Exam Flashcards
477
The Delian League was meant to unite the Greeks against Persia but became the Athenian empire.
464
The Helot rebellion occurred after an earthquake, illustrating the weakness of Spartiates against larger numbers of helots.
What was the significance of moving the treasury of the Delian League to Athens?
It solidified Athenian control over the alliance and allowed funds to rebuild the Acropolis.
What was constructed at Athens between 447-432?
The Parthenon was constructed, involving Phidias as sculptor and Ictinus and Callicrates as architects.
What was the outcome of the Peloponnesian War (431-404)?
The war resulted in the loss of the Athenian Empire and a temporary rebalancing of power among Greek poleis.
What impact did the epidemic in Athens (430) have?
The epidemic changed the balance of power in Greece, leading to the rise of more aggressive leaders like Cleon.
What was the oligarchic coup of the Four Hundred in Athens (411)?
It showed weaknesses in Athenian democracy under war stress, highlighting how citizens can turn on each other.
What was the significance of the battle of Aegospotami (405)?
The Athenian loss meant they could not regroup.
What occurred during the regime of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens (404-403)?
A brutal coup resulted in the deaths of about 5% of citizens, demonstrating the weakness of Athenian democracy.
What does the trial and death of Socrates (399) illustrate?
It shows tendencies for revenge and the influence of the crowd, raising concerns about the death penalty.
What was the outcome of the Corinthian War (395-387)?
It marked a resurgence of Athens and the strength of Thebes, leading to the demise of the Spartan system.
What are Plato’s notable achievements?
Plato is known for his theory of Forms and the refinement of elenchus.
What was the result of the battle of Chaeronea (338)?
It led to the loss of independence for most Greek poleis to the Macedonians under Philip II.
What was the significance of Alexander the Great’s death (323)?
His death marked the end of the Persian Empire and led to instability in conquered regions.
What does the death of Cleopatra VII (30) signify?
It marked the end of the Hellenistic period and the Roman annexation of the last major Hellenistic kingdom.
What were the major sources for early Greek philosophy?
The Egyptians and Babylonians.
What are the four elements according to Empedocles?
Earth, air, fire, and water are the basic building blocks of everything.
How did Xenophanes characterize the Olympian gods?
He criticized them as anthropomorphic and suggested a single, supreme god.
What were the views of Xenophanes, Protagoras, and Socrates on atheism and agnosticism?
Xenophanes believed in monotheism, Protagoras was agnostic, and Socrates questioned traditional beliefs but believed in a higher moral order.
What did Thales believe was the origin of matter?
He believed water was the origin of matter as it transforms to every state.
What principle did Anaximander propose?
He called the original principle ‘the infinite’ or ‘the boundless’ (to apeiron).
What did Anaximenes believe was the first principle?
He believed in air as the first principle, which could change to wind, cloud, and fire.
What is known about Pythagoras?
Little is known, but he believed numerical relations were the essence of all things and that Earth was round.
What did Heraclitus see as the unity of all things?
He saw change as the unity of all things and proposed that Logos (Reason) governs the cosmos.
What was Parmenides’ view on truth?
He believed only reason can lead to truth and that existence must be unchanging.
What did Democritus propose about atoms?
He was an atomist who believed in a void containing an infinite number of indivisible units.
What was Olynthus known for?
It was a planned affluent community destroyed by Philip II, showing urban planning and home design.
What misconception exists about Greco-Roman sculptures?
The misconception is that they were originally white, influencing Western art since the Renaissance.
What is a proxenos in ancient Greece?
A proxenos was a citizen of one polis acting as an official representative for another polis.
What does koinē eirēnē mean?
It means ‘common peace,’ referring to peace treaties among city-states.
Who were the perioikoi in Sparta?
They were free, non-citizen inhabitants who handled trade and farming but had no political rights.
What were the ephors in ancient Sparta?
They were five powerful officials elected annually to oversee governance and check the kings’ power.
What does Laconia refer to?
Laconia is the region in southern Greece, home to Sparta, known for its military-focused society.
What does the term Laconian describe?
It describes things related to Laconia or Sparta, often referring to their simple, tough lifestyle.
What are homoioi in Sparta?
Homoioi are the full citizens of Sparta.
How often did the average Greek consume meat during the Peloponnesian War?
Every eight or nine days.
What was the Laurion mine known for?
It employed 10,000 to 30,000 enslaved men under horrific conditions.
What measure did Athenians use to reduce economic inequality?
State pay for public service helped poorer citizens participate in politics.
Who controlled women in ancient Athens?
Women were under the control of male guardians (kyrios), their closest male relative.
What were the two related stringed instruments in ancient Greece?
The lyre and the kithara.
What is a deus ex machina?
A piece of stage equipment that resolves dramatic issues at the end of a Greek tragedy.
What is the plot of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King?
Oedipus seeks to end a plague by finding King Laius’s murderer, discovering he killed his father and married his mother.
What are the key themes in Oedipus the King?
Fate vs. Free Will, Blindness and Insight.
How is Oedipus characterized?
He is proud, intelligent, but flawed by hubris.
What is Jocasta’s role in Oedipus the King?
She attempts to prevent fate but ultimately becomes a victim.
What does the play Oedipus the King highlight?
It highlights the inevitability of fate and the consequences of uncovering painful truths.
