Ancient Greece

Persian War

The city-states of Greece united to fight foreign invaders

Socrates

An Athenian philosopher who asked questions and was condemned to death for disturbing the peace

Minoans

The first group of Greeks who lived peacefully and leisurely on the island of Crete.

Trojan War

War between Sparta and Troy. The Greeks won by tricking the Trojans with a wooden horse.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian leader who conquered lands to the Indus Valley and never lost a battle.

Solon

Athenian leader known for being the first man to promote democracy in Athens.

Parthenon

Temple built to honor the goddess Athena.

Olympic Games

Festival and athletic contests held at Olympia in honor of Zeus in which all Greek city-states sent representatives (people who are from each city)

King Phillip II

The king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia

Thebes

City-State in Greece that tried to revolt (rebel) against Alexander the Great, but was defeated.

Peloponnesian War

Civil War between Athens and Sparta. Sparta won the war, but it left Greece weak for attack.

City-States

A city and its surrounding farmlands, with its own leaders and government

Acropolis

A hilltop in an ancient Greek city / The most important part of the city. It is high up on a hill.

Aristotle

A philosopher that tutored Alexander the Great and used reason to explain natural events

Athens

A city-state of ancient Greece that was first to have a democracy; also had a strong navy; known as the birthplace of Western civilization; the ancient capital of present-day Greece.

Sparta

Greek city-state that was ruled by an oligarchy, focused on military, used slaves for agriculture, and said the arts were not important

Hellenistic

Of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great

Homer

A Greek poet, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey

Polis

A city-state in ancient Greece.

Macedonia

An an ancient kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great that conquered most of Greece and the Persian Empire in the 300s B.C.

Library at Alexandria

A large library that contained all the accumulated knowledge of the Greeks

Mycenaeans

Invaded the Minoans at Crete; first Greek-speaking people

Philosopher

A person who is looking for wisdom or enlightenment

Solon

made enslavement for debt illegal

Classical Period

Also known as the Golden Age when arts, literature, and science flourished

Delian League

an alliance headed by Athens that says that all Greek city-states will come together and help fight the Persians

Peloponnesian League

League created and led by Sparta that consisted of Spartan and their allies

Hellenistic Culture

Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian and Indian ideas, as a result of Alexander the Great's Empire.

Dark Ages

Also called the Middle Period; people were poor and stopped trading and writing.

Zeus

God of the gods, god of the sky and thunder

Crete

large island off the coast of mainland Greece; site of Minoan civilization

Knossos

city-state on Crete; location of large palace on the island

myth

legend that tells a story of gods/goddesses; explains natural events

oracle

a sacred site where a priest or priestess spoke for a god or goddess

plague

A widespread disease

Iliad and Odyssey

Stories that tell about the Trojan War, Odysseus, and are credited to Homer.

Ionian Revolt

The people of Troy revolted against the Persians.

Fleet

a group of ships