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Final exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Polis

A

Who: Greek city-states
What: Independent self-governing states, each with its own government, military, and economy
Where: Ancient Greece
When: Developed during the Archaic period (800–500 BCE)
Why: Greeks valued independence and self-sufficiency, leading to the formation of over 1200 city-states

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2
Q

Athens

A

Who: Citizens of Athens
What: A major polis, known as the birthplace of democracy
Where: Ancient Greece
When: 7th century BCE (development of democracy)
Why: Due to political tension, Athens appointed Draco, who created harsh laws. Over time, laws became more democratic, leading to citizen participation in governance

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3
Q

Sparta

A

Who: Spartans, a warrior society
What: The most powerful military polis in Greece
Where: Peloponnesus, Greece
When: Peak influence around the 5th century BCE
Why: Spartans prioritized military strength over luxury, focusing on discipline, training, and warfare

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4
Q

Persian Wars

A

Who: Greece vs. Persia ( greeks won both)
What: A series of conflicts between the Persian Empire and Greek city-states
Where: Greece and Asia Minor
When: 499–449 BCE
Why: Persia wanted to expand its empire into Greek territory; Greek unity and military tactics led to their victory

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5
Q

Peloponnesian War

A

Who: Athens and its allies vs. Sparta and its allies
What: A prolonged conflict that weakened Greece
Where: Greek world
When: 431–404 BCE
Why: Sparta opposed Athenian imperialism and its democratic government; war devastated Greece and ended Athenian dominance

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6
Q

Pax Romana

A

Who: Established under Emperor Augustus and maintained by subsequent emperors
What: A 200-year period of peace and stability across the Roman Empire
Where: Throughout the Roman Empire
When: 27 BCE – 180 CE
Why: Ensured stability through a strong military, efficient administration, and infrastructure like roads

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7
Q

Triumvirate

A

Who: A political alliance of three rulers
What: Power-sharing agreements in Rome
Where: Rome
When: First Triumvirate (60 BCE) – Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus; Second Triumvirate (43 BCE) – Octavian, Mark Antony, Lepidus
Why: These alliances were created to consolidate power but often led to conflict and civil war

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8
Q

Battle of Actium

A

Who: The first emperor of Rome, adopted son of Julius Caesar
What: Established the Roman Empire, ruled for 42 years
Where: Rome
When: 27 BCE – 14 CE
Why: Secured his rule by eliminating opponents, maintaining peace, and presenting himself as a servant of the people

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9
Q

Jesus of Nazareth

A

Who: A Jewish preacher and religious leader
What: His teachings formed the foundation of Christianity
Where: Judea (Roman province)
When: 4 BCE – 30 CE
Why: His crucifixion and resurrection became central to Christian belief

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10
Q

Paul

A

Who: An early Christian missionary and writer
What: Spread Christianity across the Roman Empire
Where: Asia Minor, Greece, Rome
When: 1st century CE
Why: His letters shaped Christian theology and expanded the faith beyond Jewish communities

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11
Q

Constantine

A

Who: First Christian emperor of Rome
What: Legalized Christianity, founded Constantinople
Where: Roman Empire
When: 306–337 CE
Why: His conversion shaped the future of Christianity in Europe

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12
Q

Tetrarchy

A

Who: Introduced by Emperor Diocletian
What: A system of rule by four emperors
Where: Roman Empire
When: Late 3rd century CE
Why: Aimed to stabilize the empire by dividing it into more manageable regions

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13
Q

Crisis of the third century

A

Who: Various Roman emperors and rival claimants
What: A period of economic collapse, military defeats, and political instability
Where: Roman Empire
When: 235–284 CE
Why: Nearly led to the empire’s destruction before Diocletian’s reforms

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14
Q

Fall of Rome

A

Who: Various invading groups and internal factions
What: The decline and eventual collapse of the Western Roman Empire
Where: Rome
When: 476 CE
Why: Caused by economic decline, military defeats, and political instability

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15
Q

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

A

Who: First ruling family of the Roman Empire (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero)
What: A line of emperors who ruled Rome after Augustus
Where: Rome
When: 27 BCE – 68 CE
Why: Established imperial rule but ended due to Nero’s mismanagement

