Ancient Greece Vocabulary

Minoans

group of expert shipbuilders that settled on the island of Crete

Mycenaeans

the first Greeks who established colonies and built fortresses throughout Greece

Polis

city-state

Acropolis

a high hill that housed the fortress of the city-state

Athens

Greek city-state where democracy was first created

Sparta

Greek city-state that became a military society

Oligarchy

a type of government where the power is shared with a small group of people

Aristocracy

a type of government where only a small group of the wealthiest people have the power

Tyranny

a type of government that uses force to rule

Citizen

someone who has the right to participate in government

Direct democracy

a form of democracy that allows all citizens to directly participate in government

Representative democracy

a form of democracy where citizens choose government officials to represent them

Pericles

leader of Ancient Greece who promoted democracy

Alliance

an agreement formed between groups to work together

Peloponnesian War

a long-term war between Athens and Sparta that led to Sparta’s victory

Mythology

stories about gods and goddesses that attempt to explain different events

Homer

poet who wrote the Odyssey and the Iliad

Olympics

porting competition held every four years, originally in honor of Zeus

Socrates

Greek philosopher famous for using questioning techniques

Plato

Greek philosopher and teacher who created the Academy

Aristotle

Greek thinker who believed in practicing moderation and the use of reason

Hippocrates

Greek doctor famous for the Hippocratic oath, which ensures doctors do what is best for their patients

Alexander the Great

Macedonian King who expanded his empire across parts of three continents

Hellenistic

Greek-like culture

Phalanx

group of soldiers arranged in a square

Democracy

a government that gives people the power to rule themselve