army could vote
Answer:
7
Match each part of Ancient Greek life to its description. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Sparta, Athens, Olympia, Pericles Right: Famous for warriors, Famous for democracy, Where the Olympic Games began, Famous Athenian leader
Answer:
8
True or false? The Iliad, a famous Greek poem about the Trojan War, was written down hundreds of years after the events it describes. A) True B) False
Answer:
9
Who was Pericles? A) An Athenian leader who supported democracy B) A king of Sparta C) A god of the sea D) The first Olympic champion
Answer:
10
Why was Athenian democracy still very different from modern democracy? A) It excluded women, enslaved people and foreigners from voting B) It allowed children to vote at age five C) It was decided entirely by the gods D) It used the internet to vote
Answer:

Answer key

Ancient Greece: democracy and citizenship · for parents and teachers

1
Athens
Athens developed an early form of democracy around 500 BC, allowing free male citizens to vote on laws.
2
Sparta
Sparta focused on training strong soldiers. Boys began military training as young as seven and lived in soldier-camps.
3
False
Only free adult male citizens could vote in Athens. Women, enslaved people and foreigners could not take part in democracy.
4
Rule by the people
Democracy comes from the Greek words 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (rule).
5
people
'Democracy' comes from the Greek words 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (rule), so it means 'rule by the people'.
6
Citizens themselves voted on laws, not just representatives
In direct democracy, citizens voted directly on each law. Modern Britain has 'representative democracy', where we elect MPs to vote for us.
7
Sparta → Famous for warriors; Athens → Famous for democracy; Olympia → Where the Olympic Games began; Pericles → Famous Athenian leader
Greek city-states each had different strengths. Athens led in democracy and philosophy, Sparta in war, and Olympia hosted the Olympic Games.
8
True
The Iliad is traditionally credited to Homer, who probably lived around the 8th century BC. It describes events from a much earlier time, with myth and history mixed.
9
An Athenian leader who supported democracy
Pericles was a powerful Athenian politician (around 495 to 429 BC). He strengthened democracy and ordered the building of famous temples like the Parthenon.
10
It excluded women, enslaved people and foreigners from voting
Athenian democracy only gave the vote to a small group: free adult male citizens. Modern democracies give the vote to almost all adult citizens, including women.