Ancient Greece Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards related to a lecture on Ancient Greece, covering topics from democracy to city-states and social structures.

Democracy

A form of government where citizens have the power to choose their leaders.

Questions about Democracy

Concerns whether democracy is a natural or sustainable form of government.

Sacrifice of Rights

The idea that ancient Greeks sometimes gave up democratic rights during crises, seeking strong leaders for protection.

Polis

A Greek city-state.

Bronze Age Collapse

The collapse of Mycenaean Greece and a significant decline in population.

Dark Age of Greece

The period in Greek history from 1100 BCE to 750 BCE marked by societal collapse and loss of the writing system Linear B.

Linear B

The writing system used by the Mycenaeans that was lost during the Greek Dark Ages.

Greek Mythology

Key sources of information about the Dark Ages due to the loss of the writing system.

Trojan War

The legendary conflict around 1300-1100 BCE between the Greeks and the city of Troy.

Homer

The attributed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Iliad

The epic poem about the Trojan War, featuring the hero Achilles.

Odyssey

The epic poem about Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War.

Olympic Games

The ancient athletic competitions held every four years in Olympia to honor Zeus.

Archaic Greece

The period in Greek history from 800 BCE to 500 BCE, characterized by the formation of a Greek identity.

Hellenic People

The collective term for people who identified as Greek, sharing a common culture, language, and mythology.

Phoenician Alphabet

The adoption of the Phoenician alphabet, which helped in the revival of seafaring culture.

Greek Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods, with Zeus and Hera at the top of the pantheon.

Oracle at Delphi

A priestess believed to be a conduit to the god Apollo, providing advice, often in riddles.

Patriarchal Society

The Greek social structure where men held primary power and women were seen as subordinate..

Pandora

The mythical first woman in Greek mythology, whose story explains the view of women as a source of evil.

Acropolis

The high point of a city, often containing important religious and civic buildings.

Agora

The open market and meeting space in a Greek city.

Khora

The hinterland or farmland surrounding a Greek city.

Greek Citizenship

The concept in ancient Greece where citizenship was granted to free male inhabitants, excluding slaves and women.

Tyranny

A form of one-man rule that could be either good or bad, depending on the ruler.

Hoplites

Citizen soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder, creating a sense of community.

Hoplite Revolution

The idea that the way Hoplites trained and fought created a sense of community and equality, promoting democracy.

Slavery

Served as a foil to citizenship, highlighting the value of freedom for citizens.

Greek Colonies

Cultural but not political extensions of Greek city-states throughout the Mediterranean.

Magna Graecia

Greater Greece colonies in areas outside of mainland Greece.