Unit 1 Study Guide - Ancient Governments and Legal Foundations

Vocabulary flashcards based on Unit 1 Study Guide covering Greek democracy, Roman law, philosophical principles, and historical legal milestones.

Direct Democracy

A government where citizens directly participate in making decisions and laws instead of electing representatives.

Sparta vs. Athens

Sparta focused on military strength, discipline, and a strict society. Athens focused more on democracy, education, arts, and citizen participation in government.

Pericles

Athenian leader who expanded Athenian democracy and encouraged citizens to participate in government.

Cleisthenes

Athenian reformer who helped create the foundation of Athenian democracy by giving more citizens political power and reorganizing Athens into political groups.

Philosophy

The study of basic questions about life, knowledge, truth, and government, whose three major ancient Greek thinkers were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Plato's Just State

A state concept where Plato divided people into three groups (rulers, warriors, and producers), with each group having a specific role in society.

Roman Republic

A government where citizens elected representatives to make decisions and laws for the people.

Patricians

Wealthy, powerful Roman citizens who controlled much of the government.

Plebeians

Common Roman citizens who had fewer political rights, but fought for more rights and eventually gained political representation and greater equality with the patricians.

Twelve Tables

Rome's first written laws that made laws public and helped protect citizens from unfair treatment.

Roman Civil Law

A legal system with important principles including innocent until proven guilty, the right to a trial, equal treatment under the law, and laws being written and known publicly.

Common Law

A legal system based on customs, traditions, and previous court decisions.

Magna Carta

A document that limited the power of the king, established that the ruler was subject to the law, and introduced limited government and rule of law.

Lasting Legacy of Athens

Democracy, philosophy, citizenship, education, arts, and government.

Lasting Legacy of Rome

Republic, Roman law, government, architecture, engineering, and language.

Limited Monarchy

A government where a monarch is the ruler, but their power is restricted by laws or a constitution.

Ten Commandments

Moral laws in the Bible that guide how people should live.

Seven Universal Laws

Basic moral laws that apply to all people.

Habeas Corpus

A legal principle that protects people from being imprisoned unlawfully by requiring the government to justify why someone is being held.