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16
Q

Cleopatra

A

Who: Last pharaoh of Egypt, lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony
What: Ruler of Egypt, fought against Rome
Where: Egypt
When: 69–30 BCE
Why: Her defeat led to Rome taking control of Egypt

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17
Q

Tiberius

A

Who: Second emperor of Rome, successor to Augustus
What: Ruled Rome but became paranoid and isolated
Where: Rome
When: 14–37 CE
Why: Political purges and scandals overshadowed his rule

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18
Q

Caligula

A

Who: Third emperor of Rome
What: A tyrannical and erratic ruler
Where: Rome
When: 37–41 CE
Why: Known for cruelty and insanity; assassinated by his guards

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19
Q

Claudius

A

Who: Fourth emperor of Rome
What: Expanded the empire despite personal challenges
Where: Rome
When: 41–54 CE
Why: Successfully led military campaigns and infrastructure projects

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20
Q

Nero

A

Who: Fifth emperor of Rome
What: Infamous for his cruelty and persecution of Christians
Where: Rome
When: 54–68 CE
Why: Blamed for the Great Fire of Rome, committed suicide after being declared a public enemy

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21
Q

Deification

A

Who: Roman emperors and significant figures
What: Declaring someone a god after their death
Where: Rome
When: Began with Julius Caesar (44 BCE)
Why: Strengthened the emperor’s power

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22
Q

Theatre

A

Who: Greek and Roman playwrights
What: Public performances of tragedies and comedies
Where: Greece and Rome
When: 5th century BCE onward
Why: Provided entertainment and a means of political satire

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23
Q

Sophists

A

Who: Traveling teachers in Greece
What: Taught rhetoric, public speaking, and relativism
Where: Throughout Greece
When: 5th century BCE
Why: Helped citizens prepare for political and legal debates

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24
Q

Democracy

A

Who: Developed by the Athenians
What: Government system where citizens vote on policies
Where: Athens, Greece
When: 5th century BCE
Why: Allowed direct citizen participation in government

