Early Empires: Greece and Persia

Question 1

Assyrian Empire

Answer 1

First large empire of the East (c.900-600) conquered Mesopotamia and Egypt

Question 2

Ashur

Answer 2

Main Assyrian god

Question 3

Henothesim

Answer 3

Religious system between monotheism and polytheism, being characterized by one dominant god. (e.g. Assyrian Religion)

Question 4

Ashurbanipal (688-628)

Answer 4

One of the most successful Assyrian kings when the empire reached its largest extent and cultural flourishing

Question 5

Medes

Answer 5

People of Iran, developed an empire before Persia, taking advantage of the collapse of Assyria

Question 6

Achaemenids

Answer 6

First line of Persian kings

Question 7

Cyrus the Great (559-529)

Answer 7

Founder of the Persian Empire, conquered the kingdom of Lydia in western Turkey

Question 8

Cambyses

Answer 8

Persian king who conquered Egypt

Question 9

Darius the Great (521-486)

Answer 9

Persian king during the height of the Persian Empire; reached the Indus and for the first time the earliest civilizations were united (India, Mesopotamia, and Egypt).

Question 10

Satrapies

Answer 10

Persian administrative united ruled by satraps (e.g. Egypt)S

Question 11

Susa

Answer 11

Ancient Persian capital

Question 12

Persepolis

Answer 12

Persian ceremonial capital founded founded by Darius the Great and finished by Xerxes

Question 13

Zoroastrainism

Answer 13

Religion of ancient Persia dominated by a dualistic universe (i.e. the perpetual fight between Good and Evil).

Question 14

Ahura Mazda

Answer 14

Zoroastrian supreme god, creator of the universe

Question 15

Ahriman

Answer 15

Rival of Ahura Mazda

Question 16

Dark Age (c.1100-800); Archaic period (c.800-480); Classical period (c.480-323)

Answer 16

Historic periodization of ancient Greece

Question 17

Polis

Answer 17

Greek city

Question 18

Acropolis

Answer 18

Hilltop fortified area in most Greek cities

Question 19

Agora

Answer 19

Open space, used as a market and for conducting business and meetings

Question 20

Herodotus

Answer 20

Greek historian, “father of history” (5th c. BC)

Question 21

Peloponnese

Answer 21

Region in southern Greece, dominated by Sparta

Question 22

Helots

Answer 22

Native Peloponnesians, enslaved by the Spartans

Question 23

Attica

Answer 23

The region controlled by Athens

Question 24

Solon

Answer 24

Early 6th reformer and lawmaker in Athens; created the first democratic institutions followed by the reforms of Cheisthenes

Question 25

Pericles

Answer 25

Athenian leader during the golden age of Athens (5th c.)

Question 26

Marathon (490)

Answer 26

Battle between the Athenians and Persians led by Darius

Question 27

Thermophylae (480)

Answer 27

300 Spartans royal bodyguard defeated by the Persians led by Xerxes

Question 28

Plataea (479)

Answer 28

Battle between a Greek coalition led by Sparta and the Persians

Question 29

Battle of Issus (333 BC)

Answer 29

First major battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius III

Question 30

Hellenistic world (c.323-31 BC)

Answer 30

The cultural legacy of Alexander - a world dominated by Greek culture but also by political fragmentation