Greek History terms (Bronze Age-Persians War)

Bronze Age 3300-1200 BCE

Bronze Age 3300-1200 BCE

The period that followed the introduction of metal working'

Minoan Civilization

An advanced civilization that developed on the island of Crete around 2500 B.C.E.

Crete

A Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of Greece

Knossos

an ancient Minoan city on the island of Crete

Linear A

An undeciphered writing system used in Crete in the 17th century B.C., Minoa's first written language; has not been translated.

Redistributive economy

A system in which state officials control the production and distribution of goods

Thera (Santorini)

Island in the Mediterranean northwest of Crete whose eruption is often pointed to as one of the contributing factors of the decline of Minoan civilization. Modern Santorini is the remnant of that eruption.

Atlantis

Mythical ancient island civilization that believes to have sank thousands of years ago. Some historians believe this was the island of Thera which was partially destroyed by a volcano and relates to a theory about how the Minoans civilization ended

Linear B

A set of syllabic symbols, derived from the writing system of Minoan Crete, used in the Mycenaean palaces of the Late Bronze Age to write an early form of Greek. It was used primarily for palace records, and the surviving tablets provide substantial information about the economic organization of Mycenaean society and tantalizing clues about political, social, and religious institutions.

Mycenaean Civilization

a greek civilization that took off where the Minoans left off (possibly conquered the Minoans), militaristic, expanded trade through sea raids, piracy, colonization - fought Troy in Trojan war, written about in Iliad (ca. 1400-1200 BC)

Mycenae

Site of a fortified palace complex in southern Greece that controlled a Late Bronze Age kingdom. In Homer's epic poems was the base of King Agamemnon, who in myth commanded the Greeks besieging Troy.

Cyclopean Masonry

A method of stone construction, named after the mythical Cyclopes, using massive, irregular blocks without mortar, characteristic of the Bronze Age fortifications of Tiryns and other Mycenaean sites.

Megaron

The large reception hall and throne room in a Mycenaean palace, fronted by an open, two-columned porch.

Dorian Invasion

theoretical 12th century invasion that ended Mycenaean civilization. The only evidence supporting this is the fact two separate areas have a Doric accent and the myth of the return of the Herakledai

The return of herakledai

A myth about Herakles descendants (called Herakledai) returning to their homeland after years of being exiles. Some relate this to the theory of the Dorian invasion.

Trojan War

10-18 year war fought between the Mycenaean Greeks and the city of Troy. This myth based off the homer Iliad which explains that the Trojan prince Paris kidnapped Helen of Sparta which cause all the Greeks to fight Troy for her.

Troy

A kingdom that was believed to be destroyed by the Greeks in the Trojan War. It is located on the western coast of Asia Minor. For the longest time we did not know if this was an actual city.

Hellespont

the long, narrow body of water between Europe and Asia in present-day Turkey

Sea Peoples

Unknown group of strong warriors who crushed the Hittites and destroyed cities in southwest Asia, who fought the Egyptians for 50 years. It believed that they were actually remanent and immigrants of civilizations like Mycenae that was destroyed during the fall of the bronze age.

Ramesses II

A long-lived ruler of New Kingdom Egypt (r. 1290-1224 B.C.E.). He reached an accommodation with the Hittites of Anatolia after a military standoff. He built on a grand scale throughout Egypt.

Mediate Habu

A temple created by Ramesses III in 1188 BCE which tells the story of him destroying the Sea people

Denyen/ Danaan

Were believed to be apart of the Sea people who created Mycenae.

Iron Age

the period following the Bronze Age; characterized by rapid spread of iron tools and weapons

Oikos

a household that is comprised of several generations including servants and slaves.

basileus (pl. basileis)

Greek for "king," which ultimately derives from a Mycenaean title referring to minor local officials. During the Early Iron Age it was applied to the ruling elite of burgeoning communities, and by the end of the Archaic period it was often applied to religious officials of the polis, such as was the case for the Archon Basileus at Athens. (page 100)

Lefkandi

Dark ages settlement on the island of Euboia. Contained the burial of a man, woman and four horses

Euboia

-Earliest evidence of Greek trade -Warrior burials found w/ man, woman, & horse remains -Dr. Marks believes this is the biggest building between Bronze Age & Classical Period -100 years later, a trade post was established here known as "Al Mina"

Heroön

shrine for a hero

Kalapodi

A site for Apollo's most famous oracle of Delphi. Was a site that was in constant use.

Homer

A Greek poet, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Hesiod

Author, wrote Works and Days(a farmer's almanac) and Theogony (a geneology of the gods)

Chiron

The wisest of the centaurs in the myth of Homer. It also believe that the Lefkandi centaur is a depiction of Chiron.

Archaic Age of Greece

Greek time period immediately following the Dark Ages. It was characterized by the rise of the polis.

Polis

The ancient Greek term for city-state

Phoenicia

An ancient seafaring civilization located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea

Cup of Nestor

A golden mixing cup, described in Homer's Iliad, belonging to Nestor, the king of Pylos.

Olympia, Greece

In approximately 776 B.C., the people of Greece began holding athletic games every four years in which city?

Arete

in early Greece, the qualities of excellence that a hero strives to win in a struggle or contest

Kleos

glory, fame

Euboia

-Earliest evidence of Greek trade -Warrior burials found w/ man, woman, & horse remains -Dr. Marks believes this is the biggest building between Bronze Age & Classical Period -100 years later, a trade post was established here known as "Al Mina"

Pithekoussai

-Widely believed to be the first Greek colony located in Italy -A primary trading center for the Greeks

metropoils

the capital or chief city of a country or region

Kouros

Greek word for "male youth." An Archaic Greek statue of a standing, nude youth.

