Early Civilizations of Greece
What island was home to the Minoan civilization?
Crete
Which Greek city-state valued education, democracy, and the arts?
Athens
What sparked the Persian Wars?
The Ionian Revolt
What two leagues fought in the Peloponnesian War?
The Delian League (Athens) and Peloponnesian League (Sparta)
Who led Athens during its Golden Age?
Pericles
Which civilization built fortified palace cities and inspired Homer’s epics?
The Mycenaeans
Which city-state trained boys from age 7 to be soldiers?
Sparta
Who led the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae?
King Leonidas of Sparta
What caused the outbreak of the war?
Power struggle and fear of Athens’ growing empire
What famous temple honored Athena?
The Parthenon
What writing system used by the Minoans remains undeciphered?
Linear A
What type of government did Athens develop under Solon and Cleisthenes?
Direct Democracy
What naval battle became a turning point for Greece?
The Battle of Salamis
What disaster killed 1/3 of Athens’ population, including Pericles?
The Plague
Which philosopher taught Alexander the Great?
Aristotle
What major difference set the Mycenaeans apart from the Minoans?
The Mycenaeans were more warlike and built fortified cities, while the Minoans focused on trade and art.
What was the main governing system in Sparta?
Oligarchy (two kings + council)
What battle marked the final Greek victory that ended Persian invasions?
The Battle of Plataea
What event marked Athens’ greatest military failure?
The Sicilian Expedition
What was Alexander’s most lasting achievement?
The spread of Hellenistic culture
Name two ways Minoan geography influenced their society.
Island location encouraged trade and seafaring culture
How did geography cause Athens and Sparta to develop so differently?
Athens’ coastal trade vs. Sparta’s isolated military culture
Name two lasting effects of the Persian Wars.
Greek unity and pride; strengthened democracy
What was one long-term result of the Peloponnesian War?
Greek unity collapsed, paving the way for Macedonian conquest
Name two areas of Greek achievement during the Golden Age that still influence us today.
Democracy, philosophy, architecture, mathematics, art, philosophy, or science.