Untitled Flashcards Set

Polis

The city-state, a political unit of Greece made up of a city and its surrounding villages.

Acropolis

The hilltop where a city-state’s important buildings and temples were located.

Agora

The marketplace in a Greek city-state where citizens gathered for various activities.

Monarchy

A form of government ruled by a single person, typically a king.

Aristocracy

A government controlled by a small group of noble, land-owning families.

Oligarchy

A system of governance where control is held by a small group of people.

Direct Democracy

A democratic system where people vote directly on laws and decisions.

Tyrants

Powerful individuals in ancient Greece who seized control often by appealing to the common man.

Citizenship in Athens

Only free adult male property owners born in Athens could be citizens with political rights.

Sparta

A Greek city-state located on the Peloponnesus, known for its militaristic society.

Helots

Peasants in Sparta who were forced to work the land and were considered conquered and enslaved.

Council of 30 Elders

The governing body in Sparta responsible for making decisions alongside the two kings.

Spartan Society

A hierarchical society in Sparta made up of descendants of original inhabitants, noncitizens, and helots.