Unit 2 Quiz 4 (Athens, Sparta, Persian & Peloponnesian War)

Basileus

Early Greek kings or monarchs; originally village chieftains. In some city-states like Sparta, multiple basileis ruled simultaneously. Authority eventually overshadowed by aristocracy.

Aristocracy

Rule by the few, chosen for their ability and virtue. Meant to serve the polis’ interests, often leading to consolidation of wealth and power.

Oligarchy

 Government by a small, exclusive group, often wealthy elites; prioritizes self-interest over general welfare. Greek city-states evolved from monarchy to oligarchy.

Tyranny

Individual seizes power, often overthrowing oligarchs. Can be supported by marginalized groups. Example: Pisistratus in Athens.

Democracy

“Rule by the people”; in Classical Greece, majority rule could be unstable (“tyranny of the majority”). Citizens directly voted on policies.

Polity

Mixed form of government combining oligarchic and democratic elements; sometimes called a republic.

(Greek) Citizens

  Adult males with political rights: could vote, propose policies, and hold office.

(Greek) Residents

  Free people living in city-states; protected by law but could not vote or hold office.

(Greek) Underclass

  Slaves, debtors, prisoners of war; legally and socially marginalized.

Archons

  Athenian chief executives with one-year terms; could not be reelected immediately.

Council

  Boule: main administrative and governing council. Areopagus: former archons; served advisory and judicial functions.

Assembly

  Meeting where all citizens voted on policies and proposals.

Ecclesia

  Physical space for the Athenian assembly.

Draco

  Early Athenian lawmaker; laws extremely harsh; strengthened aristocracy’s control over land and legal system.

Solon

  Reformer; canceled debts (Seisachtheia), freed debt slaves, reorganized society by wealth, expanded Boule, introduced social mobility; reforms partially failed, leading to future power struggles.

Tyranny of Pisistratus

  Took control of Athens post-Solon; appealed to lower/middle classes, promoted public works; sons continued rule until aristocracy aided by Sparta overthrew them.

Kleisthenes

  Reformer; reorganized tribes geographically to reduce factionalism, expanded Boule to 500, all adult males in Assembly, introduced ostracism to check potential tyrants, strengthened equality of law and speech.

Darius I

  Persian king; punished Athens for aiding Ionian revolt; led first Persian invasion; fleet lost to storms.

Miltiades

  Athenian general at Marathon; used phalanx formation 8 deep; outnumbered 6:1, defeated Persians; Spartan help arrived too late.

Xerxes

  Persian king; led third invasion with largest army; oversaw Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea; defeated by Greek strategic and tactical coordination.

Leonidas

  Spartan king; led 300 Spartans at Thermopylae with 7,000 Greeks; held pass for several days; killed after betrayal by Ephialtes.

Themistocles

  Athenian naval commander; used strategic deception at Salamis; lured Persian fleet into straits, leveraging tides for Greek victory.

Mardonius

  Persian general, Xerxes’ son-in-law; killed at Plataea, ending Persian invasions; responsible for Persian occupation of Athens.

Cimon

  Athenian statesman; expanded Delian League, introduced silver drachma, controlled allies via navy; ostracized for pro-Sparta policy.

Ostracism

  Annual vote exiling citizens viewed as potential tyrants for 10 years to prevent power concentration.

Kleroterion

  Device for randomly selecting citizens for office or jury duty; ensured fairness in democracy.

Athenian democracy

  No professional bureaucrats; citizens held office, voted, limited term lengths; Assembly and Boule central.

Polis

  City-state; citizens’ primary loyalty; Greece was not a unified nation; federations formed for protection or influence.

Synoikism

  Process of small villages uniting to form larger city-states.

Acropolis

  Fortified hill; housed treasury, temples, and refuge in war.

Agora

  Central marketplace and civic space for trade, religious events, and assemblies.

Hoplites

  Heavily armed citizen-soldiers, usually farmers with stake in defending city.

Phalanx

  Close-packed military formation; overlapping shields; disciplined; difficult on uneven terrain.

Athenian education

  Boys educated in reading, writing, civic duties; girls excluded; fathers responsible; tutors sometimes used.

Lycurgus

  Spartan lawgiver; created militarized constitution (Rhetra), trained warrior class to control helots, emphasized discipline over wealth and arts.

Spartan life

  Boys trained from age 7 (Agoge); men lived in barracks; communal lifestyle; military-focused; isolated society; iron currency; minimal trade.

