Ancient Greece
What geographic feature caused Greece to develop independent city-states?
Mountains
Who was assassinated on March 15, 44 BCE, starting a civil war?
Julius Caesar
Who fought in the Peloponnesian War?
Sparta and Athens
What type of government was developed in Athens that influenced modern governments?
Democracy
What was the official language of Ancient Rome?
Latin
The Minoans lived on which island?
Crete
Which emperor moved the capital of Rome to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople?
Constantine
What was the main cause of the Persian Wars? Name 1 out of the 3
Persian expansion into Greek lands
Athens helped the Ionian's against the Persians
Desire for freedom from the Persians
In Athens, who was allowed to participate in government?
Free male citizens
Who was the Parthenon built for?
The goddess Athena
What is the term for a city and its surrounding land that functioned as an independent political unit in ancient Greece, and what was the Greek name for it?
Polis
Which Roman general and dictator seized power, called himself dictator, eventually retired, and died of natural causes?
Sulla
Which Roman general promised land to poor soldiers, changing the loyalty of the army to individual generals?
Gaius Marius
What was the name of the public place in Rome where laws were displayed?
The Forum
Who spread Christianity throughout the Roman world through letters and travels?
Paul
What are the three bodies of water that surround Greece?
The Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
What are latifundia's and how did it affect small Roman farmers and the economy?
Latifundia were large estates that displaced small farmers, forcing many to become poor or move to cities, which increased unemployment and changed the economy.
What was the significance of the Battle of Salamis?
Greek navy defeated Persia, turning point of the Persian Wars
What was the goal of the Gracchus brothers’ reforms, and what did their deaths reveal about Roman politics?
Their goal was to help the poor by redistributing land and improving social and economic conditions. Their violent deaths showed that political conflict in Rome was becoming deadly and that reforms could lead to instability and civil unrest.
In what ways did the roles and rights of women in Greece differ from those in Rome?
Greek women had few rights, stayed largely at home, and could not participate in politics.
Roman women had more freedoms—they could own property, run businesses, and sometimes influence public life.
What was the Hellenistic Era, and how did Greek culture spread during this time?
It was the time after Alexander the Great’s conquests when Greek culture spread through trade, new cities, and the Greek language mixing with other cultures.
Why was the Battle of Thermopylae significant, even though the Greeks were defeated? What are 2 reasons?
The Greeks, especially the Spartans, delayed the much larger Persian army for three days, showing bravery, inspiring Greek unity, and creating a lasting symbol of courage and sacrifice.
What weakened Rome and led to invasions in the west?
Internal problems like corruption and civil wars, plus attacks from groups like the Visigoths.
The Pax Romana, from 27 BCE to 180 CE, was a long period of peace and stability in Rome.
It was important because strong leadership, fair laws, and good governance allowed for economic growth, safety, and cultural development.
How did Christianity appeal to many Romans, especially the poor and women?
It promised salvation regardless of one's social status.
How did Athens’ control of the Delian League lead to conflict with other Greek city-states?
Athens controlled the League, used its power and money for itself, and wanted sole control, which angered other city-states and contributed to the Peloponnesian War.
Explain the significance of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River. What was the short-term and long-term results of his decision?
Crossing the Rubicon was significant because it broke Roman law by bringing his army into Italy. The short term, Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon started a civil war between him and Pompey. In the long term, it led to the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under his rule and later Augustus.
1. Political instability – frequent civil wars and over 20 emperors in 50 years.
2. Economic troubles – heavy taxes, inflation, and a widening gap between rich and poor.
3. Military weakness – reliance on foreign mercenaries and invasions that weakened Roman defenses.
Explain what the Twelve Tables were and, how it strengthened citizen rights. Be sure to include how it protected citizens, limited the power of leaders, and influenced the Roman government.
The Twelve Tables codified Roman laws so that all citizens knew their rights and responsibilities.
They protected citizens from unfair treatment by patricians, limited the power of leaders, and established a clear legal system that promoted fairness and influenced the structure of Roman government.
The Colosseum hosted gladiator fights, animal hunts, executions, and public shows.
These events showed that Roman leaders used entertainment to display power, control the masses, and keep citizens loyal and distracted from political problems—an idea known as “bread and circuses.”