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25
Tyrant
Who: Leaders who took power by force What: Not always cruel, some improved governance Where: Ancient Greece When: 7th–6th centuries BCE Why: Took power during political crises
26
Helot
Who: Enslaved population in Sparta What: Forced laborers who worked for Spartan citizens Where: Sparta, Greece When: Classical Greek period Why: Allowed Spartans to focus entirely on military training
27
Cleisthenes
Who: Founder of Athenian democracy What: Reorganized Athenian government Where: Athens, Greece When: Late 6th century BCE Why: Established voting rights and a system of governance
28
Hellenism
Who: Greeks and conquered peoples under Alexander the Great What: A cultural blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences Where: Throughout Alexander’s empire When: 4th century BCE onward Why: Spread Greek culture and philosophy
29
Stoicism
Who: Founded by Zeno of Citium What: A philosophy promoting rationality and self-control Where: Greece, then Rome When: 3rd century BCE Why: Taught how to live a virtuous, emotionally stable life
30
Epicureanism
Who: Founded by Epicurus What: A philosophy focused on pleasure and avoiding pain Where: Greece and Rome When: 4th century BCE Why: Encouraged a simple life free from fear
31
Euclid
Who: Greek mathematician What: Father of geometry Where: Alexandria, Egypt When: 3rd century BCE Why: Established foundational geometric principles
32
Archimedes
Who: Greek mathematician and inventor What: Discovered buoyancy, invented war machines Where: Syracuse, Sicily When: 3rd century BCE Why: Contributed to physics, engineering, and mathematics
33
Vandals
Who: A Germanic tribe What: Sacked Rome in 455 CE Where: Europe, North Africa When: 5th century CE Why: Contributed to the decline of the Western Roman Empire
34
Goths
Who: Germanic tribes What: Played a role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire Where: Europe When: 4th–5th century CE Why: Invasions weakened Roman authority
35
Germanic Tribes
Who: Groups including the Vandals, Goths, and Franks What: Nomadic groups that invaded Roman territory Where: Europe When: 3rd–5th centuries CE Why: Their invasions led to Rome’s decline
36
Twelve Tables
Who: Early Romans What: The first written law code of Rome Where: Roman Republic When: 451–450 BCE Why: Established laws that applied to all Roman citizens, forming the foundation for future legal systems
37
Romulus and Remus
Who: Legendary twin brothers, founders of Rome What: Mythological figures raised by a she-wolf Where: Rome When: Traditionally dated to 753 BCE Why: The legend explained the origins of Rome and justified its rule
38
Alexander the Great
Who: King of Macedonia What: Conquered the Persian Empire and expanded Greek influence Where: Greece, Persia, Egypt, India When: 356–323 BCE Why: Spread Greek culture (Hellenism) across a vast empire
39
Paterfamilias
Who: Roman families, especially patriarchs What: The head of a Roman family who had absolute power over household members Where: Rome When: Throughout the Roman Republic and Empire Why: Established strict family structure and legal authority within Roman households
40
Punic Wars
Who: Rome vs. Carthage What: A series of three wars over Mediterranean dominance Where: Western Mediterranean, including Italy, North Africa, and Spain When: 264–146 BCE Why: Led to Rome’s dominance over the western Mediterranean and the destruction of Carthage
41
Heresy
Who: Christian religious groups opposing mainstream Church doctrine What: Beliefs that contradicted official Church teachings Where: Roman Empire When: 4th century CE onward Why: Led to persecution and religious divisions, including conflicts over the nature of Christ
42
Consuls
Who: Two elected leaders of the Roman Republic What: Held executive power and commanded the military Where: Rome When: 509 BCE–27 BCE Why: Prevented one ruler from gaining too much power, but eventually became overshadowed by emperors
43
crossing of the rubicon
Who: Julius Caesar What: A pivotal event where Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army, defying the Senate Where: Northern Italy When: 49 BCE Why: Marked the beginning of Caesar’s civil war, leading to the end of the Roman Republic
44
Arianism
Who: A Christian sect founded by Arius, a priest from Alexandria What: A belief that Jesus was created by God and was not co-eternal with Him Where: Roman Empire When: 4th century CE Why: Led to major theological disputes and was declared heretical at the Council of Nicaea
45
Early Roman Myth
Who: Early Romans What: Myths explaining Rome’s origins and gods Where: Rome When: Before recorded history Why: Reinforced Roman values and justified the city power
46
Science
Who: Greek and Roman scholars What: Developments in astronomy, medicine, and engineering Where: Greece and Rome When: Classical antiquity Why: Laid the foundation for modern scientific methods
47
Civil War
Who: Julius Caesar, Pompey, Roman senators What: A conflict between different factions within Rome Where: Rome and its provinces When: 49–45 BCE Why: Led to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire
48
Republic
