Chapter 1
A long poem telling the story of heroes and adventures.
Epic
A Greek city-state including a city and its countryside.
Polis
Government where citizens rule directly.
Direct Democracy
Tight military formation used by Macedonian soldiers.
Phalanx
Stories explaining nature and human behavior.
Myths
Why did Greeks rely heavily on the sea for trade?
Because mountains made land travel difficult and Greece lacked resources.
Why did merchants and artisans begin to challenge the nobles for power?
Trade created new wealth for them.
Why did paying public officials strengthen Athenian democracy?
Poor citizens could now participate in government.
Why did Philip II’s army make Macedonia powerful?
The phalanx made his army strong and organized.
How did mountains indirectly cause the rise of city-states?
They isolated regions, leading to separate communities.
How did Greece’s mountains lead to the development of small, separate communities?
Mountains divided Greece into isolated regions.
Why might common people have supported some tyrants?
Tyrants provided jobs, housing, and public works.
How did the Delian League accidentally help Athens become an empire?
Tribute and ships gave Athens money and power.
Why were other Greek city-states too afraid to rebel against Alexander?
He destroyed Thebes and enslaved survivors.
Why did Spartan boys begin training at such a young age?
Sparta valued military strength and discipline.
Why was trade especially important for the Mycenaeans?
Greece lacked resources, so they needed to trade for what they didn’t have.
Why did Sparta need such a strong military even during peacetime?
To control the helots and prevent rebellion.
Why did Athens’ location make Pericles’ war strategy possible?
They could receive supplies and trade by sea.
Why did Darius keep fleeing from battles with Alexander?
Alexander’s attacks kept defeating the Persian army.
Why did Athens build the Parthenon using Delian League money?
To show power, pride, and success.
How did Homer’s epics help Greek culture survive during the Dorian period?
They preserved Greek values and history when writing was lost.
How did Athens and Sparta’s different priorities shape how each society functioned?
Athens focused on democracy and education; Sparta focused on military strength and control.
Why did the Peloponnesian War lead people to question their beliefs?
Athens lost power, and people lost confidence in democracy.
What shows Alexander wanted to rule his empire, not just conquer it?
He became Pharaoh and founded cities like Alexandria.
How are the Trojan War, Homer’s epics, and Greek myths connected?
They preserved Greek history, beliefs, and values.