Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is the Minoan Civilization known for?
Palace culture and vibrant frescoes
This early Aegean civilization was located on Crete.
What is Knossos?
The largest palace of the Minoans, possibly associated with the myth of the Minotaur.
What is Linear A?
The undeciphered script used by the Minoans for record-keeping.
What characterized the Mycenaean Civilization?
A militaristic civilization on mainland Greece that flourished before the Greek Dark Ages.
What is Linear B?
An early form of Greek writing used by the Mycenaeans, deciphered as a syllabic script.
Who is the author of The Iliad?
Homer.
What is The Odyssey about?
Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War.
What was the Trojan War?
A legendary conflict between Mycenaeans and Trojans, possibly based on real events.
Define Greek Polis.
A city-state, the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece.
What is Athens known for?
Democracy, philosophy, and the arts.
Describe Sparta.
A Greek city-state with a militaristic and oligarchic society.
What is democracy?
A system of government where citizens participate in decision-making.
What does ostracism refer to in Athenian politics?
The practice of exiling individuals deemed a threat to democracy.
List the three styles of Greek columns.
- Doric
- Ionic
- Corinthian
What is The Parthenon?
A temple dedicated to Athena, an example of Classical Greek architecture.
What does philosophy mean?
The love of wisdom.
Who was Socrates?
A philosopher who used questioning to seek truth and was executed for corrupting Athenian youth.
What did Plato write?
The Republic.
Who was Aristotle?
A philosopher who emphasized empirical observation and tutored Alexander the Great.
What were the Persian Wars?
Conflicts between Greece and Persia (499-449 BCE).
What occurred at the Battle of Marathon?
A Greek victory over Persia in 490 BCE.
What is the significance of the Battle of Thermopylae?
A famous last stand by King Leonidas and 300 Spartans against Persia.
What was the Delian League?
An alliance led by Athens to defend against Persia.
Describe the Peloponnesian War.
A war between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BCE) that weakened Greek city-states.
What was the Golden Age of Greece?
A period of cultural and political flourishing in Athens during the 5th century BCE.
Who was Pericles?
An Athenian statesman who expanded democracy and commissioned the Parthenon.
What is Greek Tragedy?
A dramatic genre dealing with fate and human suffering.
What is Greek Comedy?
A dramatic genre that used satire and humor.
What is The Hellenistic World?
The era following Alexander the Great’s conquests, blending Greek and Eastern cultures.
Who was Alexander the Great?
The Macedonian ruler who created a vast empire and spread Hellenistic culture.
What was Alexandria known for?
A major Hellenistic city in Egypt, home to the Great Library.
Who was Aristarchus?
A Hellenistic astronomer who proposed a heliocentric model of the universe.
What is Euclid known for?
Being known as the ‘Father of Geometry’.
What did Archimedes contribute to science?
Work in physics, engineering, and mathematics.
What is the significance of Heinrich Schliemann?
The archaeologist who excavated Troy and Mycenae.
What are frescoes?
Wall paintings created using wet plaster.
Who is The Snake Goddess?
A Minoan religious figure thought to represent fertility.
What was the Dark Age of Greece?
A period marked by loss of literacy and cultural decline (c. 1100-800 BCE).
What is the Greek Alphabet?
Developed in the 8th century BCE, adapted from the Phoenician script.
Define Agora.
The central public space in Greek city-states for political, social, and commercial activities.
What is an Acropolis?
A fortified hilltop in Greek cities, most famously in Athens.
Who were the Helots?
The enslaved population in Sparta.
What is the Gerousia?
The Spartan council of elders who advised the kings.
What was the Agoge?
The rigorous military training system for Spartan boys starting at age 7.
Who was Draco?
An Athenian lawmaker known for his harsh legal code.
Who was Solon?
An Athenian statesman who reformed laws and laid the foundation for democracy.
What was the Persian Empire?
A vast empire that clashed with Greece in the Persian Wars.
Who was Themistocles?
An Athenian general who championed a strong navy.
What happened at the Battle of Salamis?
A decisive naval battle in 480 BCE where the Athenian navy defeated the Persians.
What is Delphi known for?
A major religious sanctuary in ancient Greece, home to the Oracle of Apollo.
Who is Herodotus?
The ‘Father of History,’ known for writing The Histories.
Who was Thucydides?
A historian who wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War.
Who was Aspasia?
A highly educated woman and companion of Pericles.
What is The Erechtheion?
A temple on the Acropolis of Athens known for its Caryatid columns.
Who is Dionysus?
The Greek god of wine, fertility, and theater.
What is Aeschylus known for?
One of the earliest Greek tragedians, known for The Oresteia.
What did Sophocles contribute to drama?
Wrote Oedipus Rex and refined dramatic structure.
Who was Euripides?
A Greek tragedian known for questioning social norms.
Who was Aristophanes?
A Greek comedic playwright who wrote Lysistrata.
What was the Corinthian League?
A military alliance of Greek states created by Philip II.
Who was Philip II of Macedon?
The father of Alexander the Great who conquered Greece.
What was Ptolemaic Egypt?
A Hellenistic kingdom founded by Ptolemy I.
What is The Library of Alexandria?
One of the largest libraries of the ancient world.
What was The Colossus of Rhodes?
A massive Hellenistic statue of the sun god Helios.
What is The Laocoön Group?
A famous Hellenistic sculpture depicting a Trojan priest.
Who are The Cynics?
A school of philosophy founded by Diogenes.
What do the Stoics emphasize?
Self-control and rationality.
What is the main belief of the Epicureans?
Seeking pleasure through simple living.
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
An ethical code for physicians attributed to Hippocrates.
What is the Antikythera Mechanism?
An ancient Greek device used for astronomical calculations.
How did the Romans influence Greek culture?
They adopted Greek art, literature, and philosophy but emphasized practicality.
Describe the Doric Order.
The simplest and most sturdy Greek column style.
What characterizes the Ionic Order?
A decorative column style with scroll-like volutes.
What is the Corinthian Order known for?
The most ornate of the Greek column styles.