Spartan women

  More freedom than other Greek women; encouraged physical fitness; could inherit property; involved in family and military indoctrination.

Spartan government

  Oligarchy: two kings, ephors, Gerousia, and assembly.

Spartan kings

  Ceremonial, hereditary; military and religious leaders; limited power compared to ephors.

Ephors

  Powerful administrators; oversaw city and kings; elected annually.

Gerousia

  Council of 28 elders advising kings and proposing policies; older statesmen.

Sparta assembly

  Full citizens could vote but could not propose policies.

Spartiates / Homoioi

  Full Spartan citizens; politically active warriors.

Perioikoi

  Free residents; handled trade and crafts; lacked full citizenship.

Helots

  State-owned serfs; tied to land; supported Spartiate households and military.

Persian War background

  Ionian Revolt (494 BC); Athens aided rebels; Persia punished Greek mainland.

First Persian invasion

  Darius I attacks; fleet destroyed by storms.

Second Persian invasion

  Marathon (490 BC); Miltiades defeats Persians 10,000 vs 60,000.

Ionian revolt

 Rebellion in Asia Minor; Athens and Eretria support; rebellion suppressed; Miletus destroyed.

Third Persian invasion

  Xerxes attacks; includes Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea; largest Persian army; ultimately defeated.

Battle of Thermopylae

  300 Spartans + 7,000 Greeks hold pass; Leonidas killed; betrayal by Ephialtes.

Battle of Salamis

  Greek navy outmaneuvers Persians; Themistocles uses tides; Athens wins; Athens burned.

Battle of Plataea

  Greeks led by Pausanias defeat Persians; Mardonius killed; Persian invasions end.

Persian war results

  Athens dominant; Delian League formed; Persia loses influence in Greek mainland; Athenian naval power increases.

Delian League

  Athenian-led alliance to defend against Persia; treasury on Delos; evolves into empire; silver shipments protected.

Issues in Sparta

  Athens’ growth threatens Peloponnesian League; fear of Athenian empire; social rigidity begins decline.

Spartan problems

  Earthquake, helot revolt, leadership failures weaken Sparta.

Age of Pericles

  Golden age of Athens; democracy strengthened; Long Walls and Acropolis rebuilt; economic and cultural flourishing.

Peloponnesian war background

  Rivalry over leagues, political systems, and Athens’ expansion triggers conflict.

Peloponnesian war begins

  Archidamus II invades Attica; Athens retreats behind Long Walls; war strategy begins.

Archidamus II

  Spartan king; starts war with Attica invasions; aims to weaken Athens’ resources.

Sparta strategy

  Destroy crops, invade countryside, limit Athens’ food production.

Athens strategy

  Use navy; protect citizens behind Long Walls; rely on allies for food and resources.

Cleon

  Advocated continuation of war; populist politician; Assembly supported him until death.

Nicias

  Advocated peace; negotiated Peace of Nicias (421 BC) but treaty short-lived and flawed.

Alcibiades

  Athenian general exiled; defects to Sparta; advises strategies against Athens; later negotiates with Persia.

Glyippus

  Spartan commander in Sicily; defeats Athenian forces, reversing campaign.

Lysander

  Spartan admiral; destroys Athenian fleet at Aegospotami (405 BC), ensures Athens’ surrender.

(1) Death of Pericles

  Plague kills Pericles in 429 BC; creates leadership vacuum, weakens Athens’ war efforts.

(2) Sicilian expedition

  Athens invades Syracuse (415413 BC); initial success, ultimate disaster; fleet destroyed; morale collapses.

(3) Defection of Alcibiades

  Forces Athens to stay behind Long Walls; cuts silver supply; suspends Athenian democracy.

(4) Persia-Sparta alliance

  Persia funds Spartan fleet; provides resources to challenge Athens at sea.

(5) Defeat at Arginusae

  Athens wins; storm prevents rescue of sailors; generals executed; leadership lost.

(6) Defeat at Aegospotami 

 Lysander destroys Athenian fleet; Athens forced to surrender; Long Walls torn down.

Peloponnesian war end

  Athens collapses; Sparta victorious; Athens’ fleet destroyed; democracy later restored.

Peloponnesian war results

  Multi-polar Greece; Athenian democracy survives; Sparta declines; Persia gains influence in eastern Greek cities.