Politics & Society
During the Archaic Period, many Greek city-states formed a political unit centered on a fortified hill. What is this hill called?
Acropolis
What was the primary occupation for most people in ancient Greek city-states?
Farming/agrarian work (small-scale farming, herding)
What style of sculpture (stiff, frontal statues of young men) is typical of the early Archaic Period?
Archaic kouros (style)
Name two major gods from the early Greek pantheon that were widely worshiped across the Greek world.
Zeus, Athena (others: Hera, Apollo, Poseidon, Aphrodite, etc.)
Which island polis became a rival maritime center and is famous for its later mythic kings and its role in the Archaic Age?
Crete (or Corinth, depending on emphasis) — or any other historically supported answers.
Name the term for the basic political unit in ancient Greece, usually a city and its surrounding countryside.
Polis (city-state)
During the Archaic Period, literacy began to return to Greece. What writing system did Greeks adapt and modify to write their language?
The Greek alphabet adapted from the Phoenician alphabet
Name one common use for painted pottery in ancient Greece.
For storage, cooking, serving, pouring wine, or as grave markers / ritual use (e.g., amphorae, kraters)
What was an oracle in ancient Greece? Give one famous example.
An oracle was a sacred site where a priest/priestess gave divine advice or prophecy; example: Oracle of Delphi.
Name the major polis that later developed democracy but began important reforms during the Archaic Period (one-word answer).
Athens
Who had more authority in ancient Greece: a male child or an adult doulos?
Male child
What name is given to the public marketplace and meeting space found a Greek polis?
Agora
What architectural element (column style) with simple, plain capitals was commonly used in Archaic temples?
Doric order (simple; oldest form)
How did religion and myths help explain natural events or human behavior to the Greeks of this period? (one to two sentences)
Myths personified natural forces and provided moral and social lessons; they offered explanations for why things happen.
Identify one ancient Greek poet or written source (from or preserving earlier material) that gives information about the Archaic world or earlier traditions.
Homer (Iliad and Odyssey preserve earlier traditions); Hesiod (Theogony "Geneology of the gods"); or lyric poets (e.g., Sappho)
Which foreign invasions and upheavals mark the transition into the Greek Dark Ages (causing population decline and loss of writing)?
Mycenaean collapse / Dorian invasions and wider Bronze Age collapse (sea peoples and system failures)
Explain how colonization during the Archaic Period affected Greek daily life and economy (one to two sentences).
Greek colonization expanded trade, introduced new goods and resources, and reduced population pressure at home.
What is a kouros and what purpose did many kouroi serve in Archaic Greece?
A kouros is a statue of a young standing male, purpose was: often used as grave markers or votive offerings (a gift to the gods).
Many festival competitions mixed religious worship and athletic or artistic contests. Name one religious festival that included athletic contests (or describe a similar public religious event).
The Olympic Games (held at Olympia) were religious festivals honoring Zeus and included athletic competitions.
Who were the hoplites and why were they important to the military and political changes of the Archaic Period? (one to two sentences)
Hoplites were heavily armed infantry citizens who fought in phalanx formation; their shared battlefield role helped increase political influence of middle-class citizens.
Describe one major political difference between Athens and Sparta during the Archaic Period (answer in one or two sentences).
Athens moved toward more inclusive political assemblies and legal reforms; Sparta maintained a rigid oligarchic/monarchical and militaristic system.
Describe the typical household structure in a Greek city-state and the expected roles of men and women (two to three sentences).
Typical household: men managed public affairs and worked outside the home; women oversaw household, children, and domestic tasks; households often included extended family and slaves.
Explain one way Archaic Greek sculpture changed from the earlier Geometric style (include a specific feature).
Increased naturalism: more lifelike human proportions, more detailed anatomy, the archaic smile to suggest life.
Explain the role of hero cults in Archaic Greece and give one example of a hero who might have been honored.
Hero cults honored legendary figures (e.g., Heracles, or Perseus ) with rituals at tombs or shrines; they linked communities to heroic pasts.
Choose one important archaeological site or city from the Archaic Period (e.g., Corinth, Olympia, or Athens). Briefly explain one archaeological or historical piece of evidence from that site that helps historians understand the Archaic Period (two to three sentences).
1) Olympia — remains of temples, votive offerings, and stadium indicate Pan‑Hellenic religious festivals and athletic contests; 2) Corinth — pottery and trade evidence show commercial networks in the Archaic Age.