Geography and Culture of Ancient Greece

Aegean, Ionian, and Black Seas

Vital for trade and transportation in Ancient Greece

Rugged Mountains

Covered three-fourths of Ancient Greece, leading to a lack of farmland

Mycenaeans

Settled on the Greek mainland around 2,000 BCE, influenced by Minoans

Trojan War

Conflict in the 1200s where Mycenaeans fought against Troy

Dorians

Took control after the collapse of Mycenaean culture, leading to the 'Greek Dark Age'

Homer

Blind storyteller who composed the Illiad and the Odyssey

Polis (City-state)

Fundamental political unit in Ancient Greece, comprising a city and surrounding countryside

Acropolis

Fortified hilltop where citizens gathered for city government discussions

Monarchy

Government ruled by a single person, such as a king

Aristocracy

Government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families

Oligarchy

Government ruled by a few powerful individuals

Democracy

Government ruled by the citizens

Tyrant

Powerful individual who governed with the support of the common people

Draco

Nobleman who developed a legal code based on equality under the law in 621 BCE

Solon

Leader who outlawed debt slavery and created social classes for Athenian citizens

Cleisthenes

Introduced reforms organizing citizens by residence and allowing them to submit laws

Council of 500

Body proposing laws and counseling the assembly, with members chosen at random

Limited Democracy

Citizenship restricted to a small number of Athenians, excluding women, slaves, and foreigners

Sparta

City-state in southern Greece known for its military prowess and social structure

Helots

Peasants in Sparta forced to stay on the land they worked

Persian Wars

Conflicts between the Greek and Persian Empires, including the Battle of Marathon

Phalanx

Military formation of foot soldiers armed with spears and shields

Battle of Marathon

Conflict where the Persians encroached on the Greeks, leading to a significant Greek victory

Pheidippides

Ran from Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 26 miles

Thermopylae

Narrow pass where 7,000 Greeks blocked Xerxes' troops

Salamis

Location where Athenians burned Persia's boats and defeated them

Delian League

Alliance of city-states formed for protection against Persians

Golden Age

Period of intellectual and artistic growth in Athens from 477 to 431 BCE

Pericles

Athenian leader whose goals were to strengthen democracy, reinforce the Greek empire, and glorify Athens

Direct democracy

Form of government where citizens rule directly, not through representatives

Peloponnesian War

Conflict between Athens and Sparta resulted in Athens' surrender. Began when Sparta started to fear Athens growing power.

Plague

Deadly disease that wiped out a third of Athens' population

Socrates

Philosopher who believed in absolute standards for truth and justice

Plato

Philosopher who founded the Academy and wrote The Republic

Aristotle

Philosopher who taught Alexander the Great and questioned human knowledge

Hellenistic

Relating to the Greek world from Alexander the Great to the late second century

Alexandria

Foremost center of commerce and Hellenistic civilization

Astronomy

Study of celestial bodies; Aristarchus believed in heliocentrism

Euclid

Mathematician known for 'Elements,' a basis for geometry courses

Stoicism

Philosophy founded by Zeno advocating virtuous lives in harmony

Epicureanism

Philosophy founded by Epicurus focusing on pleasure and natural desires

Colossus of Rhodes

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, a giant statue that greeted ships as they reached Alexandria.

Who is known as the father of scientific history?

Thucydides, who wrote about the Peloponnesian War. Considered the father of political realism.

What were the key characteristics of Athens?

Free, democratic government, focused on education

What were the key characteristics of Sparta?

Strict, warlike, focused on military