Greece Political Terms Flashcards
Hoplites
a new kind of warfare, heavily armed infantrymen who fought in close formation
Persian Wars
the failed revolt led to that, two Persian attacks on Greece in the early fifth century BCE
Trireme
A sleek, fast vessel powered by 170 rowers, had become the premier warship.
Peloponnesian War
A nightmarish struggle between the Athenians and Spartans alliance systems that involved most of the Greek world.
Phalanx
A body of heavily armed infantry in ancient Greece formed in close deep ranks and files.
Chariot
evolved from transport and mobile command platforms into direct combat vehicles.
Second Greco-Persia war
During the Hellenistic Period when Greek and Persia had their second war.
Closed formation
A military tactical formation in which soldiers are close together and regularly arranged for the tactical concentration of force.
Ptolmies
The dynasty that ruled Egypt and sometimes laid claim to adjacent Syria-Palestine.
Democracy
A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them. (by all free adult males as of ancient Greek)
Satrap
a governor of a province in the Persian Empire
Tyrant
a leader who held power through the use of force
Alexandria
City in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great, center of commerce and Hellenistic civilization
The split of the Macedonian Empire
After Alexander the Great died, the empire was split into 3 major kingdoms: the Seleucid, Ptolemaic, and Antigonid kingdoms.
Laconia
The region of the southern Peloponnesus in which Sparta is located
Ephors
a group of 5 officials that helped govern Sparta with the Council of Elders; Anually elected magistrates who ran the government
Gerousia (Sparta)
28 men (2 were the kings and 26 were part of the council of elders) picked by Spartans, served for life, must be 60 years old
Apella
Assembly open to all Spartans; Group of Spartan male citizens who elect the Gerousia and Ephor and vote on proposals
Messinia
State conquered by Sparta to expand land so they could have more resources and not live in so much isolation, Sparta made them helots; Sparta would always win the wars but wouldnt back down and instead would put them into a group bondage
Spartiatae
full blooded Spartan male and female in good standing.
Agoge (Sparta)
The training center for young men starting at 7 years old; Baby spartans would be doused in an alcohol that made the skin burn as a first test of strength, then one of the 5 ephors would come to inspect the baby: if strong, it will be kept – if not, the baby would be discarded on the side of a mountain
Krypteia (Sparta)
2 parts:
Boys would be taken out to the woods and be taught to live by themselves and for themselves on the land (learn what food to eat in the wild, what flowers do what, etc.)
or
Were there to terrorize the helots; Spartan boys would torture and kill any Helots that stood out (consequently, these helots tried not to be the odd one out)
Homoioi
“Equals”-A citizen of Sparta (adult male whose parents were from citizen families)
