04: Classical Civilizations in the Mediterranean and Middle East Flashcards
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Q
Zoroastrianism
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- Animalist religion that saw material existence as battle between forces of good and evil; stressed the importance of moral choice; righteous lived on after death in “House of Song”; chief religion of Persian Empire.
- Chief religion of Persian Empire.
- Strongly affected Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
1
Q
Cyrus the Great
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- Established massive Persian Empire by 550 BCE, successor state to Mesopotamian empires.
- Formed the Persian Empire.
- Persia one of the largest and most influential classical civiliations.
2
Q
Olympic Games
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- One of the pan-Hellenic rituals observed by all Greek city-states; involved athletic competition and ritual celebration.
- United the usually divided city-states.
- Olympic games still are going today (though there was a long intermission and they’re somewhat different).
3
Q
Pericles
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- Athenian political leader during 5th century BCE; guided development of Athenian Empire; died during early stages of Peloponnesian War.
- Able to restrain more aggressive views of Athenian democrats.
- Able to bring logic to Athenian politics in tumultuous times.
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Q
Peloponnesian Wars
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- Wars from 431 to 404 BCE between Athens and Sparta for dominance in southern Greece; resulted in Spartan victory but failure to achieve political unification of Greece.
- Main powers of Greece fought against each other.
- Brought disunity that made Greece easier to take over.
5
Q
Philip II
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- Ruled Macedon from 359 to 336 BCE; founder of centralized kingdom; later conquered rest of Greece, which was subjected Ti Macedonian authority.
- Founded centralized kingdom
- Brought the Hellenistic Period
6
Q
Hellenistic Period
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- The culture associated with the spread of Greek influence as a result of Macedonian conquests; often seen as the combination of Greek culture with eastern political forms.
- Trade flourished and important scientific centers were established.
- Influenced many other cultures.
7
Q
Alexandria, Egypt
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- One of the cities founded by and named for Alexander the Great; site of ancient Mediterranean’s greatest library; center of literary studies.
- One of the greatest learning centers of the ancient Mediterranean.
- Helped increase scientific advancements in classical Mediterranean civ.
8
Q
Roman Republic
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- The balanced constitution of Rome from c. 510 to 47 BCE; featured an aristocratic Senate, a panel of magistrates, and several popular assemblies.
- One of the political structures of Classical Rome.
- Influenced many governments today including the US’.
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Q
Punic Wars
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- Fought between Rome and Carthage to establish dominance in the western Mediterranean; won by Rome after three separate conflicts.
- Started Rome’s strong military orientation.
- Military tendenciec controlled most of Rome’s history.
10
Q
Carthage
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- Originally a Phoenician colony in northern Africa; became a major port and commercial power in the western Mediterranean; fought the Punic Wars with Rome for dominance of the western Mediterranean.
- Player in the Punic Wars
- Helped start Rome’s aggressive military career.
11
Q
Hannibal
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- Great Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War; successfully invaded Italy but failed to conquer Rome; finally defeated at Battle of Zama.
- Strong Carthaginian general.
- Brought Carthage to many victories during Punic Wars
12
Q
Caesar, Julius
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- Roman general responsible for conquest of Gaul; brought army back to Rome and overthrew republic; assassinated in 44 BCE by conservative senators.
- Ended the traditional institutions of the Roman state.
- Brought the end of the Roman Republic.
13
Q
Augustus Caesar
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- Name given to Octavian following his defeat of Marc Antony and Cleopatra; first emperor of Rome.
- First emperor of Rome.
- Established basic structures of Roman Empire.
14
Q
Diocletian
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- Roman emperor from 248 to 395 CE; restored later empire by improving administration and tax collection.
- Slightly restored empire from decline.
- Improved Economic and Political SPICEs if only for a short time.
15
Q
Constantine
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- Roman emperor from 312 to 337 CE; established second capital at Constantinople; attempted to use religious force of Christianity to unify empire spiritually.
- Made Christianity legal in the Roman Empire.
- Gave Christianity to boost it needed to become
16
Q
Polis
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- City-state form of government; typical of Greek political organization from 800 to 400 BCE.
- Greece’s form of government for 400 years.
- Influenced many important political traditions of Greece and other governments.
17
Q
Direct Democracy
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- Where people participate directly in assemblies that make laws and select leaders, rather then electing representatives.
- Greece’s government in the Classical Era.
- Influenced many governments of today including the US.
18
Q
Senate
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- Assembly of Roman aristocrats; advised on policy within the republic; one of the early elements of the Roman constitution.
- Most important legislative body in Rome.
- Basically controlled all of Rome during the Republic.
19
Q
Consuls
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- Two chief executives or magistrates of the Roman republic; elected by an annual assembly dominated by aristocracy.
- Leaders of Rome with primary executive power.
- The head-honchos of Roman politics.
20
Q
Cicero
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- Conservative Roman senator; Stoic philosopher; one of great orators of his day; killed in reaction to assassination of Julius Caesar.
- Wrote much about politics and expanded on them.
- Influenced Roman politics.
21
Q
Aristotle
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- Greek philosopher; teacher of Alexander the Great; knowledge based on observation of phenomena in material world.
- Stressed importance of moderation and balance in human behavior.
- Shaped the Greek way of thinking.
22
Q
Stoics
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- Hellenistic group of philosophers; emphasized inner moral independence cultivated by strict discipline of the body and personal bravery.
- Ethical system from the Hellenistic period.
- Influenced Greece and other’s thinking.
23
Q
Socrates
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- Athenian philosopher of later 5th century BCE; tutor of Plato; urdged rational reflection of moral decisions; condemned to death for corrupting minds of Athenian youth.
- Created Socratic principle of rational inquiry by means of skeptical questioning.
- Greatly influenced later Greek thinking and it’s heritage to later societies.
24
Q
Sophocles
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- Greek writer of tragedies; author of Oedipus Rex.
- Wrote about human reason and balance in dramas
- Influenced thinking of Greeks
25
Q
Iliad
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- Greek epic poem attributed to Homer but possibly the work of many authors; defined gods and human nature that shaped Greek mythos.
- Defined gods and human nature
- Shaped Greek mythos
26
Q
Odyssey
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- Greek epic poem attributed to Homer but possibly the work of many authors; defined gods and human nature that shaped Greek mythos.
- Defined gods and human nature
- Shaped Greek mythos
27
Q
Doric
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- Along with Ionian and Corinthian, distinct style of Hellenistic architecture; the least ornate of the three styles.
- Main architecture of Greece
- Invented what westerners and others regard as “classical” architecture
28
Q
Ionic
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- Along with Doric and Corinthian, distinct style of Hellenistic architecture; the least ornate of the three styles.
- Main architecture of Greece
- Invented what westerners and others regard as “classical” architecture
29
Q
Corninthian
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- Along with Doric and Ionian, distinct style of Hellenistic architecture; the most ornate of the three styles.
- Main architecture of Greece
- Invented what westerners and others regard as “classical” architecture
