Geography
What geographical feature separated Greek communities and encouraged independent city-states?
Mountains
What form of government gives political power to the people?
Democracy
Which Greek city-state became famous for developing democracy?
Athens
What was a polis in ancient Greece?
A Greek city-state and its surrounding countryside.
Who was the famous Greek poet credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey?
Homer
What large body of water helped the ancient Greeks travel, trade, and establish colonies?
The Mediterranean Sea (also accept the Aegean Sea)
What form of government is controlled by a small group of powerful individuals?
Oligarchy
Which Greek city-state was known for its powerful military and strict warrior society?
Sparta
What was the agora used for in Greek city-states?
A marketplace and public gathering place.
Who was the Athenian leader associated with a Golden Age of democracy and the construction of the Parthenon?
Pericles
What civilization developed on the island of Crete and was known for the palace at Knossos?
The Minoans
What is the Greek term for a ruler who seized power by force from the aristocrats?
Tyrant
Who were the helots in Spartan society?
Captive people forced to work for the Spartans.
What was an acropolis?
A fortified gathering place located on top of a hill.
Who was the Greek mathematician known for a theorem involving right triangles?
Pythagoras
What early Greek civilization was known for its fortified kingdoms and connection to the legendary Trojan War?
The Mycenaeans
What is the difference between a monarchy and a direct democracy?
A monarchy is ruled by a king or queen, while a direct democracy allows citizens to vote directly on government decisions.
Who were the ephors in Sparta?
Five men elected each year who had responsibilities including overseeing the education of youth.
What does arete mean in ancient Greek culture?
The qualities of excellence that a hero strives to achieve.
Which Greek historian is known as the Father of History and wrote about the Persian Wars?
Herodotus
What group entered Greece from the north, used iron weapons, and was associated with the beginning of the Greek Dark Age?
The Dorians
how did tyranny eventually contribute to the development of democracy?
When tyrants became harsh or unpopular, citizens pushed for greater political participation.
Who was Solon, and what was one important reform he introduced in Athens?
An Athenian reformer who canceled debts, freed people enslaved for debt, and expanded political participation.
What was ostracism in ancient Athens, and why was it used?
A process where citizens voted to temporarily exile an overly ambitious or potentially dangerous political figure.
Who was the Greek historian who wrote about the Peloponnesian War and focused on explaining the causes and events of the conflict?
Thucydides