Untitled Flashcards Set

Characteristics of a civilization

Urban centers, complex social structure, organized religion, political systems, economic systems, written language, technological innovations, art, and culture.

Ancient Sumer

Located in southern Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Cuneiform

An early system of writing developed around 3200 BCE, important for record-keeping, trade, laws, and literature.

Lady of Warka

A Sumerian sculpture representing beauty, divinity, and fertility.

Ziggurats

Large stepped pyramids used as religious temples dedicated to gods.

Enkidu's description of the world of the dead

A dark, dreary place where people live in dust, with no light or joy.

Utnapishtim's proof to Gilgamesh

He shows that the plant given to Gilgamesh wilts while he sleeps, proving he lost immortality.

Gilgamesh's eternal youth

Gains it through a special plant but loses it when a serpent steals the plant.

Gilgamesh's identity and destiny

King of Uruk, seeking immortality; learns that human life is limited and seeks fame and wisdom.

Divisions of ancient Egyptian history

Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, Late Period.

Book of the Dead

A collection of spells to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

Title of the Egyptian ruler

Pharaoh.

Akhenaton's introduction

Introduced the worship of Aten, causing religious and political turmoil.

Importance of King Tut

Discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922 provided insights into ancient Egyptian culture.

Purpose of the pyramids

Monumental tombs built for pharaohs, designed to protect the body and possessions for the afterlife.

Complete the proverb: 'Man fears time, but time fears ___________.

the pyramids.

Necropolis

A large, ancient cemetery, often with elaborate tombs.

Egyptians' workforce for pyramids

Skilled laborers, craftsmen, and seasonal workers, not slaves.

Sphinx

A creature that is part lion and part human.

Cycladic idol

A small, abstract marble figure with geometric shapes and exaggerated features.

Killer of the Minotaur

Theseus, associated with the legend of Athens.

Snake Goddess of Knossos

A Minoan figurine representing fertility and life.

Discoverer of Mycenaean culture

Heinrich Schliemann.

Creators of the Doryphoros and Discus Thrower

Polykleitos sculpted the Doryphoros and Myron sculpted the Discus Thrower.

Elements of Classical architecture

Symmetry, proportion, and the use of columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).

Friezes and pediments

Friezes are horizontal decorative bands, and pediments are triangular sections above columns.

Peloponnesian War

A conflict between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BCE), leading to Athens' downfall.

Main tenets of the Classical ideal

Harmony, proportion, balance, and idealization of the human form.

Role of the Chorus in Greek drama

Comments on the action, provides background, and guides the audience’s emotional response.

Most successful Greek playwright

Sophocles, known for works like Oedipus Rex and Antigone.

Difference between Plato and Aristotle's philosophies

Plato emphasized abstract forms and ideas, while Aristotle focused on empirical observation.

To Hellenize

To adopt Greek culture, ideas, and ways of life.

Characteristics of Hellenistic art

Known for emotion, movement, dramatic contrasts, and intricate details.

Strengths of the Greek polis

Independent, democratic, and focused on civic participation.

Weaknesses of the Greek polis

Fragmented, leading to conflicts and lack of unity.

Contradictory elements of Greek religion

Combined rational and mythological elements, with gods exhibiting human-like flaws.

Author of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Homer.

Main theme of the Iliad

The wrath of Achilles and its consequences during the Trojan War.

Meander

A decorative motif consisting of a continuous, twisting line or pattern.

Causes for Greek colonization in 8th and 7th centuries BC

Population growth, search for arable land, and trade opportunities.

Effect of colonization on Greek art

Spread of Greek art and culture, leading to new styles influenced by local cultures.

Trade wars between Corinth and Athens

Caused by competition over control of trade routes.

Kouros

A free-standing Greek sculpture of a young male in a rigid pose.

Possible reasons for the 'archaic smile'

Represents idealized beauty or shows that the subject is alive.

Importance of the Kritios Boy

Significant for marking a transition to more naturalistic representation in Early Classical sculpture.

Differences between Doric and Ionic architecture

Doric columns are simple; Ionic columns are ornate with scroll-like capitals.

Ethos

The character or credibility of a speaker or artist.

Philosophy

Means 'love of wisdom', and is the study of fundamental questions about existence.

Three earliest schools of Greek philosophy

Pre-Socratic philosophy, Socratic philosophy, and Platonism.