history test 2 pt 2

Achilles

The greatest Greek warrior known for his near invincibility except for his heel, which became known as his Achilles' heel.

Agamemnon

Leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War and king of Mycenae.

Polis

The city-state, the fundamental political unit in ancient Greece, characterized by independence and self-governance.

Hoplite

A heavily armed foot soldier in ancient Greece, typically a citizen-soldier who fought in a phalanx formation.

Oligarchy

A form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of privileged people.

Helots

State-owned serfs in ancient Sparta who were forced to work the land for Spartan citizens.

Krypteia

An institution in ancient Sparta where young males policed and controlled the helot population.

Agora

The central public space in ancient Greek city-states used for markets, political discussions, and social gatherings.

Draco

An ancient Athenian lawmaker known for his harsh legal code established around 621 BCE.

Solon

An Athenian statesman famous for his legal reforms that helped lay the foundation for Athenian democracy.

Cleisthenes

An Athenian reformer who reorganized Athens into ten tribes and introduced the institution of ostracism.

Ostrakon

A piece of pottery used in ancient Athens for voting in the practice of ostracism.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus

Often called the 'Father of History,' known for his work 'Histories' documenting the Greco-Persian Wars.

Xerxes I

The king of Persia who led the Persian Empire in the second invasion of Greece during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Battle of Marathon

A significant battle in 490 BCE where the Athenians achieved a decisive victory against the Persian Empire.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states formed in 478 BCE, primarily led by Athens, initially aimed at fighting Persia.

Pericles

An influential Athenian statesman during the Golden Age, known for promoting democracy and cultural advancements.

Central Fire

A sacred hearth in ancient Greece, symbolizing warmth and community, associated with the cult of Hestia.

Plato’s Forms

A philosophical concept where the material world is a shadow of a higher reality of perfect Forms.

Aristotle’s Cosmology

His theory of a geocentric universe where Earth is at the center, influencing medieval views of the cosmos.