Greek Flashcards
Q: When was Ancient Greece (Hellas) formed and when did it fall?
A: Ancient Greece was formed around 1300 BCE and fell due to the invasion of the Roman Empire in 146 BCE.
Q: What language was primarily used in Ancient Greece?
A: The Hellenic language was used in Ancient Greece.
Q: What does the term “polis” or “poleis” refer to in Ancient Greece?
A: Initially referred to a fortified area or citadel; later became urban centers that created forms of governance, including monarchies, democracies, and militaristic societies.
Q: What were the Olympic Games and what events were included?
A: A festival held in Olympia to honor Greek gods, featuring events like long jump, discus throw, pankration, speed races, boxing, and wrestling.
Q: Name two major contributors to math and science in Ancient Greece.
A:
Euclid - Known for “Elements,” a 13-volume work on geometry.
Archimedes - A geometer and mathematician known for the principle of buoyancy (d = m/v) and the exclamation “Eureka.”
Q: Who are three prominent philosophers from Ancient Greece and their contributions?
A:
Socrates - Developed the Socratic method.
Plato - Explored justice, beauty, and equality through dialectics.
Aristotle - Introduced concepts like ethos, logos, and pathos.
Q: Who was Asclepius and what was his significance?
A: Asclepius was the god of healing and medicine in Ancient Greece, symbolizing medical treatments and remedies for diseases.
Q: Name four inventions from Ancient Greece and their approximate dates.
A:
Water Mills - 250 BCE
Alarm Clock - 300 BCE
Crane - 515 BCE
Catapult (Katapeltikon) - 399 BCE
Q: When did Greek philosophy rise and what subjects did it cover?
A: Greek philosophy rose in the 6th century BCE, covering political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, ontology, logic, biology, rhetoric, and aesthetics.
Q: Who was Parmenides and what is he known for?
A: The first philosopher to inquire into existence, known as the “Father of Metaphysics.” He proposed two views of reality: “The way of truth” and that “Existence is timeless, uniform, and necessary.”
Q: What was Heraclitus known for?
A: A Pre-Socratic philosopher known as the “Dark Philosopher” for his difficult writings and belief that the world revolves around conflict.
Q: Who was Zeno of Elea and what is he best known for?
A: A Pre-Socratic philosopher known for his paradoxes, described as “immeasurably subtle and profound.”
Q: What contributions did Thales of Miletus make?
A: Known as the first Greek philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, he discovered the solstice and equinox and predicted a battle-stopping eclipse on May 8, 585 BCE.
Q: What was Anaximander’s theory regarding the universe?
A: He explained the origin of the universe with the theory of “Apeiron,” suggesting that the universe is boundless and consists of a primary substance. He also invented the gnomon for sundials and created a map of the known world.
Q: What is Empedocles known for?
A: He originated the cosmogonic theory of the four classical elements and proposed that “Love” and “Strife” mix and separate the elements, respectively.
