Survey of World History MODULE 5 - "Ancient Greece"

Minoa

Nation of sea-bearers due to a lack of fertile land plentiful mountains. Specialized in goat herding and olive production.

Knossos Palace

Minoan structure shockingly advanced for its time period, containing plumbing, ventilation, and very large rooms.

End of Minoa

Suffered a catastrophic collapse. Fate believed to be the inspiration of Atlantis.

Mycenae

Descendants of Indo-Europeans. Language becomes ancient Greece. Known for their fortified cities alongside bronze weaponry (spears and swords).

Agamemnon

Legendary Mycenean leader who sacks Troy.

Homer

Famous Mycenean writer. Responsible for Iliad (Trojan War, Hector & Achilles) and Odyssey (20-year quest home).

Arete

Greek concept of honor, courage, and strength.

Purpose of Greek stories

Despite their highly dramatized natures, with numerous stories of tragedy and absurdity, they aim to teach valuable lessons of avoiding the terrible contents of said stories.

Polis

Name of Greek city-states. Centers of politics (root word), society, and religion.

Acropolis

Name of the highest point in a Greek city-state.

Agora

Name of the markets at the base of a Greek city-state.

Middle Ages

Period of Greek history characterized by colonization due to home countries suffering from overpopulation and food shortages. Resulted in the wide spread of Greek ideals and opportunities for growing riches.

Tyrants

Highly powerful figures that arose during the period of colonization. They challenged old gov’t, democracy, and public work projects, but tended to be corrupted by their power.

Hoplites

Light, mobile soldiers armed with tough plates, spears, shields, and swords.

Phalanx

Combat formation where numerous light soldiers stand side-by-side in a rectangular formation, marching on together while covering weak points with shields and long spears. Required lots of coordination, strength, and discipline to pull off.

Sparta

Farming state that eventually became an elite military state (7-60) due to fears of the uprising of conquered citizens. Had extremely rigid ways of life, where select, Aryan men train a lifetime for war while the weak (non-Aryans) are culled via infanticide. Women handled cities since men were commonly fighting.

Rights of 19-year-old Spartans

Gains the right of becoming a soldier.

Rights of 20-year-old Spartans

Gain the right of becoming a bachelor.

Rights of 30-year-old Spartans

Gain the right to become a citizen and settle down.

Spartan form of Government

Oligarchy; Allows one to stay in cities while the other goes into combat, and if one in combat dies, the other can continue rule until another king is found.

Oligarchy

Multiple leaders rule over a nation as one unit.

Ephors

5 elected citizens that politically represent the Spartan populace.

Helots

Conquered citizens of foreign nations that acted as slaves of their new rulers.

Lycurgus

Spartan legislator credited for the formation Sparta’s Eunomia (good order), pushing it towards the military it would become legendary for.

Athens

Nation that once struggled with slavery debt before being delivered through thanks to their influential leader.

Solon

Athenian ruler that helped his nation through a debt of slavery.

Cleisthenes

Athenian council of 500; closest form to true democracy, as all citizens had the ability to address government.

Herodotus

Classical Greek that was one of the first figures to begin the widespread recording of worldwide history. Known for dramatizing his recordings.

Thucydides

Another classical Greek who recorded a lot of history. Unlike his fellows, his recordings were notably more factual, unbiased, and scientific in nature.

Aeschylus (Oresteia)

Story of a curse affecting 3 generations of one family, who murdered each other due to it.

Sophocles (Oedipus Rex)

Story of a man that was abandoned by his parents in order to avoid a terrible fate. Unfortunately, this fate would be met regardless, which was the man killing his father and marrying his mother, accidentally so.

Euripides (Medea)

Story of a woman who kills a new wife and husband of kids.

Parhenon

Temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Philosophy meaning

Love of wisdom

Socrates

Very notable Greek philosopher. Responsible for the Socratic method, put to death due to “corrupting the youth” with his wisdom. Lacked personal writings. Instead, the writings of his students proved his existence.

