City-States
In early Greek city-states, a fortified gathering place at the top of a hill that was sometimes the site of temples and public buildings.
Acropolis
Class of people in Sparta who were all slaves.
Helots
A wall of shields created by foot soldiers marching shoulder to shoulder in a rectangular formation.
Phalanx
Drama used to criticize politicians and intellectuals, which were meant to entertain and provoke.
Comedy
Powerful City-state in ancient Greece which had a democratic system of government and a strong navy.
Athens
Defensive alliance founded by Athens to defend the Greek cities against possible future Persian attacks, which had its headquarters on the island of Delos.
Delian League
Athenian statesmen who convinced the people of Athens to fund the construction of a large navy to combat Persia.
Themistocles
This author is best known for writing the Iliad & the Odyssey.
Homer
Powerful City-state in ancient Greece whose entire culture centered around their military might.
Sparta
Hellenistic scientist from Syracuse who remarked “Eureka” when he made a discovery and supposedly invented a kind of death ray.
Archimedes
Battle between the Greek city-states and Persia which took place at a narrow pass, which was made famous by the last stand of 300 hoplites from Sparta.
Thermopylae
school of philosophy that taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge; the wise live in harmony with God and are indifferent to pleasure and pain.
Stoicism
The early Greek city-state, consisting of a city or town and its surrounding countryside.
Polis
Hellenistic scientist who accurately calculated the circumference of the Earth.
Eratosthenes
Initial battle between the city-state of Athens and Persia, which is the origin of a modern-day race.
Marathon
A form of drama that portrays a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force and having a protagonist who is brought to ruin especially as a result of a fatal flaw.
Tragedy
In ancient Athens, the process for temporarily banning ambitious politicians from the city by popular vote.
Ostracism
In early Greece, the qualities of excellence that a hero strives to win in a struggle or contest.
Arete
The war fought between the powerful city-states of Athens and Sparta.
The Peloponnesian War
Ancient Greek philosopher who believed in a higher plane which contained “True Forms” of all that we see on Earth.
Plato