NewsTracker Answers for week of June 18, 2018

Q: The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia are facing stiff political backlashes over a deal to rename the former Yugoslav republic ‘North Macedonia’ to avoid any confusion with the Greek province of Macedonia. Where are the countries of Greece and Macedonia?

Circle the area on this map

Q: Since Macedonia seceded from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece had objected to its use of the name “Macedonia” because it claimed that implied territorial designs on its own northern province of Macedonia. What other nation was part of the former Yugoslavia?

A. Bosnia and Herzegovina

B. Croatia

C. Slovenia

D. All of the above

D. After republics of the former Yugoslavia declared independence in 1991, much of the area was devastated by a series of bitter inter-ethnic wars. Some leaders of the fighting later faced war crimes trials on charges of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Q: If ratified, the deal with Greece would allow the newly named North Macedonia to try to join NATO and the European Union. The Greek province and former Yugoslav republic were both part of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon which produced what “Great” ancient leader?

A. Alexander

B. Constantine

C. Cyrus

D. All of the above

A. Alexander the Great became king of Macedon at the age of 20 and conquered much of southeastern Europe, southwestern Asia from the Mediterranean Sea to northwestern India, and Egypt in north Africa before he died at 32. Constantine the Great was a Roman Emperor and Cyrus the Great founded the first Persian Empire.

Q: The deal to officially rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia sparked nationalist protests in both the Macedonian capital Skopje and the Greek capital . . .

A. Alexandria

B. Athens

C. Sparta

D. Thessaloniki

B. Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and capital of the province of Macedonia. Sparta is a much smaller city in Greece at the site of the ancient city-state that was ancient Athens’ main rival. Alexandria, Egypt, was founded by Alexander the Great and was Egypt’s capital for almost 1,000 years.

Q: Most of the people in what would become North Macedonia are members of what ethnic group?

A. German

B. Greek

C. Slav

D. Turk

C. In the 6th Century, Slavic peoples began raiding and then settling much of Balkan area of Europe, including what is now the country of Macedonia.