Early Greece
This island was home to the Minoan civilization, whose palace complex at Knossos was a royal seat, residence, warehouse, and religious center.
Crete
Conquered peoples forced to work for the Spartans were known by this name, derived from a Greek word for "capture."
Helots
In 490 B.C., an outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians on the plain of this name, 26 miles from Athens. Today's long-distance race is named for it.
Marathon
The Parthenon, the greatest example of the classical Greek temple, was dedicated to this goddess of wisdom and crafts.
Athena
This Macedonian king crushed the Greeks at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C. and was assassinated before he could invade Persia.
Phillip 2
Our word "politics" comes from this Greek word for a city-state, the central focus of Greek life by 750 B.C.
Polis
In 594 B.C., this reform-minded Athenian aristocrat was given full power and canceled all land debts.
Solon
This Persian king, son of Darius, led an invasion force of about 180,000 troops into Greece in 480 B.C.
Xerxes
This Athenian playwright wrote Oedipus Rex, in which the oracle of Apollo foretells Oedipus's tragic fate.
Sophocles
Founded by Alexander in Egypt, this city had a library with more than 500,000 scrolls and became the largest city in the Mediterranean region by the first century B.C.
Alexandria
This English archaeologist discovered the palace at Knossos and named the civilization after the legendary King Minos.
Arthur Evans
Sparta's five elected officials, chosen each year, were responsible for the education of youth and the conduct of all citizens. They were called this.
Ephors
Founded in 478 B.C. as a defensive alliance against Persia, this league had its treasury moved to Athens in 454 B.C., turning Athens's leadership into an empire.
Delian League
Socrates used this question-and-answer teaching method, still known by his name, to lead students to see things through their own reason.
Socratic Method
This inventor and scientist of Syracuse established the value of pi, and is said to have shouted "Eureka!" after discovering specific gravity in his bath.
Archimedes
Mycenaean royal families were buried in these domed, beehive-shaped tombs built into hillsides.
Tholos Tombs
This Athenian reformer created a council of 500 and gave the assembly final authority to pass laws, laying the foundations of democracy.
Cleisthenes
This Athenian leader dominated politics from 461 to 429 B.C., expanded direct democracy, and delivered the famous Funeral Oration.
Pericles
In The Republic, Plato said the upper class of his ideal state should be made up of these rulers.
Philosophers Kings
In 331 B.C., Alexander fought the decisive battle with the Persians at this site near Babylon.
Guagamela
In the eighth century B.C., the Greeks adopted the alphabet of this people, reducing writing to 24 letters, both consonants and vowels.
Phoenician
This aristocrat seized power in Athens in 560 B.C. and pleased merchants by aiding trade while giving aristocrats' land to the peasants.
Peisitratus
The Athenian fleet was destroyed at this place on the Hellespont in 405 B.C., and Athens surrendered soon after.
Aegospotami
For his Politics, this philosopher examined the constitutions of 158 states and favored constitutional government as the best form for most people.
Aristotle
Founded by Zeno and named for the Painted Portico where he taught, this philosophy held that happiness comes from living in harmony with the will of God and that public service is noble.
Stoicism