Greece Vocabulary Flashcards
frescoes
paintings done on wet plaster walls
polis
Greek word for city-state, which developed around a central fort
acropolis
hill or mountain in Greece that included a fort as well as temples and other public buildings
agora
marketplace in a city-state in Greece
myths
traditional stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes
oracles
specials places where ancient Greeks believed gods spoke through priests and priestesses
aristocrats
Greek city-states controlled by nobles
hoplites
heavily armed Greek infantry who carried long spears and fought in closely spaced rows
tyrants
in ancient Greece, rulers who seized power by force but who ruled with the people’s support; later came to refer to rulers who exercise brutal and oppressive power.
popular government
idea that people can and should rule themselves
democracy
government in which citizens take part
helots
conquered people of the Peloponnesus, who became the lowest class in Spartan society,
ephors
five officials in ancient Sparta who were elected for one-year terms to make sure the king stayed within the law.
metics
people living in Athens who were not Athenian citizens, who could work and who paid taxes but were not allowed to own land or take part in government.
archons
rulers in ancient Athens who served one-year terms
direct democracy
form of democracy in which all citizens participate directly in making decisions.
representative democracy
form of government in which citizens elect representatives to run the government for them, rather than each citizen serving directly in the government.
terracing
carving small, flat plots of land from hillsides to use for farming.
import
good or service bought from another country or region
export
good or service sold to another country or region
pedagogue
in ancient Greece, a male slave who taught a young boy manners
ethics
study of what is good and bad, and of moral duty
rhetoric
study of public speaking and debating
