"Homeric Warfare to the Graeco-Persian Wars", “From the Graeco-Persian Wars to the Conquests of Alexander" Flashcards
Homer
Ancient Greek poet traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.
Linear A
A script used by the Minoans, not yet deciphered, primarily found on Crete.
Pentekonter
Pentekonter: An ancient Greek ship with 25 oars on each side, used for trade and military purposes.
Othismos
Othismos: A term used to describe the push of warriors against each other in a phalanx formation during battle.
Archons
Archons: High-ranking officials in ancient Athens, responsible for various aspects of government.
Trojan Cycle
Trojan Cycle: A collection of ancient Greek myths about the Trojan War, including various stories and characters.
Knossos
Knossos: An archaeological site on Crete, known for its palace complex associated with the Minoan civilization.
Bireme
Bireme: An ancient ship with two rows of oars, known for its speed and maneuverability.
Strategos
Strategos: A military general in ancient Greece, often responsible for leading armies and making strategic decisions.
Ecclesia
Ecclesia: The principal assembly of ancient Athens, where citizens gathered to discuss and vote on issues.
Odyssey
Odyssey: An epic poem attributed to Homer that narrates the adventures of Odysseus after the fall of Troy.
Linear B:
Linear B: A syllabic script used for writing Mycenaean Greek, deciphered in the 20th century.
Polis
Polis: A city-state in ancient Greece, characterized by its own government and cultural identity.
Helots
Helots: Enslaved people in ancient Sparta, primarily of Messenian origin, who worked the land for Spartan citizens.
Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes: An Athenian statesman known as the “Father of Athenian Democracy” for his reforms in the late 6th century BCE.
Hesiod
Hesiod: An ancient Greek poet, contemporary of Homer, known for works like “Theogony” and “Works and Days.”
Agoge
Agoge: The rigorous education and training program mandated for all male Spartans.
Mycenae
Mycenae: An archaeological site in Greece, significant for its role in the late Bronze Age and as a center of Mycenaean civilization.
Hoplite
Hoplite: A heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece, known for fighting in a phalanx formation.
Ostracism
Ostracism: A political practice in ancient Athens where citizens could vote to exile a person for ten years.
Theogony
Theogony: A poem by Hesiod describing the origins and genealogy of the Greek gods.
Wanax
Wanax: A term used in Mycenaean Greece referring to a king or lord.
Hoplon
Hoplon: A large round shield used by Greek hoplites in battle.
Apella
Apella: The assembly of Spartan citizens, where important decisions were made.
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great: Founder of the Achaemenid Empire, known for his conquests and the establishment of a vast empire in the 6th century BCE.
Agon
Agon: A term referring to a contest or competition, often associated with athletic or artistic competitions in ancient Greece.
Arete
Arete: A Greek term meaning “excellence” or “virtue,” often associated with moral and physical superiority.
Darius I
Darius I: A ruler of the Persian Empire who reigned from 522 BCE to 486 BCE, known for his administrative reforms and expansion of the empire.
Megaron
Megaron: A large rectangular hall in Mycenaean palaces, often used for meetings and ceremonial activities.
Panoply
Panoply: A complete set of armor and weapons worn by a hoplite.
Gerousia
Gerousia: The council of elders in Sparta, consisting of men over the age of 60 who advised the kings.
Phalanx
Phalanx: A military formation of infantry soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder, usually armed with spears and shields.
Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann: A 19th-century archaeologist known for his excavations of ancient Troy and Mycenae.
Ephors
Ephors: A group of five officials in Sparta who were responsible for the education of youth and the conduct of citizens.
Cuirass
Cuirass: A piece of armor that covers the torso, typically made of metal or leather.
Satrapies
Satrapies: Provinces of the Persian Empire, each governed by a satrap.
Kleos
Kleos: A Greek term meaning “glory” or “fame,” often associated with heroic deeds.
Grieves
Grieves: Protective armor for the shins worn by ancient Greek warriors.
Draco
Draco: An Athenian legislator known for his harsh laws, which were the first written legal code in Athens.
Battle of Sphacteria
Battle of Sphacteria: A battle during the Peloponnesian War in 425 BCE, where Athenian forces captured Spartan hoplites.
Immortals
Immortals: An elite group of soldiers in the Persian army, known for their discipline and effectiveness.
Battle of Marathon
Battle of Marathon: A decisive battle in 490 BCE where the Athenians defeated the Persians.
Kyklos
Kyklos: A Greek term meaning “cycle,” often used in discussions of political systems or government.
Epaminondas
Epaminondas: A Theban general and statesman known for his innovative tactics, especially at the Battle of Leuctra.
Sacred Band
Sacred Band: An elite military unit in ancient Thebes, composed of pairs of male lovers.
Miltiades
Miltiades: An Athenian general who played a key role in the victory at the Battle of Marathon.
Hetairoi
Hetairoi: Elite cavalry units in ancient Macedonia, often serving as personal guards to the king.
Brasidas
Brasidas: A Spartan general known for his successful campaigns during the Peloponnesian War.
Battle of Plataea
Battle of Plataea: The final land battle of the Greco-Persian Wars in 479 BCE, leading to the defeat of the Persian army.
Ile
Ile: A term used in ancient Greek to refer to a troop or unit of soldiers.
Xerxes I:
Xerxes I: A Persian king who led an invasion of Greece during the Greco-Persian Wars.
