AP World Foundations - Classical Greece

How did geography impact the Greeks?

Lack of good farm land, trouble traveling through land, lack of unification, not much living space, Greeks sought to find new colonies

Why was sea trade important for the Greek?

Few natural resource resources, and easy access to the sea

Who were the Mycenaeans

Large wave of people who moved from Europe, India in southwest Asia, who settled on Greek mainland and ruled by warrior kings

How are the Mycenaeans influenced by the Minoans?

Mycenaeans borrowed from Minoan culture, adapted, Minoan handwriting, and artistic design

What was Greece like under Dorians?

Greece went into decline, no written records, reliance on word

What types of governments existed in the city states?

Monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, government led by tyrants

Define democracy

A government by the people

Why was Athens not a full democracy?

Not all people were involved in making political decisions or had equal rights

What was Sparta’s focus as a city state?

Militia/military skills

How was Sparta different from Athens?

The council of elders governed rather than the people

Who fought the Persian wars?

Greeks and Persians

What was the outcome of the Persian wars?

Greece won, saving Athens… greeks went on to lose the battle once Persians returned, Persians burned Athens, threat from Persia disappeared once Greeks followed a sea battle with an on land victory

Who was Pericles

Leader of Athens from 461 to 429 BC

What was the Peloponnesian war?

War between Sparta and Athens, beginning in 431 BC. (Sparta was head of the Peloponnesian league.)

Why might Sparta have feared the spread of Athenian democracy

Athenian democracy may disrupt their values (council of elders), spread of Athenian democracy may cause spartan citizens to rebel

What was the result of the Peloponnesian war?

A plague that killed many Athens, loss of wealth and resources in Sparta, warfare cycle as states struggled for power in Greece, Macedonia takes control of Greece

Why was the Parthenon built?

To honor the goddess Athena

What kinds of literature did the Greeks produce?

Epic poems, descriptive poetry, lyric poetry, historic writings, playwrights, comedic playwrights

What was the purpose of Greek comedies?

To make audiences laugh about important ideas

Who were three important Greek philosophers

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Socrates

Belief truth and justice

Plato

Belief in his own right

Aristotle

Summarized Greek knowledge, foundation of scientific thought

Who was Philip II?

King of Macedonia and a strong Leader

How did Greek independence end?

When Macedonian’s invaded Greece and won

Who was Alexander the great

A brilliant general who invaded Persia and founded a city in Egypt as pharaoh and ended resistance in Persia

What two kingdoms did Alexander defeat?

Persia and Egypt

How did Alexander’s powers come to an end? What happened to his empire after his death?

Alexander fell ill, his empire was divided by three generals