Socratic Method

The endless questioning of absolutely everything in search of the truth (So why? Why? Why this? Why that?)

Plato

Student of Socrates, political philosopher who saw democracy as a flawed system. Believed the educated should rule; wrote “The Republic”.

The Academy

School stated by Plato.

Arstotle

Pupil of Plato. Invented the scientific method, and is the one that tutored Alexander - the man that would eventually become Alexander the Great.

Lyceum

“A hall in which public lectures, concerts, and similar programs are presented.”

Oracle at Delphi

Greek fortune tellers, primarily woman, that acted as political advisors via visions they received by essentially drugging themselves.

Macedonia

North of the Greeks, considered odd individuals that the Greek tried to avoid being bunched with.

Philip II

Greek leader that forwent the capture of Athens & Persia in favor of Greek Polis’. Fought the Battle of Chaeronea, took control control of Greece, and then formed the Hellenic Alliance. Known for having numerous husbands and wives.

Pausanians

The man who assassinated Philip II. Motives was believed to be jealousy as a former lover of Philip II.

Alexander the Great

Legendary leader that took over Persia, Palestine, Egypt, Babylon, and destroys Persepolis. Attempted to enter the Indus River Valley (infamously difficult to take due to rough terrain), but failed. Spread Greek culture, but meshed it with cultures of those he conquered at the expense of his men, who were forced to partake in families with foreigners.

Death of Alexander

Passes at 32. Theorized to be caused by drinking (he was a hard drinker) or malaria.

Battle of Issus

Alexander the Great defeats Darius III, taking over Persia in the process.

Battle of Chaeronea

Battle fought during Philip II’s reign; Alexander has a role in this fight.

Alexandria

Egyptian state named after Alexander the Great, who was seen as a Pharoah amongst the Egyptians.

Persepolis

The area that would eventually become Iran.

Archimedes

The Greek responsible for levelling (construction tool) and the constant of pi.

Pi

3.14… Also proven to be tied with physical attraction (what?).

Euclid

The Greek that birth mathematic geometry. One of the first men to get close to determining that the Earth was round.

Epicurus

The Greek that saw the purpose of life as a pursuit of pleasure.

Zeno

The Greek that birthed the concept of Stoicism.

Stoicism

Greek concept of prioritizing reason over emotions, learning self control.

Etruscans

Northern area whose foundations were located on the Italian peninsula. Colonized by the Phoenicians, who then founded the Carthaginian Empire. Made use of monarchy & city states, like Anatolian peninsula. Built early foundations of Rome (roads, markets, infrastructure, drainage & sewer system).

Etruscan’s Legacy

Gained riches via trade with the Greeks (iron and copper). Used wealth to build basis of Roman Empire. Lay foundations of Latin alphabet, Roman military, and training of the overthrowing of rulers.

Early Rome

Located 12 miles up river and built upon seven hills, making it very difficult to invade. River provided very fertile land, allowed productive agriculture with volcanic ash and thus profitable trade. Had access to Mediterranean sea.

Tiber River

River that early Rome was located near.

Remus & Romulus

Founders of Rome. Defeats Etruscans & Latium, grants them citizenship. Expands southwards & Mediterranean, conquering Italian peninsula.

Remus’ fate

Killed by his brother, Romulus

Remus & Romulus origins

Legend story sons of war god Mars, demigod children of vestal virgin. Were supposed to be drowned in a river, but saved by wolves and raised by a shepherd. Vengeance for mother and grandfather leads to the founding of Rome, with them as rulers.

Roman Republic gov’t

Republic with three branches of gov’t. 2 Consuls of the Imperium, 300 Senators, and Assembly.

Consuls

Highest powers in Rome; absolute magistrates.

Imperium

Translates to “Empire”.

Senate

Lifelong leaders in charge of Roman army, foreign policy, and the election of Consuls.

