Names/Historical Significance Flashcards
1
Q
- Athenian poet and statesman
- Became a powerful figure in Greek history of civilization
- Became archon in ancient Athens during times of frustration and violence
- Canceled all agricultural debts of poor farmers
- Many families were left without land, but Solon prevented conflict/war
- Rose to power due to the economic crisis during the time
- Transformed the economy of Athens
- Ordered that no product from the soil could be exported except olive oil
- Divided Athenian citizens into four classes based on income
- Allowed members of only the two highest classes to hold office
- Aimed to improve the status of men and get them to achieve positions of leadership regardless of their ancestry
A
Solon
2
Q
- King of city-state of Sparta
- Heroic sacrifice at Thermopylae
- Persians found a secret passage to circle the Greeks
- Sent the majority of his army away because he knew that the Persians would defeat them
- Important not as a historical personality, but as a moral figure
- Even knowing that he would die, that did not stop him
- Died for the lives and freedom of others
- Remembered for his courageous act
- Considered a legendary king of Sparta
- Great act of self-sacrifice
A
Leonidas
3
Q
- Leading statesman in the period of the Athenian Empire
- Aristocrat who had the support of the common people
- Didn’t have position as an archon but was held the post of general
- Gained support by the common people by establishing pay for jurors and those who served in council
- Aimed to restore the damage done by Persian invasion
- Wanted to rebuild the temples on the Acropolis
- Was part of the Golden Age
- Era in which Athens was at the top of its historical development
- favored literature and arts
- His political dominance was praised by historian, Thucydides
A
Pericles
4
Q
- Main critic of the Sophists
- Was active during the golden age (before and during the Peloponnesian War)
- Critiqued the Sophists for failing to recognize moral absolutes and teach ethically right behavior
- Transformed philosophy into questioning about moral responsibility of people
- Technique based on engaging in questions and answers, but refuting, correcting, and guiding them
- Most of our knowledge comes from the writings of his student, Plato
- Was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens
- Could either choose the death penalty or to be exiled
- Accepted his fate, drank poison
- Believed that government was most efficient not as a tyranny or democracy
- Thought that government worked best when rules by individuals who had the greatest ability
A
Socrates
5
Q
- Greek philosopher
- Teacher of Alexander the Great
- Founded a school in Athens called Lyceum
- Embraced the fields of logic, physics, astronomy, biology, politics, and poetry
- Left behind Plato’s theory of knowledge
- Believed that reality consisted of form and nature
- “What can be seen to exist”
- Theory of the world of nature
- Distinguished between three forms: monarchy, aristocracy, and moderate democracy (expressed a preference for moderate democracy)
- His physical theories consisted of four elements: Earth, air, fire, and water
- Added a “fifth” theory about stars and their movement in a circular motion
- Believed that outside the universe is an external “prime mover” known as God who sets the whole universe in motion
A
Aristotle
6
Q
- Became king of Macedon after father’s death in 336 BC.
- Created the largest empire the ancient world had known
- Became known for the eastern expansion of the Greek world
- Used Persians to as administrators
- Enlisted support from natives to strengthen his empire
- Some believed that he had a vision to establish an empire in which different people would live in harmony within one family
- He destroyed the Persian Empire and most importantly, spread Greek Culture (Hellenism)
- Greatest military generals
- Motivated his army to do what seemed to be impossible
- Devoted to training his men
- Allowed for Hellenistic culture to become widespread
A
Alexander the Great
7
Q
- Roman commander at age 26
- Carried the war into Spain
- Was the first man given such a command without having held higher office
- Had no absolute faith of the gods; inspired his men with his belief
- Captured the most important Spanish city of New Carthage
- Soon controlled most of Spain
- Defeated powerful general, Hannibal from Italy
- In honor of his victory, he received his last name; added this to his traditional Roman name
- Carthage had to give up all territory
- His influences outlived the Roman world
- One of the greatest soldiers of the ancient world
- Had tactical reforms and strategic insight
A
Scipio Africanus
8
Q
- Statesman and general
- Expanded the Roman Republic through a series of battles across Europe
- Declared himself dictator for life
- Defeated his rival, Pompey
- Is remembered as one of the greatest military minds in history
- Laid the foundation for the Roman Empire
- During his time as ruler, the Roman calendar was a confused mess
- Created a new calendar using an Egyptian system of chronological time keeping
- Famous historical events: Triumvirate and military victories in Gaul
- His military brilliancy made him very popular in Rome but many were envious of his mastery of strategy, tactics, discipline, and military engineering
