Overview of Ancient Greek History and Warfare

Linear A

Undeciphered language from Knossos, Crete.

Linear B

Deciphered Greek language from 1500-1400 BC.

Knossos Palace

Stored 25,000 gallons of olive oil.

Trojan War

Conflict likely occurring between 1250-1180 BC.

Iliad

17,000-line epic poem about the Trojan War.

Odyssey

15,000-line epic poem following Odysseus's journey.

Ajax the Lesser

Character in the Trojan War, distinct from Ajax the Greater.

Ajax the Greater

Famous for his tower-like shield and boar tusk helmet.

Oral Poetry

Predictable structure aids memorization and performance.

5th Century

Golden Age of Greek drama and tragedy.

Heroön

Tomb of a hero, symbolizing eternal legacy.

Philistines

Greek refugees resulting from Bronze Age instability.

Bronze Age Collapse

Led to Greek migration and societal instability.

Iron Age

Shifted trade networks, making copper and tin obsolete.

Hittites

First to use iron, collapsed shortly after discovery.

Egyptian Iron Transition

Delayed adoption of iron compared to Mesopotamia.

Carbon in Steel

Enhances hardness of steel through carbon mixing.

Drought Theory

Climate change caused Greek migrations around 1200 BC.

Centralization of Metal Production

Decreased during the Iron Age, affecting trade.

Cattle Population

Knossos had 50,000 cattle, significant for economy.

Megaron

The king's seat in ancient Greece.

Polis

A city-state serving as a refuge.

Demagog

Leader of the demos; initially neutral term.

Hoplite Phalanx

Military formation emphasizing collective strength.

Sparta

One of the earliest organized city-states.

Self-Defense Settlements

Communities formed for protection purposes.

Military Gear Weight

Hoplite soldiers carried approximately 80 lbs.

Formation Depth

Hoplite formation was 10 lines thick.

Voting in Sparta

Kings shouted to vote in archaic practices.

Population of Athens

Around 7000 candidates for 700 unpaid offices.

Defense Locations

Settlements in Greece chosen for strategic defense.

Sparta

City-state in southern mainland Greece.

Lacoyne

Region where Sparta is located.

Hoplite Phalanx

Military formation is traced to early Sparta. Used by all polis

Polis

City-state formation in ancient Greece.

Apollo

God associated with archery and plague.

Oedipus

Tragic hero who unknowingly marries his mother.

Idiotes

Greek term meaning 'ignorant person'.

Community Responsibility

Ancient societies held communities accountable for faults.

Persian Invasion

Darius punished Greek cities without direct involvement.

Greek Resistance

Athenians and Plateans defended against Persian invasion.

Thermopylae

Strategic choke point in ancient Greece.

Themistocles

Athenian leader who transformed Athens into a naval power.

Peloponnesian League

Alliance of city-states led by Sparta.

Helot Rebellion

Triggered by an earthquake in 462 BCE.

Social Classes in Sparta

Richest class produced 500 bushels or more.

Spartan Economy

Lower classes produced less than 200 bushels.

Thetes

Lower class citizens participating in Athenian democracy.

Political Positions

Top two classes ran for political offices.

Office Term

Each position lasted for one year.

Office Limitation

No office held twice in 10 years.

Navy Advancement

Poor citizens included in government due to navy.

Hoplite Government

Traditional military-based government structure.

Candidate Selection

Better-looking candidates often won elections.

Assembly Frequency

Assemblies held every 9 days.

Jury Size

A jury consisted of 600 members.

Persuasion Requirement

301 jurors needed to win a case.

Punishment Phase

301 jurors decide on punishment after verdict.

Defendant Representation

Defendants spoke directly to 600 jurors.

Thete Work Requirement

Thetes needed 90 workdays yearly for living.

Spartan Threat

Athens feared Spartan military strength.

Athenian Fleet Size

Athenian fleet had 600 ships, half of Persians.

Hoplite Democracy

Typical Greek city-state governance structure.

Post-Persian War Voting

Poor citizens gained voting rights after the war.

Spartan Alliance

Fear of Athenian democracy unified Spartan city-states.

Helot Revolt

Spartans sought to incite Helots against Athens.

Plato's Guardians

Educated elite ruling class in Plato's ideal society.

Citizen Definition

Only male citizens aged 30 could participate.

Average Lifespan

Men earning wages by labor lived until 39.

Labor Payment

Workers earned one drachma per day.

Athenian Hubris

Athens faced multiple opponents, showcasing overconfidence.

Spartan Fleet

Naval force funded by Persia during conflicts.

Pericles' Prediction

Belief that Athens would ultimately lose the war.

The Thirty

Group that controlled Athens post-war, mostly Socratic students.

Restoration of Democracy

Athenian democracy reinstated after The Thirty's brief rule.

Persian Funding

Financial support to both Athens and Sparta to prolong war.

Greek City-States

Independent entities vying for dominance in Greece.

Persian Strategy

Encouraging Greek wars to weaken Greece's power.

Cunnxa City

Location where Persian officials met Spartan ambassadors.

Decline of City-States

Failure to unite against Persian threats.

War Duration

Prolonged conflict lasting most people's lives in Greece.

Mercenaries in War

10,000 hired soldiers seeking personal gain.

Persian Wealth

Bottomless funds supporting military efforts.

Gold Production

One Persian province produced 500 talents of gold.

Military Power

Financial resources enable states to build armies.

Touchstone

Tool for testing the authenticity of drachmae.

Athenian Naval Power

Reinforced by Persian funds, Athens had 125 ships.

Agricultural Cycle

Grain planted in late October, harvested mid-May.

Mercenary Behavior

Preference for war; may turn to piracy if idle.

Decline of Greek Life

Civil life deteriorating amidst ongoing conflicts.

Middle Comedy

New genre of plays emerging in mid-fourth century.

Macedonian Monarchy

Established in the 600s, evolving military structure.

Infantry Reforms

Macedonia created hoplite-style infantry from displaced people.

Philip II's Assassination

Event leading to changes in Macedonian leadership.

League of Corinth

Alliance of Greek states under Philip II's leadership.

Macedonian Conquest

Unified Greece against Persia, reducing internal conflicts.

Macedonians as Greeks

Cultural identity of Macedonians within the Greek context.