Ancient Greece Terms
Terms from Ancient Greece Unit
Terms
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- Alexander the Great
- son of Philip II; took over Persia at age 20; moved through Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt, and India; died at age 32 from fever; his land was divided into 3 parts: Macedonia and Greece, Egypt, and Persia
- Socrates
- Athenian stonemason and philosopher; taught Plato; founded the Socratic method: challenge ideas with questions; put on trial for opposing government
- Cleisthenes
- reformer; set up Council of 500 in 507 B.C.; Council was made of citizens over 30; became the legislature of the society
- Plato
- distrusted democracy after death of Socrates; wrote The Republic stating his ideal society of man and woman equality and social classes
- Ephors
- officials who ran day-to-day affairs
- Sparta
- city-state built by Dorians; military based society; women were expected to produce warriors; women had to obey men, but could inherit property; isolated themselves from otehr Greeks
- Polis
- city-state
- Tyranny
- cruel use of power: cruelty and injustice in the exercise of power or authority over others (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861722899/tyranny.html)
- Hellenistic Age
- 4th-1st Century B.C.; time period between conquest of Persian empire and Roman supremacy (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566312/Hellenistic_Age.html)
- Oligarchy
- government ruled by few, wealthy elites
- Thucydides
- wrote about the Peloponnesian War; tried to be fair to both side although he was Athenian; avoided bias
- Dorian Invasions
- resulted in nationwide obscurity; small isolated villages and few contacts with outside world
- Hoplite
- a heavily armed foot soldier (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861618689/hoplite.html)
- Pericles
- Athenian statesman; believed citizens should have a part in government; supported equality
- Delian League
- named after Delos, location of league meetings; united Athens to other city-states in an alliance
- Helots
- state-owned slaves in Sparta
- Athens
- located in Attica; government grew from monarchy to aristocracy; 700 B.C. landowners held the power; chose chief officials and judged major court cases
- Ostracism
- pratice used to banish or send away a public figure who threatened democracy
- Persian Wars
- Persian vs. Athenians in Marathon, victor=Athenians; Persians vs. Spartans at Thermpylae, victor=Persians; Greeks vs. Persians in Asia Minor, victor=Greeks
- Monarchy
- government with a hereditary ruler that has central power
- Aristocracy
- rule by a hereditary landholding elite
- Democracy
- government by the people
- Hellenic Culture
- classical Greece culture (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566312/Hellenistic_Age.html)
- Homer
- lived about 750 B.C.; blind poet; sang tales from village to village like the Iliad and The Odyssey
- Mycenaeans
- first Greek-speaking people; invaded Minoans; dominated Greek world 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C.; sea traders; lived in separate city-states; invovled in Trojan War against Troy
- Minoans
- citizens who lived on Crete; named after Minos, legendary king of Crete; trade based; disappeared about 1400 B.C.
- Herodotus
- "Father of History"; wrote The Persian Wars; traveled and collected knowledge of historical events; stressed importance of research
- Solon
- appointed archon in 594 B.C.; outlawed debt slavery and freed slaves; granted foreigners citizenship; opened high offices to citizens; encouraged olive oil and wine export
- Pisistratus
- Athenian tyrant became powerful in 546 B.C.; gave farmers loans and land; gave the poor a voice therefore weakening aristocracy
- Phalanx
- large tactical formation of heavily armed foot soldiers
- Peloponnesian War
- enemies of Athens (Sparta and other city-states) countered the Delian League; lasted for 27 years; Sparta defeated Athens
- Acropolis
- high city
- Archon
- Athenian magistrate; one of nine magistrates (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861586663/archon.html)
- Aristole
- Plato's student; pursued "Golden Mean": the Middle Path; suspicious of democracy; favored one strong, virtuous leader; set up school, the Lyceum