- His military campaigns significantly expanded the Roman Empire and fortified its borders
A
Julius Caesar
9
Q
- Greek geographer and historian
- Belonged to a wealthy and renowned family
- Received an excellent education
- Initially went through schooling in Asia Minor and later in Rome
- Most known for his book “Geography”
- An encyclopedic work containing the description of people and place throughout the Greco-Roman world
- Traveled a lot
- Journeyed Egypt and Kush; Far west as coastal Tuscany and as far south as Ethiopia
- Traveled throughout the Mediterranean for scholarly purposes
- Moved to rome and stayed there studying and writing
A
Strabo
10
Q
- One of the leaders of the first generation of Christians
- Considered the most important person after Jesus
- Travelled thousands of miles around the Mediterranean spreading the word of Jesus
- Developed a doctrine that would turn Christianity into a worldwide faith open to all
- Is described as one of the founders of the religion rather than a convert to it
- Spread the Christian teachings to the non-jews
- His missionary journeys took him all throughout the Roman Empire
- Started many churches
- Considered the author of 13 books of the Bible
- Before he was the “champion” of Christianity, Paul persecuted Christians
- Could not stand what Christians were saying about Jesus
A
Paul the Apostle
11
Q
- Roman author, naturalist and philosopher
- Born into a wealthy equestrian family; family with strong political connections
- Best known for his work in exploring the natural world
- Initially began his career as a junior officer
- Because of his parents’ connections in Rome, he obtained a military command
- Took part in several military conquests
- His purpose as commander of the naval fleet was to rescue people and to make a scientific record of the phenomenon.
- Slowly showed his interest and knowledge in Roman literature and gained him the attention of several scholars
- Developed his most famous encyclopedia that covers numerous fields
- His massive compilation of knowledge remained a valued source of practical information on medicine and the natural world
- Reputation for being one of the strongest ancient Roman historians whose work survives to this day.
- The writing of this privileged military general provides much knowledge of Roman life, science, and philosophy.
A
Pliny the Elder
12
Q
- Greek geographer, astronomer, and mathematician
- Most influential figure in the advancement of geography and cartography in ancient times
- Created graphs using the grid system with longitudes and latitudes
- Believed that the earth was the center of the universe
- Great achievements in his geocentric model of the universe
- Combined the stars’ movements with mathematics and geometry to predict the movements of the planets
- Worked out that the planets must move in epicycles, smaller circles
- Created the Ptolemaic system
- Later, presented all of the basic formulas and data for predicting the positions of the sun, moon, and planets, as well as eclipses
A
Ptolemy
13
Q
- Best known for being the first Christian Roman emperor to convert to Christianity
- Made this the major religion of Rome
- Ruled over many countries, like Britain, Gaul, and Spain
- Built roads and cities
- Moved his rule to Gaul and build the city’s defenses and public buildings
- Had a powerful army and conquered neighboring kings
- Expanded his Roman empire; People saw him as a good leader
- Stopped the persecution of the Christians in his territory
- Many wanted to take over the Roman Empire; civil war broke out
- Wanted to march against powerful Emperor, Maxentius
- Maxentius’ army was twice the size of his
- Had a dream the night before the fight, that they would win the battle if they fought under the Christian cross.
- His army dominated the battle and took control of Rome
A
Constantine the Great
14
Q
- Philosopher whose groundbreaking work infused *Christian doctrine with Neoplatonism
- Famous for being a unique Catholic theologian
- Contributions to Western philosophy
- His parents were of the respectable class of the Roman society
- Managed to receive a first-class education
- Tries to reconcile his beliefs about freewill
- Believes that humans are morally responsible for their actions
- One’s life is predestined
A
Saint Augustine
15
Q
- Captured by pirates as a child and was brought to Ireland
- During 6 years of captivity, became devoted to Christianity though constant prayer
- Was determined to convert the Irish to Christianity
- Had a dream of escaping enslavement
- He heard a voice that promised him he would find his way home to Britain
- Eager to see his dream materialize, he convinced some sailors to let him board their ship
- Him and his crew abandoned the ship in France
- Reunited with his family
- He was appointed a bishop and was sent to Ireland to spread Christian teaching to non believers
- Spread Christianity through preaching, writing, and performing baptisms
- Provided support to the small community of Christians who lived there
- Many legends believe that he drove away all the snakes from Ireland
- Today, he annually honored with the celebration on March 17
A
Saint Patrick
