Unit 5: Ancient Greece and Persia (8.1, 8.2, and 3.5)

Early Greece and Greek Geography

1

The mainland portion of Greece, which is connected to the rest of Europe, is essentially this type of landform, which is almost surrounded by water.

Peninsula

2

Greece is situated between the Ionian Sea to the West and the Aegean Sea to the East. What larger sea, which separates Europe from Africa, lies to the South?

Mediterranean Sea

3

Crete was the home of this first civilization to establish a sea-based trading network around the region. What was this civilization?

Minoans

4

This civilization was really many different settlements spread around Greece, all of whom spoke an early form of the Greek language. As such, the Ancient Greeks actually claimed this group as their ancestors!

Mycenaeans

5

What TWO physical features made travel between Greek cities difficult, leading to the development of separate and independent societies?

Islands and Mountains

Political and Urban Organization

1

This term refers to the independent Greek city-states, and their surrounding farmland, that formed throughout Greece.

Polis (pularal-Poleis)

2

The Persians organized their empire into these smaller geographic regions, around 20 of them, to better control the size of their territory and be more responsive to the unique culture of each local area.

Provinces

3

The Persians tasked these regional governors to preside over subsections of the empire. Ultimately, these regional governors were subordinate to the emperor himself.

Satraps

4

Within a Greek city-state, this was the walled area on top of a hill that contained the most important political and religious buildings.

acropolis

5

This term refers to the open marketplace and social meeting space that was a significant part of each Greek city-state.

agora

Types of Government

1

In this type of government, ONE individual serves as a king or a queen.

Monarchy

2

In this type of government, which was used by the Athenian aristocracy, a small group of people rule over the rest of the popluation.

Oligarchy

3

In this type of government, a single ruler maintains power by force, usually with the help of a military force. In ancient Greece, rulers that used this style of government were very popular.

Tyranny (tyrants)

4

This specific style of government was developed in Athens, and allowed all male citizens to vote on laws and decisions. In this specific type of government, all citizens voted on all decisions rather than electing someone to govern for them.

Direct Democracy

5

This type of government is used by countries around the world today, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. In this type of government, citizens elect others to run the government for them.

Representative Democracy

Greek Leaders and Events

1

He was well known for leading the effort to form very strict laws in Athens during the late 600s BC.

Draco

2

He was an aristocrat who overthrew the aristocracy and set up the first tyranny in Athens. He was known for creating new festivals and building new monuments and temples, which made him very popular with ordinary citizens.

Peisistratus

3

This leader is known as the "Father of Democracy" because he started the first democratic-style government while helping lead the government in Athens.

Cleisthenes

4

Under his leadership, Athens reached its peak height. He was elected to lead the people of Athens and worked hard to try and spread democracy to other Greek city-states.

Pericles

5

In 480 BC, the Persian army attempted its second invasion of Greece during the Greco-Persian War. This battle occurred when 7,000 Greek soldiers, led by the Spartan king, Leonidas, held off between 120,000 and 300,000 Persian forces for three days. In the end, a Greek traitor helped lead the Persians to victory.

Battle of Thermopylae

Persian Leaders, Events, and Culture

1

He was the leader that unified the Persian people in 559 BC, overthrew the Medes in 550, and then went on to conquer vast amounts of land in founding the Persian Empire until his death in 530 BC.

Cyrus the Great

2

He invaded Greece in 480 BC, 10 years after his father was defeated by the Athenians during the first invasion of the Greco-Persian Wars.

Xerxes I

3

He dramatically expanded the size of the Persian Empire, building roads, establishing provinces, and conquering new territory as far east as India. Near the end of his reign, his failed invasion of Greece in 490 BC started the Greco-Persian Wars.

Darius I

4

This battle occurred in 490 BC, when the Persians invaded Greece near Athens. This battle saw the advanced tactics, leadership, and equipment of the Athenian and Plataean forces defeat the Persian army.

 Battle of Marathon

5

The ancient Persians practiced this faith, which is characterized by monotheism and dualsim (the battle between good and evil). Followers are encouraged to pursue good during the course of their lifetime. What is the name of this faith?

Zoroastrianism