Ancient Greece, Rome, and Early Medieval Period Lecture Review

40 question-and-answer flashcards covering key people, events, and ideas from Ancient Greece and Rome through the early medieval period, based on the provided lecture notes.

What eternal entities did Plato believe rulers should seek?

The eternal Forms

Which school did Aristotle establish in Athens?

The Lyceum

According to Aristotle, what four elements compose all matter?

Earth, fire, air, and water

How did Aristotle argue knowledge should be acquired?

Through observation and data collection

Which description best fits Plato’s view of reality?

Idealist

According to Aristotle, what is the corrupt form of monarchy?

Tyranny

Which form of government did Aristotle regard as good rule by the many?

Polity

Rome was named after which legendary founder?

Romulus

In what year did Rome transition from monarchy to republic?

509 BC

What was the foundation of early Roman law?

The Twelve Tables

Rome was the first society to field what military innovation?

A full-time volunteer army

Roman architecture was revolutionary for its use of what two features?

Concrete and arches

Roughly what percentage of Roman society were plebeians?

About 60 %

Julius Caesar’s most famous military campaign occurred in which region?

Gaul (modern-day France)

What book did Julius Caesar write about his campaigns?

The Gallic Wars

What key event took place on the Ides of March, 44 BC?

Julius Caesar was assassinated

After Caesar’s death, Octavian adopted what new name?

Augustus

Under which ruler did the Pax Romana begin?

Augustus

Roman religion before Christianity was primarily what?

Polytheistic

Which Roman emperor legalized Christianity?

Constantine

What was the principal outcome of the Edict of Milan?

Christianity was legalized throughout the empire

Which major theological work was written by St. Augustine?

City of God

What kind of truths did Augustine argue truly exist?

Immaterial, universal truths

Augustine described society as divided into which two realms?

The City of God and the City of Man

In what year did the Western Roman Empire officially fall?

476 AD

Which barbarian king famously sacked Rome?

Alaric

What toxic material is believed to have contaminated Roman water supplies?

Lead

To which field did Galen make lasting contributions?

Medicine

Which Roman statesman championed the idea of a universal moral law?

Cicero

According to Lucretius, the world is composed of what?

Atoms

What significant legal compilation was created under Emperor Justinian?

The Justinian Code

What is the Hagia Sophia?

A church built by Justinian, famed for its architecture

Charlemagne ruled a kingdom modeled on which earlier empire?

The Roman Empire

What material was commonly used for medieval textbooks?

Vellum (lambskin)

Feudalism was fundamentally based on the relationship between whom?

Lords and vassals

In which skills were the Vikings especially renowned?

Shipbuilding and sailing

Who was the Viking explorer and son of Erik the Red?

Leif Erikson

Which foundational philosophical concept does Perry highlight as the “Golden Mean”?

Moderation between extremes in thought and action

According to Perry, early thinkers believed knowledge came primarily from what?

Rational reflection

On page 23 of Perry, the origin of governance is linked to what idea?

Social contracts among rational individuals