Key Terms for Ancient Greece Flashcards
City-state
A city that forms an independent state (including surrounding territory that might be outside of the city borders)
Oligarchy
A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution
Helot
In Ancient Laconia, a member of the lowest class. Helots were serfs that were owned by the state and bound to land they worked
Satrap
The governor of a province in the Persian empire
Delian League
Founded in 478 BC, it was an association of Greek city-states that went from 150 to 330 member states. The goal of the league was to liberate the city-states from Persian Rule. The league was led by Athens
Annex
A formal act whereby a state proclaims its sovereignty over territory hitherto outside its domain
Siege
A military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the goal of forcing a surrender
Peloponnesian League
A war fought in ancient Greece between Athens and Sparta, two of the most powerful city-states.
Homer
The presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey
Oracle
A priest or priestess acting as a person through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods.
Polis
The Greek word for city-states.
Aristocrat
A member of the highest class in certain societies, usually those holding titles or power passed down through family lines
Oligarchy
A small group of people having control of a country
Republic (Representative Democracy)
A system of government in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives
Boule
A government body of 400-500 members that all citizens had to participate in and would rotate through, giving up their regular job in order to participate for a whole year and then returning to their job after. Its members were chosen through a lottery system. This group would deal with issues of daily life and conflicts between members of society. It was also known as the Council of 400 before it grew in size to reach up to 500 citizens per year.
