VCE Ancient History 3/4 - Ancient Greece

Synoecism (unification)

The unity of surrounding villages into a city-state

Basileus (leaders)

Leaders of the districts, towns, and villages

Colonizing Movement

The widespread emigration of the Greeks from their Aegean homeland that began in the mid-8th century and continued for 2 centuries. When it ended around 500BC, the Greek world extended from Spain in the west to Colchis in the East

Thetes

Poor farmers who were hired hands who worked for mere subsistence

Helots

Original inhabitants of Laconia/Messonia - conquered and made to work for the Spartan citizens as serfs on their own land. Had some rights - could marry, raise a family, and keep a portion of production - otherwise slaves.

Slaves

Males and females acquired from the outside by capture of purchase who had no freedom or human rights and who were legally classified as property. Of the lowest status

Politai (Citizen)

All free-born members of the polis

Oligarchs

Rule by the few - Archon, Polemarchos, Religious, Boule

Archaic Period

700-500BC - Early period of Greek growth. A period of great change for the Greeks - rising population, expansion with more colonies, more trade, increased number of festivals, and further cultural development. More frequent and lethal wars, greater divide between the rich and poor, and the development of the poleis

City State / Polis

A defined geographical area comprising a central city and its adjacent territory, of which together make up a single, self-governing unit

Hoplite Armies

Citizen-soldiers of Greece

Phalanx

A close military formation of troops

Tyrants (tyrannos)

Rule by force, a single ruler

Black figure pottery

Style of Greek vase painting with figures and ornaments painted in shape and colours similar to a silhouette, with details in white and red

Red figure pottery

Style of Greek vase painting invented in Athens around 530BC - the style is characterised by drawn red figures and a painted black background. The figures are created in the original red-orange of the clay

Agora

Marketplace/assembly, central public space in the polis

Lyric poetry

Formal type of poetry which expresses personal emotions or feelings, typically expressed in the first person. Often sung and had a precise technical meaning. Early C7th-5th BC

Panhellanic sanctuaries

A place where every citizen and family could participate - heled to force a common Hellenic identity as great numbers came to worship, consult oracles, and attend musical and athletic festivals

Panhellanic games

4 sports festivals in honor of various Gods, includes the Olympic Games in honour of Zeus in Olympia, drew spectacles and contestants from across the Greek world

Democracy

Rule by the people

Monarchy

Rule by one

Olympics

Religious ritual in honor of Zeus held every 4 years

Homer

A blind poet credited for writing the Iliad and the Odyssey

Phoenicians

Seafaring people on the Eastern Mediterranean

Dark Ages

No cultural growth

Aristocracy

Upper class

Blood feuids

Fight between family groups

Herodotus

Father of history

Peloponnesus

Home of the Spartans

Athens

City-state with democracy as its form of government

Sparta

City with a strong military

Persia

Biggest civilization in Asia in the sixth century

Oikos

Household including house, land, animals, property

Demos

Villages

Archon

Basileus/Prytanis - chief administrator

Polemarchos

Officer in charge of military operations (war leader)

Boule

Council of Elders

Hellenes

The Greeks

Acropolis

High city - city/part of city that is fortified at the top of something

Oikist

Founder of the colony

Aristocrats

The wealthy elite

Obols

Coinage