Who: Roman citizens What: A system of government with elected officials Where: Rome When: 509 BCE–27 BCE Why: Allowed citizen participation but ultimately collapsed due to corruption and civil wars
49
Hellenistic Kingdoms
Who: Alexander the Great’s generals What: The divided territories of Alexander’s empire Where: Greece, Egypt, Persia, India When: 323 BCE onward Why: Blended Greek and local cultures, influencing later civilizations
50
Julius Ceaser
Who: Roman general and dictator What: Expanded Rome and was assassinated by senators Where: Rome When: 100–44 BCE Why: His death marked the transition from the Republic to the Empire
51
Philosophy (Hellenistic)
Who: Greek philosophers like Epicurus and Zeno What: Schools of thought such as Stoicism and Epicureanism Where: Greece and Rome When: 4th–1st century BCE Why: Influenced Roman and later European philosophical traditions
52
Eratosthenes
Who: Greek Mathematician and geographer What: Calculated the Earth's circumference Where: Alexandria, Egypt When: 3rd century BCE Why: Made major contributions to geography and astronomy
53
Hannibal
Who: Carthaginian general What: Led an army (including war elephants) across the Alps to attack Rome Where: Carthage, Italy When: 247–183 BCE Why: Nearly defeated Rome in the Second Punic War but was ultimately unsuccessful
54
Philip II
Who: King of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great What: United Greece under Macedonian rule Where: Greece, Macedonia When: 382–336 BCE Why: Paved the way for Alexander’s conquests
55
Diocletian
Who: Roman emperor What: Introduced major reforms and the Tetrarchy Where: Roman Empire When: 284–305 CE Why: Strengthened the empire but persecuted Christians
56
Pompey
Who: Roman general and rival of Julius Caesar What: Lost a civil war against Caesar Where: Rome When: 106–48 BCE Why: His defeat allowed Caesar to take full control of Rome
57
Paleolithic
Who: Early human societies, including hunter-gatherers What: The Old Stone Age, characterized by the use of stone tools Where: Africa, Europe, Asia When: 2.5 million years ago – 10,000 BCE Why: Marked the earliest known period of human development
58
Neolithic Revolution
Who: Early human societies transitioning to agriculture What: The shift from hunting and gathering to farming and domestication of animals Where: Fertile Crescent, including modern Syria, Mesopotamia When: 10,000–4,000 BCE Why: Led to food surpluses, settled societies, technological advancements, and the birth of civilization
59
Hunter-Gatherer
Who: Early human societies What: People who survived by hunting animals and gathering wild plants Where: Throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas When: Prehistoric times (before agriculture) Why: The dominant way of life before the Neolithic Revolution
60
Polytheism
Who: Practiced by ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans What: The belief in multiple gods Where: Throughout ancient civilizations When: Throughout history, particularly before the rise of monotheism Why: Polytheistic religions helped explain natural phenomena and social order
61
Mesopotamia
Who: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites What: The land between two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) Where: Modern-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Kuwait When: 4000–1000 BCE Why: Considered the “Cradle of Civilization” due to its early advancements in writing, law, and urbanization
62
Prehistory
Who: Early humans before written records What: The period before written history Where: Worldwide When: Before 3100 BCE (before Mesopotamian writing) Why: Represents the era before written documentation, relying on archaeological evidence
63
Early Near East
Who: Early civilizations such as Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians What: The region where some of the earliest human civilizations developed Where: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant (modern-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Israel, etc.) When: Around 4000 BCE – 1000 BCE Why: This region saw the first cities, governments, writing systems, and large-scale agriculture
64
Cuneiform
Who: The Sumerians What: The first known writing system, consisting of wedge-shaped symbols Where: Mesopotamia When: Developed around 3100 BCE Why: Allowed for record-keeping, communication, and the transmission of knowledge
65
Hieroglyphs
Who: Ancient Egyptians What: A complex system of pictorial writing Where: Egypt When: 3200 BCE – 400 CE Why: Used for religious, governmental, and monumental inscriptions
66
Hammurabi
Who: Hammurabi, the sixth king of Babylon What: Famous for the Hammurabi Code, one of the earliest written legal codes Where: Mesopotamia (Babylon, modern-day Iraq) When: Ruled from 1792 BCE – 1750 BCE Why: His laws established justice and social order, influencing later legal systems
67
Pharaoh
Who: The ruler of ancient Egypt What: A divine king believed to be a god on earth Where: Egypt When: 3100 BCE – 30 BCE Why: Centralized political and religious authority
68
Monotheism