Stasis

A period of tensions, many Greek city-states during this time were in a period of this.

Sparta

A powerful Greek military polis that was often at war with Athens. Used slaves were known as helots to provide agricultural labor.

Eunomia

state of being well governed

Lykourgos

The man who is credited with setting up the Spartan form of government

Corinth

a leading city of ancient Greece famous for its architecture, pottery, and shipbuilding

Diolkos

paved track allows ships to be portaged across isthmus of Corinth

bacchiadai

The family that ruled Athens before Kypselos took over as tyrant

tyrannos

absolute ruler. During this time tyrant does not mean negative. It means a leader who came into power in an unconventional way.

Kypselos & Periander

Both are tyrants (father and son). The father overthrew the Bacchiadai and, while seen as a tyrant, was also respected. Meanwhile, the son was seen as an evil tyrant.

Athens, Greece

Democracy originated in, and is now used in the United States.

Drakon

Name the early Athenian lawgiver who published the first Athenian law code. These laws were deliberately harsh and so this Athenian's name gives us the modern word "draconian."

Hoplite

A citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek City-states. They were primarily armed as spear-men.

Hektemoroi

a term used in Solonian Athens meaning 6 parter. Refers to poor farmers who had fallen into debt to wealthy landowners and had to hand over 1/6 of their produce under penalty of enslavement for their debt

Solon

Early Greek leader who brought democratic reforms such as his formation of the Council of Four Hundred

Seisachtheia

"shaking off of debts"-when Solon banned enslaving debtors, freed all debt slaves and recalled all exiles due to debts

Pentakosiomedimnoi

In the Solonic system, these were members of the highest class, "500-measure men," since they had an estate that produced at least 500 medimnoi (bushels) of grain, oil, and wine.

Hippeis

Second highest social class in Athens, they could afford to serve on the cavalry

Zeugitai

The second lowest class of Athens who formed the foot soldiers (hoplites) of the army.

Thetes

ancient Athenian craftsman or laborer

Ekklesia

Greek word for assembly

Peisistratos

Tyrant of Athens and the son of Hippocrates. Many modern-day historians argue this tyrant was more impactful to Athens than Solon was.

Hipparchos and Hippias

Sons of Pisistratus and were tyrants. The tyrant-slayers Harmodios and Aristogeiton killed one of these brothers in 514 which caused the other brother to grew paranoid.

Kleisthenes

The man who introduced democracy to Athens and wrote a democratic constitution

Isagoras

used Spartan allies to rule Athens, defeated by common people

Kleomenes

The king before Leonidas helped Isagoras exile Kleisthenes and his family.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

phyle

The greek word for tribe or group. During this time in Athens, the population was divided into 10 tribes.

trittys

30, divided into the coast, county, city, collections of demes

deme

Villages of Athenians people, in whole during this time there is around 139 villages.

Boule

council of 500 citizens chosen for 1 year terms

Ostracism

A tradition in Athens was they vote whether or not they had this then meet in the city to vote for whom they were exiling. They usually wrote people's names on a pottery shard and toss it into the area. Then whoever name appears the most will be exiled for 10 years.

Achaemenid Empire

The name of an ancient Persian Empire (c. 550-330 BCE) which was composed of many smaller kingdoms. The realm was divided into twenty-three satrapies whose administration and taxation was managed by subordinate local rulers.

Cyrus the Great

king of Persia and founder of the Persian empire (circa 600-529 BC)

Media/Medes

Group of nomads who settled around Ecbatana and later overthrew the Assyrian Empire with the New Babylonians

Cambyses

A Persian king, named after his father Cyrus, expanded the Persian empire by conquering Egypt.

Dareios III(defeated by Alexander the Great)

Last King of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia, ruled from 336-330 (during the rise of Alexander the Great). Fought numerous unsuccessful battles against Alexander although was still able to muster 3 massive armies to go against him. After the defeat at Gaugamela, Darius was supposedly found dying, betrayed by his own commanders. Alexander officially ruled over the Persian Empire.

Ionian Revolt

499-493, Ionian cities revolted against Persian Rule, helped by Athens. At first it was a success, then crushed by Persians

Medizing

The act of favoring the Persians. Greeks considered Medes and Persians the same.

Eretria

City in Euboea that was punished by the Persians for their involvement in the Ionian Rebellion. The city was plundered and the population enslaved.

Plataia

site of a decisive battle between the Greeks and the Persians in 479 BCE; a commemorative monument to the battle was erected at Delphi

Marathon (490 BC)

the first battle of the Persian war between the Greeks and Persia. Athenians are outnumbered but still win as they are braver and better fighters. Sparta doesn't help because they are in a religious festival. Athens wins and is rich (Miltiades is the commander). In legend, it believed that there is a runner who goes back and tells Athens of the victory and dies (26.2 miles)

Strategos (pl. strategoi)

military general

Xerxes

son of Darius; became Persian king. He vowed revenge on the Athenians. He invaded Greece with 180,000 troops in 480 B.C.

Themistokles

Athenian general and war hero; fortified city of Athens after Persian Wars

Trireme

Greek and Phoenician warship of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.E. It was sleek and light, powered by 170 oars arranged in three vertical tiers. Manned by skilled sailors, it was capable of short bursts of speed and complex maneuvers.

Peiraieus

the harbor town of Athens that was created to support the Athenians new navy

Battle of Salamis

In a naval battle against the Persians, the Greeks won after deceiving the Persians.

Leonidas

King of Sparta that died in the Battle of Thermpoylae

Artemisium BCE; 480

Was a series of naval engagements over three days during the Second Persian Invasion

Mardonius

Persian general at the Battle of Salamis and commander at Plataea