G8 Q2 - L1 soc stud

Democracy

Government "of, for, and by the people"; government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled.

Majority rule

The principle of making decisions based on the preferences of the majority.

Rule of the people

The concept that political power should be held by the common people.

Requirements of democracy

Educated citizen, intellectual freedom, economic security, majority rule, freedom to form political parties, popular agreement that democracy will work, the individual is considered important.

Geographic setting

Greece is in Southern Europe, surrounded by seas (Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea), bordered by Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Turkey.

Minoan Civilization (2000-1400 BCE)

Ancient civilization found on the island of Crete, known for religious rituals, dancing, and athletic exhibitions.

Mycenaean Civilization (c

Flourished in mainland Greece, coined by Heinrich Schliemann, associated with the Trojan War.

Dark Ages (c

Period of decline and instability in Greece, marked by attacks from invaders and the end of Mycenaean power.

Age of Homer

Greeks relied on the spoken word, produced great bards like Homer, heroism was valued.

Classical Period (750-300 BCE)

Greeks rediscovered the arts of civilization, engaged in long-range trade, developed political institutions based on rationality and equality.

Citizenship

Membership in a polis (city-state), participation in political and religious activities, acceptance of laws, right to own land (extended only to males).

Political Institutions

Assembly or ecclesia, Agora (marketplace) for discussions, Areopagus (Council of Elders), archons (state officials).

Political Rights

Belief in rational thinking and freedom of thought, speech, and action.

Infantry Phalanx

Military technique and organization developed by the Greeks, heavily armored infantry in a close-order battle formation.

Olympic Games

Panhellenic Games held in Olympia, featured various events including the Pentathlon and later expanded to include stade, dolichos, wrestling, boxing, chariot race, horse race, and pankration.

Heraean Games

Games held exclusively for women, limited to sprint races shorter in distance than those for men.

Olympic Truce

Initially observed for one month, later extended to three months.

Roman Emperor Theodosius

Abolished the Games in 393 BCE, Olympics resumed in 1896 and continue to be held every four years.

Greek Religion

Polytheistic with twelve principal gods known as the Olympian gods.

Mount Olympus

Believed to be the palace of Zeus, where the Olympian gods were believed to live.

Poseidon

God of the sea.

Zeus

Father of the gods, sky god, lord of justice and universal order.

Dionysus

God of wine.

Aphrodite

Goddess of love and beauty.

Apollo

God of reason and intellect, medicine and music.

Hermes

Messenger of the gods.

Hera

Goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus.

Athena

Goddess of wisdom and handicraft.

Artemis

Goddess of chastity, the Moon, and the hunt.

Demeter

Goddess of agriculture.

Hephaestus

God of fire and metalcraft.

Oracle

A medium, often a Pythian priestess, who gave ambivalent answers that could be interpreted in different ways.

Oracle at Delphi

The most famous oracle, located at the temple of Apollo on the southern slope of Mount Parnassus.

Hellenic Age

Greek colonization and commercial expansion.

Barbarophonoi

Anyone who could not speak Greek was considered a barbarian.

Panhellenic Games

Brought Greeks together in pursuit of the same virtues and ideals.

Magna Graecia

Colonies established by the Greeks in Southern Italy, Sicily, Southern France, Southern Spain, and North Africa.

Athenian Democracy

Rule of the people, based on equality and freedom.

Solon

Introduced political reforms in Athens, including mandatory attendance and participation in the Assembly.

Pisistratus and Hippias

Tyrants who ruled Athens.

Cleisthenes

Reformer who established new political institutions in Athens.

Sparta

A "Police State" where the interests of the state took precedence over individual rights.

Lycurgus

Important leader who created the laws that shaped Sparta as an authoritarian state.

Three Social Classes in Sparta

Spartiates, Perioeci, and Helots.

Spartan Army

Large and strong hoplite army made up of full-rank citizens who were prohibited from having any other profession except being a soldier.

Homoioi

Spartiates were considered "equals" because they each received a land allotment and had one vote in the Assembly.

Persian Wars

Series of conflicts between the Persians and the Greeks, starting with the Persian conquest of the Ionian peninsula.

Pericles

Strengthened Athenian democracy, built a commercial empire, and oversaw the construction of the Parthenon.

Golden Age of Athens

Period of Athenian ascendancy and cultural achievements.

Peloponnesian Wars

Wars between Athens and Sparta, resulting in the decline of Athens and the reassertion of Greek states' independence.

Greek Philosophy

The belief in an orderly universe governed by constant and absolute laws, which could be understood through reason.

Sophists

Lecturers on culture, rhetoric, and politics who used bogus reasoning in their arguments to win rather than discover the truth.

Socrates

Greek philosopher who believed that true knowledge could be gained through dialogue and systematic questioning.

Aristotle

Tutor of Alexander the Great, advocated reason as the primary tool for discovering knowledge and developed the concept of syllogism.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who created one of the greatest empires in history, conquering lands from Asia Minor to India.

Epicureanism

Philosophy that pursued human happiness through freedom from pain and the enjoyment of simple pleasures.

Stoicism

Philosophy that found happiness in accepting the laws of the universe and advocated virtue over pleasure.

Eratosthenes

Estimated the earth's circumference, known as the "Father of Geometry."

Archimedes

Calculated the value of pi, developed principles of the lever and pulley.

Pythagoras

Formulated the Pythagorean theorem in geometry.

Democritus

Formulated the first atomic theory.

Hippocrates

Greek physician known as the "Father of Medicine," believed in maintaining health through cleanliness and moderation.

Herodotus

Known as the "Father of History," wrote about the Persian Wars.

Thucydides

Wrote about the Peloponnesian Wars, considered the creator of objective historical science.

Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides

Tragedians of ancient Greece.

Aristophanes

Greatest comedy writer of ancient Greece.

Phidias

Sculptor known for works in the Parthenon and representations of Zeus and Athena.

Polycleitus

Sculptor known for proportion and rhythm in his works.