Topic Two - Greek Civilization

Question 1

Minoans

Answer 1

on island of Crete
Mycenaeans attack them around 1450 BC

Question 2

Mycenaeans

Answer 2

Greek-speaking people arrive in Balkan around 2000 BC
become Mycenaean civilization
major cities: Thebes and Athens
Hierarchy
attack Minoans on Crete in 1450 BC
spread civilization, but eventually fall 1100 BC

Question 3

Homer

Answer 3

writes Iliad and Odyssey
depicts gods of Olympus as human-like and engaging in human behaviors

Question 4

Iliad and Odyssey

Answer 4

written by Homer
Iliad: Mycenaean attack on Troy to retrieve Helen
Odyssey: travels of Odysseus as he returns home

Question 5

Hesiod

Answer 5

writes Theogony (similar to Homer)
makes Greek gods more morally righteous
Zeus begat Lawfulness, Right, and Peace

Question 6

Polis

Answer 6

Cultural, political, religious epicenter in classical Greece
walls for protection, fountain and spring water sources
(city-state)

Question 7

Acropolis

Answer 7

Within Greek polis, center for temples and support for gods (religion)

Question 8

Agora

Answer 8

Within Greek polis, political center

Question 9

Hoplite army

Answer 9

made up of citizen-soldiers in the typical Greek polis
think tight formation and shields all around and spears

Question 10

Classical Greek Government

Answer 10

Various forms of government in the poleis
Monarchy most prevalent during Mycanae period
sometimes Tyrants
Democracy limited to citizens not “the people”
Oligarchy ruled by few, always elites

Question 11

Archaic Age of Greece

Answer 11

750-500 BC
vibrant period after Greek “Dark Age”
Rise of Athens and Sparta
Population growth, but less land ownership
Many began to seek new homes outside of Greece
Expansion drastically changes Greek world

Question 12

Sparta (in Archaic Period)

Answer 12

Sparta: expands beyond polis
Conquest of surrounding areas
Helots (state serfs) revolt around 650 BC
Lycurgan System

Question 13

Athens (in Archaic Period)

Answer 13

Extends democracy to all citizens (beginning around 500 BC)
Hard for peasants to get land

Question 14

Helots and Messenian Wars

Answer 14

Spartan state serfs
Sparta conquered Messenia around 735 BC, made Messenians into Helots
Helots revolt around 650 BC- second Messenian war
Spartans win, Soldiers get better rights rather than Helots

Question 15

Lycurgan System

Answer 15

system of Spartan government
allegiance to Sparta
military prowess
military training, disavow luxuries, enjoy the hard life

Question 16

Draco, Solon, Cleisthenes

Answer 16

Athens politicians/influential people
Draco- passes strong code of laws
Solon (aristocrat)-calls for justice and equality (frees debts slaves, cancels land debts, creates four legal groups)
Cleisthenes- founder of democracy
citizens have say-so by delegating power to represenatatives

Question 17

Greco-Persian Wars

Answer 17

around 500 BC
Greek city-states unite to rebel and protect themselves against Persian empire
defeat Persian empire after decades of battles

Question 18

Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues

Answer 18

Delian League- Naval alliance with 300 ships formed by Athens in 478 BC
Peloponnesian League- Sparta’s response

Question 19

Peloponnesian War

Answer 19

431 BC-404 BC
between Delian (Athens) and Peloponnesian (Spartan) Leagues over Corinth and Megara
War led to widespread destruction, famine, plagues, and nearly destroyed Greek Society
Athens rules seas, Sparta rules land battles
Alcibiades goes back and forth between sides

Question 20

Peace of Nicias

Answer 20

Temporary peace during Peloponnesian War (inner Greek conflict) in 421 BC

Question 21

Greek Art and Culture

Answer 21

Athens builds program to honor gods 400s BC
Acropolis is site of religious festivals like Great Panathenaia
Plays and dramatists asked philosophical questions about individualism, societal expectations, and good and evil (playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripedes)

Question 22

Greek Gender and Sexuality

Answer 22

Women played little roles in political and military matters but appear in art and literature
Free women who were citizens were protected by law (main function was to bear and raise children)
Homosexuality was generally an accepted part of Greek society

Question 23

Greek Political decline; Phillip II of Macedonia

Answer 23

Common Peace: an attempt by Greek city-states for political harmony and avoiding war in late 4th century BC
But major city-states all pursue control (Athens, Sparta, and Thebes)
Spartan King betrayed Common Peace and made war against the Thebans
Philip II of Macedonia (Alexander Great’s dad) dominates the Greek city-states after defeating the Thebans and Athenians in 338 BC (new common peace, all united but Spartans)