Unit 3 Flashcards
Mycenaeans
people who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C.
Trojan War
a war
Dorians
a group of people who moved into the war torn country-side
Homer
greatest story-teller who was blind
Epics
narrative poems celebrating
Myths
traditional stories
Polis
the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece
Acropolis
fortified hilltop
Monarchy
king ruled in government
Aristocracy
government ruled by small group of landowning family
Oligarchy
government ruled by a few powerful people
Tyrants
ruler
Democracy
rule by the people
Helots
peasants forced to be slaves
Phalanx
formation soldiers used in war
Persian Wars
between Greece and Persian Empire
Direct Democracy
government where citizens rule directly and not through people
Classical art
the value of harmony, order, balance, and proportion
Tragedy
serious drama about common themes
Comedy
scenes filled with crude humor
Peloponnesian War
war between two city-states
Philosophers
“lovers of wisdom”
Socrates
Critic of the Sophists
Plato
A student of Socrates
Aristotle
philospher
Macedonia
Kingdom located just north of Greece
Alexander the Great
man who accomplished many things
Darius III
Persian King
Hellenistic
the blend of Egyptian, Persian, and indian influence `
Alexandria
center of commerce in Hellenistic culture
Archimedes
important Hellenistic scientist
Colossus of Rhodes
bronze statue stood more than 100 feet high
What impact did nearness to the sea have on the development of Greece?
As the Greeks became skilled sailors, the importance of trade increased because the Greeks lacked natural resources
What aspects of culture did the Mycenaens adopt from the Minoans?
Seaborne trade, artistic designs, writing system, religious practice, politics, literature
Why were the epics of importance to the Greeks during the Dorian Period?
They were important because instead of writing stories down (because in this time period the written word had disappeared) they were told by the spoken word
How does an aristocracy differ from an oligarchy?
The aristocracy was made up of nobles, while the oligarchy was just powerful people
What contributions did Solon and Cleisthenes make to the development of Athenian democracy?
Solon outlawed debt slavery. Cleisthenes broke up the power of nobility by organizing citizens into groups based on where they lived, not wealth. He also allowed all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage
How did Athens benefit from victory in the Persian Wars?
Athens emerged as the leader of the Delian League which had grown into at least 200 city-states
What steps did Pericles take to strengthen democracy in Athens?
He increased the number of officials that were paid salaries
What were the battle strategies of Athens and Sparta in the Peloponnesian War?
Athens - - To avoid land battles with the Spartan army - Wait to strike from the sea Sparta - - Strike from land - To burn the Athenian food supply
Why do you think some of the Athenians found the ideas of Socrates so disturbing?
Because they had never been asked to question their own morals
How was Philip the Second able to conquer Greece?
He made the phalanx that was 16 men all across, and 16 men deep
Philip the Second’s goal was to conquer Persia. Why did Alexander continue his campaign of conquest after this goal had been achieved?
Because he was greedy and because Alexander’s sense of adventure led him to believe that he would be able to conquer all the civilizations and unite them
What happened to Alexander’s empire after his death?
His generals split the empire into three parts and a vibrant new culture emerged from the blend of Greek and Eastern customs
How did trade contribute to the cultural diversity of the Hellenistic city of Alexandria?
It made it so that it became and international community so it had a rich mixture of customs and traditions
How did Euclid influence some of the developments in astronomy during the Hellenisitc period?
The astronomers, Eratosthenes and Aristarchus, used his geometry text that we still use today
How did stoicism and epicureanism have in common?
They both promote having social unity
