Early Ancient Greece
Describe the geographical features of the Ancient Greek civilization.
Mountainous terrain, lots of coastline (over 8000 miles of it)
This author of epic poetry and history is recognized as one history's greatest poets and earliest writers of oral tradition.
Homer
At the end of the dark ages, rulers with more military might and power took the power away from ruling aristocrats in many states. They promised to fee the poor from their debt to the rich and they held their power using soldiers. What were these rulers called?
Tyrants
The biggest threat to the Greek city states during the 4th and 5th centuries (BC) came from this empire just east of them, led at its height by King Darius and then King Xerxes.
Persian Empire
This Greek alliance was led by Athens and formed to defend against the Persian Empire, it was initially headquartered on the island of Delos before moving to Athens.
The Delian League
This group set up the first Greek state by forming loose alliances of powerful monarchies
Mycenaeans
What are the two most famous literary works of Homer?
Iliad and the Odyssey
The fall of tyrants and aristocrats in Greek civilization after the dark ages allowed for more participation in government, paving the way toward what form of government?
Democracy
What was the basic difference between the city-states of Athens and Sparta?
Sparta was a military state, Athens progressed towards democracy and culture
This war lasted over 25 years and was a clash between the city-states of Athens and Sparta.
Peloponnesian War
The Mycenaean attack on this city was responsible for a big expansion of military for the empire and written about in by famous Greek writers.
Troy
This Greek historian wrote about his own experience in the Peloponnesian War, considered the greatest historian of the ancient world.
Thucydides
Type of government that means "rule by a few"
Oligarchy
Spartans enslaved all city-states and peoples that they conquered, forcing them to work the land as serfs. These people were called
Helots
This Greek philosopher taught using questions and answers to seek truth, a model that democratic educators still use today.
Socrates
This cultural adaptation by the Greeks simplified their writing and allowed for broader reach and understanding of their stories.
Phoenician alphabet
The Greeks believed how many chief gods and goddesses lived on Mount Olympus?
Twelve
This early Athenian reformer canceled land debts and freed enslaved debtors in Athens, beginning the path for Athens from monarchy to democracy.
Solon
This Athenian leader served Athens as a political and military leader, transforming them into a true empire. He oversaw famous work projects like the Parthenon and pushed direct democracy within the city-state.
Pericles
What was one living trend of Greeks during the Dark Age?
Most Greeks moved nearer the water, primarily to the islands
From 1250 to 700 BC the Greeks entered the "Dark Age". List 3 reasons why it was called the Dark Age
Few records of what happened have been found
Population declined
Food production dropped
A plague killed many citizens
Describe all three of these terms that formed the Greek city-state:
Polis, Acropolis, Agora
Polis: name of city-state, central focus of Greek life
Acropolis: fortified center of the polis, place of refuge/security/worship
Agora: directly below Acropolis, place of assembly, market
This Athenian reformer took power in 508BC and gave the assembly power to pass laws and promoted free and open debate.
Cleisthenes
What are two effects or outcomes for the Greek city-states at the end of the Persian Wars?
Persians burned Athens to the ground (later rebuilt)
Greek city-states had to form an alliance to defeat Persia
Greeks controlled the Aegean Sea
Athens assumed leadership of Greek world
What were two results of the Peloponnesian war?
Destroyed the Athenian Empire
Weakened major Greek states
Allowed power of Macedonia to grow
Ended classical age of Greece