Ancient Greece Chapeter Test Flashcards

Describe the terrain (land) of Greece?

It was hundreds of rocky islands, about three fourths of greece is covered by mountains. The mountains divided the peninsula into isolated valleys

How did the seas play a part for the Greeks?

The seas were a vitual link to the outside world

How did the geography, primarily the mountains, play a part in the development of the polis (city-state)?

It separated the city-states making the city states almost independent of each other. Making them not connected 

How did the ancient Greeks view themselves in regards to their polis - meaning did they have loyalty to Greece or to their polis (city-state)?

Loyalty was to their city-state, not all of Greece.  Mountains created independent, separate city-states with their own identities.  Like our allegiances to sports teams today - our loyalty is not to the NFL but to the individual teams where we grow up or live - especially to the 2026 Super Bowl Champions, the Buffalo Bills!

What civilization existed on the island of Crete?

The Minoans 

What is the basic storyline of Theseus and the Minotaur?

The king Minos son, Theseus was confused on why he sent people to crete. He had enough with the people getting sent to crete so he asked to be sent to crete. Once he was there in the maze he defeated the minotaur, and used a piece of string to get out of the maze. He got out and the daughter of the king, Ariadne asked Theseus to take her back with him. So when the boat docked he left her. Theseus made a deal with his dad that when he got back if he came back alive he would make the sails white. The sails were black so the king jumped into the water.

Which civilization developed on the Greek mainland after the Minoans that supposedly conquered the Minoans?

Mycenaeans

What conflict during the Mycenaean time saw the Greeks battle another city-state across the Aegean Sea?

The Trojan war

What was the legendary and real cause of the Trojan War?

The legendary cause was a kidnapping of Helen by prince paris to troy and the real cause was economic rivalry 

Which blind Greek poet is responsible for writing the Iliad and the Odyssey?

Homer

Why did the ancient Greeks believe in a polytheistic faith, just like all the ancient civilizations we studied this year?  

• Human Activities 

• Natural Forces

Who was considered to be the top god of the ancient Greeks?

Zeus

Where did the gods and goddesses supposedly live?

Mt. Olympias 

Be prepared to answer one of these two questions on the test on Friday:

• If you were living during this time period, how do you think your life would have been affected by the belief in this type of religion?

• In class discussions, students cannot believe that the ancient people practiced these types of religions back in ancient days.  Do you think there will come a time when people in the future will look at our religions and think the same way?

What is another name for a city-state in ancient Greece?

Pollis

Define an acropolis.

Government buildings and temples are built on top of a hill, or an acropolis, raised area of a polis

What is the role of an agora?

The marketplace of an ancient Greek Polis - center for trade, culture and politics 

What were the requirements for someone to participate in government in the polis?

Males born to local families of that polis, they were citizens and could participate in the government

Which groups were not allowed to participate in their polis’s government?

Women, slaves and foreigners 

What is the difference between a hoplite and a phalanx?

A hoplite is a single soldier but a phalanx is a large group of hoplites

Which empire stretched from the outskirts of Greece down through Egypt all the way to India that threatened Greece after the Ionian city-states revolted?

Persia

What was the conflict between the Greek city-states and Persia called?

The Persian Wars

What were the causes of the Persian Wars?

Revenge

Explain the key events of the the Persian Wars – Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis

The battle at Marathon: The first battle of the Persian Wars takes place at Marathon, with a Persian army of 25,000 v. an Athenian army of 10,000. Even though outnumbered, the Athenians were victorious, defeating the Persians as casualties among the Persian numbered 6,400 while the Athenis only numbered 194. The battle at Thermopylae: 7000 Greeks and 300 Spartans meet a mighty Persian army, under the rule of Xerxes, at a small mountain pass at Thermopylae. The Greeks are able to withstand the Persian for three days. Spartan king Leonidas decides to send home all Greek troops except his 300 after a Greek traitor tells of a mountain pass to surround his army Through losing in battle, the sacrifice of the 300 Spartans made a great impression on all Greeks that they too can battle the mighty Persians The battle at Salamis: A Naval (sea) battle witnessing 700 large persian ships versus a small Athenian fleet of 310 small Greek ships at a small strait called Salamis Having an advantage in a narrow channel, the Athenians ships are able to maneuver better than the large Persian ships and destroyed the Persians, engine the Persian wars

Who was Pheidippides and explain his importance?

Pheidippides ran 26 miles back home to Athens to announce victory. Then he died of exhaustion.  

What was formed following the Persian Wars to stop future Persian invasion?

Delian League 

Which Greek polis came to dominate Greece following the Persian Wars?

Athens

What was the conflict between Sparta and Athens called?

The Peloponnesian Wars

What were the causes of the Peloponnesian War?

City-states around greece, mainly sparta, become fearful and jealous of Athens new gained power and wealth

What were the two key events of the Peloponnesian War?

A plague sweeping through Athens wiping out 2/3s of Athens population and Sparta forming an alliance with Persia

What were the effects of the Peloponnesian Wars?

Athens power decreases, Overall Greek power decreases and new power in the north - Macedonia  

Discuss the differences between Athens and Sparta – education, lifestyle, women’s rights, key characteristics, military, government →

look over your Athens vs Sparta quiz!