Global Studies 9, Unit 2

Question 1

Mycenaean

Answer 1

an Indo-European person who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C.

Question 2

Trojan War

Answer 2

a war, fought around 1200 B.C., in which an army led by Mycenaean kings attacked the independent trading city of Troy in Anatolia.

Question 3

Dorians

Answer 3

a Greek-speaking people that, according to tradition, migrated into mainland Greece after the destruction of the Mycenaean civilization.

Question 4

Epic

Answer 4

a long narrative poem celebrating the deeds of legendary or traditional heroes.

Question 5

Myth

Answer 5

a traditional story about gods, ancestors, or heroes, told to explain the natural world or the customs and beliefs of a society.

Question 6

Polis

Answer 6

a Greek city-state—the fundamental political unit of ancient Greece after about 750 B.C.

Question 7

Acropolis

Answer 7

the ancient citadel (a place people can go to if their city is attacked) of Athens built on a hill in the center of the city.

Question 8

Monarchy

Answer 8

a government in which power is in the hands of a single person.

Question 9

Aristocracy

Answer 9

a government in which power is in the hands of hereditary ruling class or nobility.

Question 10

Oligarchy

Answer 10

a government in which power is in the hands of a few people—especially one in which rule is based upon wealth.

Question 11

Tyrant

Answer 11

in ancient Greece, a powerful individual who gained control of a city-state’s government by appealing to the poor for support.

Question 12

Democracy

Answer 12

a government controlled by its citizens, either directly or through representatives.

Question 13

Helot

Answer 13

in the society of ancient Sparta, a peasant bound to the land.

Question 14

Phalanx

Answer 14

a military formation of foot soldiers armed with spears and shields.

Question 15

Persian Wars

Answer 15

a series of wars in the fifth century B.C., in which Greek city-states battled the Persian Empire.

Question 16

Direct democracy

Answer 16

a government in which citizens rule directly rather than through representatives.

Question 17

Classical Art

Answer 17

the art of ancient Greece and Rome, in which harmony, order, and proportion were emphasized.

Question 18

Tragedy

Answer 18

a serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character.

Question 19

Comedy

Answer 19

a humorous form of drama that often includes slapstick and satire.

Question 20

Philosopher

Answer 20

a thinker who uses logic and reason to investigate the nature of the universe, human society, and morality.

Question 21

Hellenistic

Answer 21

relating to the civilization, language art, science, and literature of the Greek world from the reign of Alexander the Great to the late second century B.C.

Question 22

Colossus of Rhodes

Answer 22

an enormous Hellenistic statue that formerly stood near the harbor of Rhodes.

Question 23

Republic

Answer 23

a form of government in which power is in the hands of representatives and leaders are elected by citizens who have the right to vote.

Question 24

Patrician

Answer 24

in ancient Rome, a member of the wealthy, privileged upper class.

Question 25

Plebeian

Answer 25

in ancient Rome, one of the common farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up most of the population.

Question 26

Tribune

Answer 26

in ancient Rome, an official elected by the plebeians to protect their rights.

Question 27

Consul

Answer 27

in the Roman republic, one of the two powerful officials elected each year to command the army and direct the government.

Question 28

Senate

Answer 28

in ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of aristocrats.

Question 29

Dictator

Answer 29

in ancient Rome, a political leader given absolute power to make laws and command the army for a limited time.

Question 30

Legion

Answer 30

a military unit of the ancient Roman army, made up of about 5,000 foot soldiers and a group of soldiers on horseback.

Question 31

Punic Wars

Answer 31

a series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome’s dominance over the western Mediterranean.

Question 32

Civil war

Answer 32

a conflict between two political groups within the same country.

Question 33

Triumvirate

Answer 33

in ancient Rome, a group of three leaders sharing control of the government.

Question 34

Pax Romana

Answer 34

a period of peace and prosperity throughout the Roman Empire, lasting from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180.

Question 35

Apostle

Answer 35

one of the followers of Jesus who preached and spread his teachings.

Question 36

Diaspora

Answer 36

the dispersal of the Jews from their homeland in Palestine—especially during the period of more than 1,800 years that followed the Romans’ destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Question 37

Bishop

Answer 37

a high-ranking Christian official who supervises a number of local churches.

Question 38

Pope

Answer 38

bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 39

Inflation

Answer 39

a decline in the value of money, accompanied by a rise in the prices of goods and services.

Question 40

Mercenary

Answer 40

a soldier who is paid to fight in a foreign army.

Question 41

Greco-Roman

Answer 41

culture an ancient culture that developed from a blending of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures.

Question 42

Aqueduct

Answer 42

a pipeline or channel built to carry water to populated areas.