Assembly

Group made up of Roman citizens that were in charge of law creation.

Patricians

Roman aristocrats & landowners.

Plebians

Small Roman landowners, artisans, merchants, and farmers.

Clientage

Lower Roman class protected by patrons in exchange of labor, military service, and political support.

Slavery

Lowest Roman class. Forced servitude, but not an absolute fate.

Twelve Tables

System rulers must subject to and enforces equality of classes. Civil & Criminal law (for citizens), Natural law (for all people, including foreigners & slaves).

Legions of 5000

Sect in Roman Army subdivided into centuries.

Centuries (army)

Subdivision of 80 soldiers and 20 staff + servants. Part of the Legions of 5000.

Centurion

Commander within Legions of 5000. Mandatory service among politicians, 10 year requirement.

1st Punic War

Occurs in Sicily. Rome faces Carthage, using their powerful army against the Carthage navy. Rome is victorious. Power shift occurs, and Sicily becomes Roman province.

2nd Punic War

Occurs in Corsica & Sardinia. Battle of Cannae occurs first, then the Battle of Zama. On the side, Rome loses Spain / Iberian peninsula.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general that led Carthage during Battle of Cannae and Battle of Zama.

Scipio Africanus

Roman centurion that led Rome during the Battle of Zama.

Battle of Cannae

Occurs during 2nd Punic War. Rome and Carthage fight, with Rome being obliterated by Carthage’s upcoming general - Hannibal.

Battle of Zama

Second battle of 2nd Punic War. Rome avenges Carthage following Cannae. Scipio leads Rome into victory against Hannibal of Carthage.

3rd Punic War

Occurs entirely on Carthaginian territory. Carthage is destroyed, suffering a terrible fate of, “Salt the Earth”. Survivors are enslaved, and the area is renamed to Africa (after Scipio Africanus).

“Salt the Earth”

A procedure where a destroyed city is covered in salt and “cursed”, preventing any and all future opportunities of the city’s rebuilding.

Result of Punic Wars

Social unrest occurs; Farmers’ land fails while Rome is away, forced to sell it. Latifundias created, rich becomes richer and poor get poorer.

Latifundias

Large estates of agricultural land that specialize in creating cash crops.

Cash crops

A selection of the highest-value crops sold for the purpose of maximizing profits.

Solutions for Punic War unrest

Grain made free, poor given opportunity to join war, and a professional standing army is made. Unfortunately, powerful generals lead a civil war.

First Triumvirate

Power-sharing Roman alliance made up of Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar.

Triumvirate (term)

Political system led by three powerful individuals, called Triumvirs.

Crassus

One of Rome’s Triumvirs; widely regarded as the wealthiest man in Rome.

Pompey

Another of Rome’s Triumvirs; regarded as a fantastic statesman and Roman general.

Julius Caesar

The last of Rome’s Triumvirs; Roman general, statesman, and eventual elected dictator that would end up solely ruling over Rome following Crassus’ deaths via a civil war, overthrowing Pompey.

Death of Crassus

Killed in Battle of Syria. Results in a political power vacuum. Senate backs Pompey as dictator, but Caesar refuses to give up power.

Death of Pompey

Killed in Egypt on orders of Ptolemy XIII. This is an attempt to garner Caesar’s favor, offering Pompey’s head as a gift.

Rebellion of Caesar

Refuses to give up power following Crassus’ death, exiled into Gaul. To everyone’s surprise, Caesar returns by crossing Rubicon and leads the Battle of Pharsalus to take over Rome.

Battle of Pharsalus

Deciding battle in Caesar’s civil war. Caesar defeats Pompey and takes Rome.

Ptolemy XIII

Macedonian king of Egypt, co-ruling with his sister, Cleopatra.

Cleopatra

Sister of Ptolemy XIII, wife of Caesar, and mother of Caesarion.

Death of Caesar

Assassinated in the Senate on Ides of March. Land and citizenship reforms are made following his passing.