Real Reading #1 Flashcards
What was the impact of Greece on the Persian Empire?
Greece slowed the Persian empire and established a few colonies.
What new institutions and values emerged from Greek civilization?
New institutions and values that would remain in western culture include the U.S. Constitution, buildings in the U.S., founders of the philosophical tradition, and the Socratic method.
What characterized the early history of Greece?
Crete showed Egyptian influence by 2000 BC with monumental architecture.
What happened to Mycenae around 1400 BC?
Mycenae was a kingdom during the Trojan War, but Indo-Europeans destroyed it until 800 BC, leading to the Dark Ages.
What was the political structure of Greece from 800-600 BC?
Greece saw the rise of strong city-states, often led by a tyrant or an aristocratic council, with trade developing and a written language derived from the Phoenician alphabet.
What were the major city-states of Greece?
Sparta and Athens rose to prominence, with Sparta focusing on military tradition and Athens on commerce and artistic/intellectual leadership.
What significant political development occurred in Athens during the 5th century?
Democracy was established in Athens, with Pericles as a notable political figure.
What were the consequences of the Peloponnesian Wars?
The Peloponnesian Wars weakened both Sparta and Athens, allowing Philip II of Macedon to take over Greece.
What was the significance of Alexander the Great’s conquests?
Alexander the Great’s 13 years of conquests expanded his empire and led to the establishment of successor kingdoms that ruled for centuries.
What characterized the Hellenistic period?
The Hellenistic period saw the merging of Greek art and culture, flourishing trade, and the establishment of scientific centers like Alexandria.
What was the role of politics in Greek city-states?
Politics were crucial in the polis, or Greek city-state, where the ‘good life’ included political service and military involvement.
How did Greek political institutions differ from those in China?
Greece never had a single set of political institutions or bureaucracy, unlike China.
What was the nature of democracy in Greece?
Greece practiced direct democracy where general assemblies allowed all citizens to vote, but excluded slaves, foreigners, and women.
What were the negatives of democracy in Greece?
The Peloponnesian Wars highlighted the negatives of democracy, as lower-class citizens sometimes made poor military choices.
What was the preferred political system in Greece?
Most Greeks preferred aristocratic assemblies, where the best ruled.
