Government
Someone who takes power by force and rules with total authority
What is a tyrant?
The Spartans conquered and enslaved their neighbors and called their captive workers this.
What are helots?
How did the geography of Greece influence where people settled and how they made a living?
Greece is a mountainous land surrounded by water. As a result, many ancient Greeks made a living from the sea as fishers, sailors, and traders. Even though Greece’s mountains and rocky soil were not ideal for growing crops, the climate was mild, so others settled in farming communities to grow wheat, barley, olives, and grapes. They also raised sheep and goats.
Why were tyrants able to seize control from Greek nobles?
Tyrants managed to overthrow the nobles because they had the backing of the common people who were unhappy. Key support came from the hoplites in the army, many of whom were also farmers. Tyrants made themselves popular by building new marketplaces, temples, and walls.
Why did Sparta and Athens unite during the Persian Wars?
In 480 B.C.E, Persian king Xerxes launched a new invasion of Greece with about 180,000 troops and thousands of warships and supply vessels. To defend themselves, the Greeks joined forces. Sparta sent the most soldiers, and their king, Leonidas , served as commander. Athens provided the navy. An Athenian general, Themistocles, created a plan to fight the Persians.
A type of government in which a few people hold power
What is an oligarchy?
These are armies of ordinary citizens.
Who are hoplites?
How did the building of ships affect Minoan civilization?
The Minoans built ships of oak and cedar trees and sailed as far as Egypt and Syria to trade pottery and stone vases for ivory and metals. By 2000 B.C., Minoan ships controlled the eastern Mediterranean Sea. They carried goods to foreign ports and kept the sea secure from pirates
Who did the Spartans fear most within their city-states?
Spartans conquered and enslaved their neighbors. They called their captive workers helots and feared that the helots might someday rebel.
What system did Darius use to unite his large empire under one government?
Darius divided the empire into 20 states called satrapies . Each was ruled by an official with the title of satrap, meaning “protector of the kingdom.” The satrap acted as tax collector, judge, chief of police, and head recruiter for the Persian army. However, all the satraps answered to the Persian king.
A type of government in which all citizens share in running the government.
What is a democracy?
A body of land with water on three sides
What is a peninsula?
Which group built the first Greek kingdoms?
Mycenaeans built the first Greek kingdoms and spread their power across the Mediterranean region.
Describe the differences between Athens and Sparta.
The Spartan government was an oligarchy. They focused on military training from a young age. Spartans fell behind other Greeks in trade and knew less about science and other subjects. Athens was a powerful democratic city-state. Athenians were more involved in government, education, and the arts than the Spartans.
What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall?
When the Greeks defeated the Persian army, they helped to weaken it. The empire was already affected by internal problems. As these problems worsened, the empire would gradually lose its strength.
Name the government of Athens.
What is a democracy?
Someone who acted as tax collector, judge, chief of police, and army recruiter.
What is a satrap?
What are Greek city-states also known as?
Greek city-states are also known as a polis
What were the main duties of women in Athens?
Poor women might work with their husbands in the fields or sell goods in the agora. Respectable upper-class women, however, stayed at home. They supervised the household servants and worked wool into cloth—spinning, dyeing, and weaving it.
What caused the Peloponnesian War?
As the Athenian empire became rich and powerful, other city-states, especially Sparta, grew suspicious of Athenian aims. Sparta and Athens had built two very different kinds of societies, and neither state understood or trusted the other. After the Persian Wars, both city-states desired to be the major power in the Greek world. They clashed over this goal several times until Sparta eventually attacked Athens.
Name the government of Sparta.
What is an oligarchy?
An open area below the acropolis which functioned as both a market and a place where people could meet and debate issues.
What was the Dark Age?
The years between 1100 B.C. and 750 B.C. were difficult for the Greeks. Overseas trade slowed, and poverty took hold. Farmers grew only enough food to meet their own family’s needs. People also stopped teaching others how to write or do craftwork. Before long, the Greeks had forgotten their written language and how to make many things. As a result, historians call this time the Dark Age.
How was Aspasia different from most Athenian women? Explain.
Athenian women stayed in the home; they could not attend school or work. They had no political rights and could not own property. Aspasia, however, was not a native Athenian. This gave her special status. She was well-educated and taught public speaking to many Athenians. Her writings have not survived, but Plato, the famous Greek philosopher, said her work helped shape his ideas. Pericles often consulted Aspasia, as did many other Athenian leaders. In this way, she became influential in politics even though she was not allowed to vote or hold office.
What was the result of the Peloponnesian War?
The Peloponnesian War weakened all of the major Greek city states, both the winners and the losers. Many people died in the fighting, and many farms were destroyed. Thousands of people were left without jobs.