Unit 3: Mediterranean Vocabulary Flashcards
Bronze Age Definition
A period of history characterized by the bronze tools use in the development of contemporaneous civilizations
Deme Definition
A geographical territory located within a certain polis
Ecclesia Definition
An Athenian assembly consisting of Athenian citizens who made up the majority of the democracy in Athens
Gerousia Definition
A council of elders in a Greek city-state
Korete Definition
A governor of a district in the Mycenaean state
Palatial Monarchy Definition
a monarchy that functioned primarily through a centralized palace where daily political, cultural, and military affairs took place
Polis Definition
A Greek city-state
Wanax Definition
a Mycenaean king in charge of religious, political, and military matters
The Peloponnesian War Definition
a conflict fought between the Peloponnesian League and the Athenian Empire between 431 and 405 BCE. The war took place due to increasing concerns of Athenian dominance in regard to wealth and military power. Sparta and its allies attacked Athens first so that Athens could not conquer them. Sparta installed these men to preside over all aspects of Athenian life and take power over the ecclesia; the war fought between Athens and Sparta from 431 BCE to 401 BCE
Council of 500 Definition
a governing body of Athens that dictated the agenda of the ecclesia
Ekklesia Definition
a Spartan assembly consisting of Spartan citizens
Ephor Definition
an elected Spartan magistrate who would serve alongside the two kings
Hoplite Definition
a heavily armored infantry soldier in ancient Greece
Senate Definition
a Roman governing body that advised consuls and emperors
Suffete Definition
one of two elected rulers who governed the Carthaginian oligarchy
Aristoi Definition
the aristocratic class in an ancient Greek city-state
Helot Definition
a Spartan laborer, sometimes referred to as an enslaved person in Sparta
Metic Definition
a foreign person residing in Athens
Perioikoi Definition
a landholding middle-class citizen who dwelled on the outskirts of a Greek city-state
Poleis Definition
The plural of “polis”
Xenoi Definition
an ancient Greek word to describe people from foreign lands
Companion Cavalry Definition
an elite, heavily armored cavalry within the Macedonian Empire
Hellenization Definition
a process of enculturation whereby Indigenous cultures adopt the Greek culture
Macedonian Phalanx Definition
a variation of the phalanx military formation in which lines of 256 men armed with sarissa made a tight defensive formation
Pitched Battle Definition
a battle between two or more armies on land, generally in an open environment not within or attacking a city or settlement
Sarissa Definition
an extremely long spear used in the defensive formation of the Macedonian phalanx
Satrap Definition
a governor of a satrapy, a territory within the Persian Empire
Shahanshah Definition
the Persian equivalent of an emperor
Siege Definition
a battle attacking a specific place, such as a city; the goal is to make the targeted place surrender by cutting off outside access so the people under siege cannot get supplies they need
Abstract Definition
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
Acropolis Definition
the fortified height or citadel of an ancient Greek city
City-state Definition
a city that retains sovereignty and autonomy generally reserved for nation states; a political system in which the leaders of the city can make all decisions for the people within their territory and are not overruled by a larger centralized government
Deity Definition
A supernatural being
Libation Definition
a drink poured as an offering to a deity
Mt. Olympus Definition
the highest mountain in Greece and legendary home of the Greek deities
Mythology Definition
a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events
Parthenon Definition
temple to the Greek goddess Athena located on the acropolis in Athens
Propylon Definition
the structure or gateway forming an entrance to a temple
Temple Definition
a building devoted to the worship of a god or goddess who is believed to reside in the temple
Aeschylus Definition
a Greek playwright who is considered to be the “father of tragedy”
Amphitheater Definition
an open-air venue with a stage surrounded by rows of seats used for performances and athletic events
Archaic Period Definition
the cultural and political period of Greek history from 800 BCE to 480 BCE characterized by expansion across the Mediterranean that established the Greek world
Aristophanes Definition
a Greek playwright who is considered to be the “father of comedy”
Classical Period Definition
the two hundred-year period from 480 BCE to 323 BCE in ancient Greece that saw the rise of Athenian democracy, the Peloponnesian Wars, and significant cultural advancements
Comedy Definition
a genre of Greek literature characterized by humorous satire
Demigod Definition
a person who is believed to be the offspring of a human and a god and who is worshiped as a deity or semi-deity
Epic Definition
a long poem that usually focuses on the exploits of heroes and gods
Euripides Definition
a Greek playwright who tragically portrayed epic heroes as ordinary people going through extraordinary circumstances
Homer Definition