Nicias
Nicias: An Athenian general known for his role in the Sicilian Expedition and the Peace of Nicias.
Battle of Mycale
Battle of Mycale: A battle in 479 BCE where the Greek fleet defeated the Persian navy.
Barbaroi
Barbaroi: A Greek term for non-Greek peoples, often used pejoratively.
Iphicrates
Iphicrates: An Athenian general known for his military reforms and success against the Spartans.
Battle of Leuctra
Battle of Leuctra: A battle in 371 BCE where Thebes defeated Sparta, changing the balance of power in Greece.
Alcibiades
Alcibiades: A controversial Athenian leader and general during the Peloponnesian War known for his shifting allegiances.
Hammer and Anvil
Hammer and Anvil: A military tactic involving encircling and trapping the enemy between two forces.
Hellenic League
Hellenic League: An alliance of Greek city-states formed to oppose the Persian invasions.
Lithobolos
Lithobolos: A stone-throwing siege weapon used in ancient warfare.
Battle of Thermopylae
Battle of Thermopylae: A famous battle in 480 BCE where a small Greek force, including Spartans, held off the Persian army.
Battle of Chaeronea
Battle of Chaeronea: A battle in 338 BCE where Philip II defeated the Greek city-states, establishing Macedonian dominance.
Lysander
Lysander: A Spartan admiral who played a key role in the defeat of Athens during the Peloponnesian War.
Pericles
Pericles: An influential Athenian statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens.
Trireme
Trireme: A type of ancient Greek warship with three rows of oars, known for its speed and agility.
Battle of the Granicus River
Battle of the Granicus River: An early battle of Alexander the Great against the Persian satraps in 334 BCE.
Battle of Arginusae
Battle of Arginusae: A naval battle during the Peloponnesian War in 406 BCE, resulting in a significant Athenian victory.
Philip II
Philip II: King of Macedon who united the Greek city-states and father of Alexander the Great.
Battle of Salamis
Battle of Salamis: A naval battle in 480 BCE where the Greek fleet defeated the Persian navy.
Delian League
Delian League: An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens formed to defend against Persian aggression.
Phalangites
Phalangites: Soldiers who fought in a phalanx formation, typically equipped with a spear and shield.
Thucydides
Thucydides: An ancient Greek historian known for his work “History of the Peloponnesian War.”
Periplus
Periplus: An ancient navigational manual that detailed coastal navigation and the various ports and landmarks, often used by traders and sailors in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Battle of Aegospotami
Battle of Aegospotami: A decisive naval battle in 405 BCE where the Spartans defeated the Athenians, leading to the end of the Peloponnesian War.
Sarissa
Sarissa: A long spear used by Macedonian phalanx soldiers, significantly longer than traditional hoplite spears.
Darius III
Darius III: The last king of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, who reigned from 336 to 330 BCE. He faced the invasion of Alexander the Great and was defeated in several key battles.
Syntagma
Syntagma: A term meaning “arrangement” or “order,” often used in the context of political or military organization, particularly referring to the assembly of citizens in ancient Greece.
Piraeus
Piraeus: The main port of Athens, which was crucial for trade and naval power in ancient Greece, serving as the harbor for Athenian ships.
Thirty Tyrants
Thirty Tyrants: A pro-Spartan oligarchy that ruled Athens after the Peloponnesian War, established in 404 BCE. They were known for their harsh rule and were eventually overthrown.
Diekplus
Diekplus: A naval maneuver used in ancient warfare, typically referring to a sudden and rapid attack to break through enemy lines or formations.
Battle of Issus
Battle of Issus: A significant battle fought in 333 BCE between Alexander the Great and Darius III, resulting in a decisive victory for Alexander and furthering his campaign against Persia.
Cleon
Cleon: An Athenian statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War, known for his populist policies and his role in advocating for military action against Sparta.
Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans: A British archaeologist known for his excavations of the Minoan palace at Knossos on Crete in the early 20th century, and for his contributions to understanding Minoan civilization and its influence.
Hypaspists
Hypaspists: Elite infantry units in the Macedonian army, serving as a light infantry force that was highly mobile and often used to protect the flanks of the phalanx.
Sea Peoples:
Sea Peoples: A confederation of naval raiders who attacked ancient Mediterranean civilizations during the late Bronze Age, particularly around the 12th century BCE, contributing to the collapse of several empires, including the Hittites and the Egyptian New Kingdom.
Battle of Gaugamela
Battle of Gaugamela: A decisive battle fought in 331 BCE where Alexander the Great defeated Darius III, leading to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire and solidifying Alexander’s control over Persia.
Corinthian War
Corinthian War: A conflict (395–387 BCE) involving a coalition of Greek city-states, including Athens, Thebes, and Corinth, against Sparta, resulting in Sparta’s temporary decline in power.
Ionian Revolt
Ionian Revolt: A rebellion that took place from 499 to 493 BCE, where the Ionian city-states revolted against Persian rule, supported by Athens and other Greek city-states. This revolt marked the beginning of the Greco-Persian Wars.
Peltasts
Peltasts: Lightly armed infantry in ancient Greek warfare, known for their agility and use of javelins, typically equipped with a smaller shield called a “peltē.”
Solon
Solon: An Athenian statesman and poet of the 6th century BCE, credited with important political and economic reforms that laid the groundwork for Athenian democracy and addressed social inequalities.
