Geography & the Early Greeks
Government in Athens
Athenian Democracy
Greek Mythology and Literature
Short Answers
100
Because traveling on land is difficult, what activity did the Greeks become experts at?
shipbuilding
100
What is a government in which only a few people have power called?
oligarchy
100
What does democracy mean?
“rule of the people”
100
What did Greek myths explain?
why natural or historical events happened
100
Who was Theseus? What was he famous for?
Theseus was one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology, especially to Athenians. According to legend, he traveled to Crete and killed the Minotaur.
200
What activities occurred in the agora? List 3.
Greeks held political meetings, Greeks bought and sold goods, Greeks had religious gatherings.
200
What is a representative democracy?
Citizens elect officials to make the laws
200
During the early democracy in Greece, why did people have meetings outdoors?
to make sure everyone could attend
200
What did the myth about Hephaestus explain?
volcanic eruptions
200
How did Greece's geography influence the city-states and their trade?
Greece was located near the sea and therefore was used as a source of food and a way of trading with other communities.
300
How did the Greek people living in city-states begin to view themselves over time?
thought of themselves as residents of the city-state, not as Greeks
300
Why were juries in Athens designed to have an odd number of members?
to prevent ties
300
Which Greek leader would probably not approve of the type of democracy found in the United States?
Draco
300
According to Greek mythology, why are there different seasons?
Demeter is separated from her daughter during the winter.
300
How was the Athenian government ruled prior to democracy?
Athens was ruled by kings, aristocrats, and was an oligarchy and a tyranny before it became a democracy.
400
How was a Greek colony similar to a polis?
Both were independent
400
What did the people of Athens think of Draco’s laws?
They were too strict.
400
What was the first democracy in Athens like? List 3 descriptions.
All citizens had the right to participate in the assembly, Every citizen had the right to speak, Citizens could serve on smaller councils.
400
How did the Greeks influence our language today?
Many English words and expressions come from Greek mythology.
400
How does the role of a citizen in present day American democracy differ from the role of a citizen in ancient Athenian democracy?
In present day American democracy, citizens vote to elect officials to represent them in the government and make the laws. All citizens, both men and women, have the right to vote. In ancient Athenian democracy, citizens participated directly in the government and debated, voted, and enforced laws as a group. In ancient Athens, only free male citizens could vote.
500
What are the reasons that the Greeks traded with other cultures? List 3.
to obtain food, to find products they needed, to learn new ideas from other cultures
500
What is the difference between Cleisthenes and Peisistratus?
Cleisthenes believed in democracy. (Peisistratus was a tyrant.)
500
How was the form of democracy in ancient Greece different from our current democratic government?
Back then, only free male citizens could vote.
500
List 3 examples that show how Greek mythology is part of today’s popular culture.
Some sports teams are named after figures from Greek mythology, books, and movies are adapted from Greek mythology.
500
How have the great myths created in Ancient Greece influenced the way we live today? Give TWO specific examples.
Many of our words and phrases have come from Greek myths, including the “Achilles’ heel,” a “Herculean” task, and “titanic,” as well as geographic references like Europe and the Atlas mountains. Greek myths have also influenced western literature, art, and film. Many sports teams have mascots that use Greek names.
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