Ancient Greece - Ch 9 Flashcards
Polis
The Greek word for “city state”
Acropolis
A high hill in the middle of a city state; Temples were built here
Agora
A marketplace in the city state
Classical
An age marked by great achievements
Minoans
Lived on Crete; They were great ship builders, Traded all over the Mediteranean Region; Did not speak Greek; A volcano caused a tsunami that washed them away
Myceneans
Lived on the mainland of Greece; Built strong fortresses; Eventually took over Crete; Are considered the first Greeks because they spoke Greek
How did geography help shape Greek civilization
They were surrounded by mountains and seas. The mountains were difficult to climb so the villages became city states. Because of the seas they traveled by sea and became trademen
Greek Colonies
Many cities began as Greek colonies. Istanbul Turkey, Marsailles France, Naples Italy
Democracy
A type of government in which the people rile themselves
Direct Democracy
The type of government that Athens had; Everyone meets, debates and votes
Representative Democracy
They type of government with elected representatives; The USA has this type of government
Aristrocrats
Rich, land owners
Oligarchy
A type of government where only a few people have power
Citizens
People who have the right to vote
Tyrants
A leader who held power through force
Draco
600BC Created new laws for Athens oligarchy, strict laws, for example loitering = execution
Solon
540BC Created laws for Athens that were less harsh, Was still part of an olicarchy, but all three men were still citizens
Cleisthenes
500BC Overthrew Aristocrats once and for all; Created the first democracy; “Father of Democracy”
Pericles
Athens reached its height under him; Ruled from 450-429BC; Helped people to serve; Encouraged democracy to spread to other city-states; The Parthenon was built under his rule
How did democracy in Athens come to an end?
330s BC, Athen was conquered by the Macedonians; Alexander the Great was their leader; Kept democracy for about 10 years but was poweless
Who led the Macedonians to the downfall of democracy in Athens?
Alexander the Great
Mythology
A body of stories about gods and heroes that tried to explain how the world works
Fables
Short stories that teach the reader/listener a lesson about life or give advice, Animals are main characters
Epic
A long poem like the Iliad or the Odyssy
