Ancient Greece Flashcards
Minoa
civilization that developed on the island of Crete. Were the first group that started using
city/states as a form of government. They were a violent group of people.
Knossos
Was mostly a palace complex, and is were we get the legend of pans labrynth. Was
the capitol of Minoa. Natural AC, Big overseas trading, running water, bathrooms
Mycenae
major center of Greek civilization They were sailors. Who followed the Minoans after
beating them in war and incorporate them into their culture. Settled the peloponeses between 1300
and 1400 BCE.
Homer
Is important because he is one of the only record keepers from this time. He writes
EPICS poems which are traditionally sang as poems by BARDS at parties. He makes a historical
inaccuracy in calling “bronze swords” as “iron swords” which Iron was not yet invented. His most
famous EPICS are the “ILLIAD” and the “ODYSSEY”
Iliad
Important works by HOMER based on TROJAN WAR
Odyssey
mythical Return home of ODYSIOUS to his wife PENELOPE.
Polis
Was the Greek name for “CITY / STATE”. It is also a Governing body, examples of these
are TROY, ATHENS, SPARTA. Highly organized self sustaining MINI NATIONS.
Sparta
originally the Dorians. Supreme power over Athenians. Was an abnormal “city/state”
because it had a military orientation, they had a constitution that made them have 2 kings so as to
have a check and balance system, as well as a 28 member council of elders which had to be
1. older then 60
2. had to have a level of wisdom and knowledge
3. great war experience
The lower assembly had to be at least of 30 years and also have war experience or be a warrior.
They were so military oriented that children at birth were judged for physical defect and if they didn’t
meet those expectations they were left to die. At 7 boys and girls were taken from home and boys
were sent to boot camp to learn to fight and the girls were sent to be taught to be SPARTAN women
and how to bear children. At 20 Men were allowed to marry and start to reproduce but they still had to
live in the barracks. Bi-sexuality amongst men was common in Sparta and across all of Greece.
Athens
Originally the Ionians. Formed a democratic government. Great naval power. The
“ATHENIANS” were defeated by Sparta in 404 BCE
Cleisthenes
in 508 BCE is who reforms the “SOLAN” ideas even more and made citizenship
based more on RESIDENCY as opposed to kinship. He also replaces the general council and with
the new need for a council of 500 members instead of 400,they met every year, with 50 members
representing 10 different districts. He created a supreme court, and created a system of checks and
balances that ensured an ability to avoid abuse by its members, Those checks and balances had to
fulfill three tests
1. A competency test, which allowed them to raise the bar of education to hold office
2. They would scrutinize the record of the individual and their voting practice
3. Imposed a fine or even death for offenses based on behavior
Pericles
Was a general, and promoter of democracy, helped rebell against Persia, imperialist,
killed in the pelopenisian war at end of 5 century BCE, created the delian league which was a pro
democracy group of
Salamis
was a naval battle in which the Athenian Navy beats the Persian Navy
Philip of Macedon
He was the first of the powerful kings of MACEDONIA. Was the first to
keep a standing army. Developed the PHALYNX army which consists of light and heavy infantry and
Calvary. Took over all the other city/states in the surrounding areas and made them one. He fathered
ALEXANDER after having got married to OLYMPIA. She filled Phillip with the idea that he was the
son of ZEUS. After Olympia he is to marry CLEOPATRA in 336 BCE and is killed by a guard at the
wedding. Is also a HELENIST or a person who took the best of all cultures and incorporates them into
one culture. Brutal, but effective. Led the Macedonian takeover of Greece.
Alexander the Great
Is tutored by ARISTOTLE after his father’s death by guard he takes over
the throne and puts down the rebellion. He also expands the empire all the way to Asia Minor and into
modern day SYRIA in the fall of 303 BCE. He also believed in “HELENISTIC THOUGHT” which is the
act of taking the best of a conquered culture and making it as part of your own culture. Alexander also
went as far as INDIA to conquer it, but once he got there he wept b/c there was no more world left to
conquer. He dies in 323 and never saw the kingdom flourish. His death was marked by his 10,000
troops walking past his body in mourning.
