Chapter 9: The Greek World

Cyrus the Great

Persian King that conquered the Medes; considered by historians to be the founder of the Persian Empire

cavalry

a group of soldiers who ride on horses

Darius I

Persian Emperor who called himself the king of kings; restored order to the empire, built many roads and a new capital called Persepolis.

Persian Wars

a series of wars between Persia and Greece in the 400s BC

Xerxes I

a Persian ruler who was defeated in his attempt to conquer Greece in 480 BC

alliance

an agreement to work together

Peloponnesian War

a war between Athens and Sparta in the 400s BC

Philip II

king of Macedonia from 359 to 336 BC. Was the first to conquer Greece.

phalanx

a group of Greek warriors who stood close together in a square formation

Alexander the Great

a Macedonian king who conquered the Persian Empire and created the largest empire the world had ever seen

Socrates

Greek Philosopher who taught by asking many questions. He wanted to make people think and question their beliefs.

Plato

a Greek Philosopher who started a school in Athens called the academy. Wrote the book, "The Republic".

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who taught that people should use reason in their lives. A student of Plato.

Philosophy

the study of the universe and our place in it

Euclid

a Greek scientist who was interested in the study of geometry; many of his rules about geometry are still taught today

Hippocrates

a Greek doctor who is known as the "father of medicine".

catapult

device which hurls large stones

Hellenistic

Greek-like