western civ

Herodotus

the 1st historian

Thucydides

a historian who wrote about the Peloponnesian wars; also known as the greatest historian

Aescylus

known as the father of tragedy. 1st great poet in Athens. most famous work is “The Oresteia”

Sophocles

a tragic playwright who wrote “Oedipus the King” commonly wrote about fate.

Euripides

a greek tragedy playwright who wrote women as leads in his plays as irrational and vengeful

Aristophanes

a comedy writer who used women as leads to poke fun of them. he wrote “The Birds” and “Lysistrata”

monarchy

ruled by a king or monarch; rule is hereditary

aristocracy

government ruled by rich land-owning families; founders of polises

oligarchy

extending political rights to the new wealth

tyrants

individuals who appeal to the poor; diminished the rich’s power and raises the poor

epic poetry

3 themes: Heracles (strength), Theban (smarts), and Trojan war (war rahh)

Homer

the author credited for creating the epic poems: the Iliad and the Odyssey

Kylon

1st to create a tyranny, Draco took over after him

Draco

Athenian lawgiver who wrote the first law code

Solon

Athenian statesman who outlawed debt slavery, turned the government from an aristocracy to an oligarchy

Pisistratus

Athens first tyrant, provided funding and jobs to the poor while reducing the rich’s influence

Cliesthenes

created the first democracy (without voting) for Athens, created 10 tribes to avoid factions, also created ostracism

Darius

First Persian king who invaded Greece. had beef with sparta and athens

Mitiades

a Greek general who had previously fought the persians. later gets ostracized and dies

Themistocles

An Athenian general who used money to build a large navy

Xerxes

Darius’ son who led the second Persian invasion

Leonidas

A Spartan king who commanded an army in the second war who was beheaded

Pericles

A Greek general during the Golden Age of Athens who ushered in democracy by increasing the number of paid public officials, encouraging poorer people to engage.

Delian League

part of the Athenian empire following the Persian Wars to defend themselves. They were taxed heavily

Phidias

a skilled craftsman who built the Parthenon

Peloponnesian War

the civil war between Athens and Sparta. members of the Delian League asked Sparta to fight for their freedom against Athens

Alcibiades

nephew of Pericles. incredibly intelligent and arrogant. great general. good at running away. played for both sides

Dorians

group who migrated into Greece during the Dark Age

Battle of Salamis

Naval battle where Persia was defeated during the second Persian War

Stoicism

philosophical school that stressed remaining calm

Epicureanism

Philosophy that taught the world operated according to natural laws w/o the influence of gods

Hesiod

Poet who wrote the Theogeny, stories about the gods

Archimedes

Great engineer from Syracuse

Battle of Marathon

Battle where Persia was defeated during the first Persian war