the writer of the epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, which are considered some of the foundational works of Western literature
The Iliad Definition
an epic poem set during the Trojan War about the Mycenaean king Agamemnon and the hero Achilles
The Odyssey Definition
an epic poem chronicling the events of Odysseus as he travels home at the conclusion of the Trojan War
Oral Tradition Definition
a verbal history told through storytelling and songs
Playwright Definition
A person who writes plays
Satire Definition
the use of humor, exaggeration, or ridicule in plays or literature toward people, groups, or society
Sophocles Definition
a Greek playwright best known for his tragedies such as Electra, Oedipus Rex, and Ajax
Tragedy Definition
a genre of Greek literature characterized by human suffering and morality tales
Aristarchus Definition
a Greek mathematician and astronomer who first proposed a heliocentric model of the universe
Aristotle Definition
a Greek philosopher who founded the principle of the golden mean
Babylonians Definition
the ancient people whose empire was located in the modern-day Middle East and who made great advancements in math and science
Deductive Reasoning Definition
the formation of an idea or conclusion based on a traditionally accepted statement or fact
Divine Definition
A god or goddess
Egyptians Definition
the ancient people whose civilization was located in present-day Egypt and who made great advancements in math and science
The Elements Definition
the most widely read and taught math textbook in history, written by Greek mathematician Euclid
Empirical Definition
an idea or thought that is verified by observation or experience through the five senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, hearing
Eratosthenes Definition
a Greek astronomer who used geometry to calculate the size of Earth
Euclid Definition
a Greek mathematician who wrote The Elements and is considered a founder of geometry
Fibonacci Sequence Definition
a math sequence in which each number is the sum of the previous two numbers, for example, (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, etc.)
Logic Definition
a system designed by Aristotle that uses reason and known truths to reach conclusions
Pythagoras Definition
an ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher who created the Pythagorean Theorem
Supernatural Definition
the forces that are beyond scientific reason and natural law
Athens Definition
the most powerful city-state in ancient Greece; capital of modern-day Greece
Corinth Definition
the Greek city-state that was known as a hub for trade
Greco-Persian Wars Definition
the series of wars fought between Greece and Persia while Persia was attempting to conquer Greece
Olympia Definition
a sacred site dedicated to Zeus and the site of the ancient Olympic Games
Panathenaea Definition
a festival dedicated to the deity Athena and hosted by the city-state of Athens that included religious services, large feasts, animal sacrifices, and competitions in music, poetry recitation, and athletic games
Persia Definition
an ancient empire in the Middle East that conquered much of Eastern Europe and Northeast Africa
Sparta Definition
the militaristic Greek city-state located on the Peloponnesus
State Definition
a nation or territory organized under one government and recognized as independent
Truce Definition
an agreement between enemies or opponents to pause conflict
Zeus Definition
the supreme ancient Greek deity
Centuriate Assembly Definition
the governing body of the Roman Republic that dealt with military affairs alongside the consuls
Etruscans Definition
people indigenous to Italy before Rome existed
Imperium Definition
a measure of one’s military power within Rome
Patricians Definition
a landholding, upper-class citizen of Rome
Plebeians Definition
the middle class of artisans, farmers, merchants, and traders in Rome
Tribal Assembly Definition
a governing body of the Roman Republic made up of average citizens and plebeians that dealt with civilian and nonmilitary issues
Triumvirate Definition
A three-person rule
Ayllus Definition
the general population of the Inca Empire, who were not members of the nobility or administrative class
Barter Definition
a system of exchange where goods and services are directly exchanged between participants without the use of money
Consul Definition
a Roman leader of government elected yearly by the Roman senate
Legion Definition
the foundational military unit of the Roman army, made up of 5,000 soldiers
Panaqa Definition
the elite nobility of the Inca Empire, connected by blood to the king
Sapa Inca Definition
the unique name given to the king of the Inca Empire
Senate (Roman) Definition
a Roman governing body advised by consuls and emperors
Tokrikoq Definition
the regional administrators in the Inca Empire responsible for logistics, law, and trade
Dictator Definition
a political leader who has absolute power in their government
First Triumvirate Definition
a three-person rule consisting of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus
Imperator Definition
a Roman emperor
Optimates Definition
a Roman political party supporting patricians
Populares Definition
a Roman political party supporting plebeians
Republic Definition
a government whose decisions are made by elected peoples