Greek Words
This word, Greek for "city", is used to refer specifically to an independent city-state in ancient Greece.
What is "polis"?
The Minoans called this island, the largest in the Greek homeland, home; it was so easy to defend that they didn't build walls around their large palaces.
What is Crete?
The word for this 26.2 mile race comes from the story of Pheidippides, who ran that distance to share news of Athens' victory in a battle of the same name.
What is a marathon?
This city-state, home to some of history's most influential philosophers, is often called the birthplace of Western philosophy.
What is Athens?
This form of government, practiced in Macedonia and Persia, put ultimate power in one ruler and passed it down through their family.
What is monarchy?
This word, which directly translates to "top of a city", means a central, fortified city district with temples and other important buildings, usually found on a hill.
What is "acropolis"?
The Minoans developed this written language, the first in Europe, that historians, unfortunately, still cannot read.
What is Linear A?
The ancient Olympic Games were hosted every four years in this religious site, giving the Greek city-states a less violent way to compete for glory.
What is Olympia?
This philosopher was famous for questioning everything, challenging people to defend their opinions with strong reasons... Athens just sentenced him to death instead.
Who is Socrates?
The political system of Athens was not a representative democracy where voters elected leaders to rule on their behalf—they used this more straightforward form of democracy where the people themselves made the decisions.
What is a direct democracy?
This English word has Greek origins; it comes from a combination of demos, "the people", and kratos, "power/rule".
What is "democracy"?
The people in this ancient Greek civilization descended from Indo-European people and believed in gods that seem to be early versions of Zeus, Hera, and others.
Who are the Mycenaeans?
In this city-state, it was socially acceptable (and encouraged!) for women to exercise, play sports, and even train for war.
What is Sparta?
This philosopher is known for his theories on ideal forms, the Allegory of the Cave, and founding a school called the Academy.
Who is Plato?
When Alexander the Great settled down to rule his new empire, he borrowed from the Achaemenid Persians by dividing his vast land into territories ruled by these governor-kings.
What are satraps?
At the heart of Greek city life was this word for a central square for shops and public gatherings, meaning "market".
What is "agora"?
At Minoan ruins, archaeologists find many depictions of this animal, which seemed to have great cultural significant—the Minoans put on daring shows jumping and flipping over them!
What is a bull?
While Athenians loved their sports, they also spent their leisure time at theaters watching this genre of plays known for their humor and social commentary.
What is a comedy?
This philosophy, established by Zeno of Citium, preached self-discipline and moral living above simple human desires; the Romans would later be big fans!
What is Stoicism?
In Athens' Council of Five Hundred, members were not chosen by election, but by this method which the Athenians considered far more democratic than voting.
What is lottery/random selection?
Sparta took physical education very seriously, sending its citizens to this special military training school.
What is the "agoge"?
In Homer's epic poems, this (perhaps fictional) warrior king ruled the powerful city of Mycenae during the Trojan Wars.
Who is King Agamemnon?
The Greeks built these large, oval-shaped stadiums to have enough space for watching chariot racing and horse racing.
What are hippodromes?
This Hellenistic philosopher, whose philosophy was later named after him, argued that the purpose of life was to enjoy simple pleasures, make good friends, and avoid unnecessary fear and pain.
Who is Epicurus?
Sparta had a mixed political system with an assembly of citizens, two kings, and this group of thirty unelected rulers.
What is the Council of Elders?