Ancient Greece and Rome: Key Concepts and Historical Events

Geographic characteristics of Greece

Mountains and seas led to isolated city-states.

Polis

Greek city-state; center of politics and culture.

Arete

Excellence in all aspects of life.

Athens & Sparta

Athens valued democracy and learning; Sparta valued military strength.

Persian Wars

Cause - Persia invaded Greece; Battles - Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis; Result - Greek victory and rise of Athens.

Golden Age of Athens

Advancements in drama, architecture, and democracy under Pericles.

Peloponnesian War

War between Athens and Sparta; Sparta won.

Delian League

Alliance led by Athens to defend against Persia.

Herodotus & Thucydides

Historians; Herodotus recorded Persian Wars, Thucydides analyzed Peloponnesian War.

Socrates

Philosopher; encouraged questioning and dialogue.

Plato

Philosopher; wrote The Republic; emphasized ideal forms.

Aristotle

Philosopher; studied nature, logic, and ethics.

Philip II

King of Macedon; united Greece.

Alexander

Conquered Persia, spread Greek culture.

Hellenistic culture

Blend of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, Indian culture.

Achievements of Hellenistic culture

Science, math, art, philosophy, libraries, cities.

Rome's location

Central, with rivers and fertile land for trade and defense.

Etruscans, Latins, Greeks

Early influencers of Roman culture.

Lucretia

Her rape sparked the overthrow of monarchy.

Gravitas

Roman virtue of seriousness and discipline.

Plebeians

Common citizens.

Republic

Government with elected representatives.

Struggle of the Orders

Plebeians fought for political equality.

Twelve Tables

Rome's written laws.

Republic setup

Consuls, Senate, Assemblies; checks on power.

Roman citizenship

Unified conquered peoples with rights.

Roman Confederation

System to control Italian allies.

Hannibal

Carthaginian general in Second Punic War.

Scipio

Roman general who defeated Hannibal.

Results of Punic Wars

Rome controlled Mediterranean; economy strained.

Latifundia

Large estates using slave labor.

Punic wars weakening Republic

Wealth gap, military loyalty shifts.

Gracchi Brothers

Tried land reforms; killed.

Marius

Military general who recruited the poor.

Sulla

General/dictator; strengthened Senate.

Crassus

Wealthy member of First Triumvirate.

Pompey

Military leader in First Triumvirate.

Julius Caesar

Conquered Gaul; became dictator.

First Triumvirate

Caesar, Pompey, Crassus.

Second Triumvirate

Octavian, Antony, Lepidus.

Cleopatra

Egyptian queen allied with Rome.

Octavian/Augustus

First emperor; started Pax Romana.

Pax Romana

200 years of peace and prosperity.

The Good Emperors

Ruled justly; expanded empire.

Nero

Emperor; infamous for cruelty.

Virgil

Poet; wrote Aeneid.

Livy

Historian; wrote Rome's history.

Roman Law

Basis for modern legal systems.

Aqueducts

Brought water to cities.

Bread & circuses

Strategy to keep the poor content.

Judaism

Monotheistic religion of Jews.

Sermon on the Mount

Key teachings of Jesus.

Paul

Spread Christianity to non-Jews.

Edict of Milan

Legalized Christianity.

Diocletian

Emperor; divided empire.

Fall of Western Roman Empire

Invasions, economic problems, weak leadership.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Rome; capital Constantinople; lasted ~1,000 years.

Patriarchs

High-ranking church leaders in the East.

Justinian

Emperor; codified laws (Justinian's Code); built Hagia Sophia.

Early Middle Ages culture

Church, manorialism, feudalism.

Ordeals

Trial methods based on divine judgment.

Missionaries

Spread Christianity.

Pope Gregory I

Strengthened papacy; sent missionaries.

The Franks

Germanic kingdom in Gaul.

King Clovis

United Franks; converted to Christianity.

Charles Martel & Battle of Tours

Stopped Muslim advance into Europe.

Charlemagne

Expanded empire; promoted learning; Carolingian Renaissance.

Benedict

Created monastic rules (obedience, poverty, prayer).

Viking impact

Raids, trade, settlement in Europe.

Lord & vassals

Feudal relationship of land for service.

Feudalism

Political/social system based on land and loyalty.

Manors

Economic units; self-sufficient estates.

Free peasants vs. Serfs

Free peasants owned land; serfs worked land for lord.

Women

More roles in towns; limited power in feudal society.

Chivalry

Code of conduct for knights.

Three-field system

Crop rotation to increase food supply.

Rise of towns

Trade and population growth.

Guilds

Associations of merchants or craftsmen.

Bourgeois

Middle-class town dwellers.

Universities

Centers of higher learning.

Cathedrals

Religious, cultural, and economic centers.

Excommunication, Simony, Interdict

Church punishments/corruption.

Lay investiture controversy

Conflict over who could appoint bishops.

Cathedral architecture

Gothic style: pointed arches, stained glass.

Pope calling Crusades

Urban II; to reclaim Jerusalem.

Causes of Crusades

Religious zeal, land, wealth, adventure.

Impact of Crusades

Trade increased; feudalism weakened.

William of Normandy & 1066

Conquered England; centralized feudal power.

Bayeux Tapestry

Records Norman conquest.

Henry II

Strengthened legal system in England.

Magna Carta

Limited king's power; foundation of rights.

Parliament

Two houses; advised king; created by English nobles.

Holy Roman Empire vs England/France

Fragmented; weaker centralized power.

100 Years War

England vs France; disputes over land and succession.

Joan of Arc

Inspired French; burned at stake.

Black Plague

Disease from fleas; killed millions.

Ferdinand & Isabella

United Spain; financed exploration.

Inquisition

Church court to enforce orthodoxy.

Pope Boniface V. Philip IV

Power struggle between church and state.

Great Western Schism

Multiple popes; weakened church.