Who: Introduced by Akhenaten in Egypt, practiced by Hebrews What: The belief in one god Where: Egypt (Akhenaten’s reign), Hebrew traditions When: Akhenaten (14th century BCE), Hebrews (beginning around 2000 BCE) Why: Shifted religious focus from multiple gods to a single deity
69
Assyrians
Who: A Semitic-speaking people What: A powerful empire known for military conquests and brutal tactics Where: Mesopotamia When: 24th–7th centuries BCE Why: Developed advanced siege warfare and terror tactics to control conquered lands
70
Persian Empire
Who: Founded by Cyrus the Great What: The largest empire of its time, known for tolerance and infrastructure Where: Spanned from Egypt to India When: 550–330 BCE Why: Introduced administrative systems and religious tolerance
71
Hebrews
Who: An ancient Semitic-speaking people What: The founders of Judaism Where: Ancient Israel and Palestine When: 2000 BCE onward Why: Introduced monotheism and ethical laws
72
Egypt
Who: People along the Nile River What: A major ancient civilization Where: Egypt When: Old Kingdom (2686–2181 BCE), Middle Kingdom (2040–1786 BCE), New Kingdom (1570–1085 BCE) Why: Had advanced agriculture, monumental architecture, and strong centralized rule
73
Hatshepsut
Who: A female pharaoh of Egypt What: Expanded trade and built monumental architecture Where: Egypt When: 1508–1458 BCE Why: One of the first women to rule Egypt, demonstrating female leadership in antiquity
74
Rosetta stone
Who: Discovered by Napoleon’s soldiers, deciphered by Jean-François Champollion What: A stone inscribed with Greek, Demotic, and Hieroglyphic script Where: Egypt (now in the British Museum) When: Created in 196 BCE, deciphered in 1822 Why: Key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs
75
Cosmopolitanism
Who: Philosophers in the Hellenistic period What: A belief that all humans belong to a single community, regardless of national or cultural identity Where: Greece and later the Roman world When: 4th century BCE onward Why: Influenced ideas of universal citizenship and ethics
76
Homer
Who: A legendary Greek poet What: Credited with composing the Iliad and Odyssey Where: Greece When: Around the 8th century BCE Why: His epics shaped Greek identity, values, and storytelling
77
Hoplite
Who: Citizen-soldiers of Greek city-states What: Heavily armed foot soldiers using spears and shields Where: Ancient Greece When: 7th–4th century BCE Why: Key to Greek military success and democracy
78
Iliad
Who: Attributed to Homer What: An epic poem about the Trojan War Where: Greece When: 8th century BCE Why: Explored themes of heroism, fate, and divine intervention
79
Linear B
Who: Mycenaean Greeks What: A script used for administrative purposes Where: Greece (Mycenaean civilization) When: 1450–1200 BCE Why: Earliest recorded Greek writing, used for economic records
80
Lycurgus
Who: A legendary Spartan lawgiver What: Established Sparta’s military-focused government Where: Sparta, Greece When: 9th–7th century BCE (legendary period) Why: Created the rigid social and military structure of Sparta
81
Minoan and Mycenaean Influences
Who: Minoans (Crete) and Mycenaeans (mainland Greece) What: Early Greek civilizations that influenced later Greek culture Where: Aegean region When: 2000–1100 BCE Why: Introduced art, trade networks, and architectural innovations
82
Odyssey
Who: Attributed to Homer What: An epic poem about Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War Where: Greece When: 8th century BCE Why: Explores themes of intelligence, perseverance, and divine influence
83
Oral Composition
Who: Ancient Greek poets and storytellers What: A method of storytelling before written records Where: Greece When: Before the 8th century BCE Why: Allowed myths and histories to be passed down generations
84
Phalanx
Who: Greek hoplites (soldiers) What: A tightly packed infantry formation with overlapping shields Where: Greece When: 7th–4th century BCE Why: Revolutionized warfare and relied on group cohesion
85
Philosophy
Who: Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle What: The study of knowledge, ethics, and existence Where: Greece When: 6th century BCE onward Why: Influenced Western thought and scientific reasoning
86
Remus
Who: Mythical twin brother of Romulus What: According to legend, co-founder of Rome Where: Rome When: 753 BCE (legendary date) Why: Killed by Romulus, symbolizing Rome’s violent rise
87
Romulus
Who: Legendary first king of Rome What: According to myth, founded Rome Where: Rome When: 753 BCE (legendary date) Why: His story explains Rome’s founding and warrior culture
88
Sappho
Who: A famous Greek lyric poet from Lesbos What: Wrote poetry about love, relationships, and emotions Where: Greece When: 7th century BCE Why: One of the few known female poets of antiquity
89
Sea Peoples
Who: Unknown groups of invaders What: Raided and disrupted Mediterranean civilizations Where: Egypt, Greece, and the Levant When: 1200 BCE Why: Contributed to the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations
90
Solon
Who: Athenian statesman and lawmaker What: Introduced economic and political reforms in Athens Where: Athens, Greece When: Early 6th century BCE Why: Laid the foundation for Athenian democracy

Western Civilization (4 decks)

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