Ancient Greece, Rome, Religions, and Medieval Europe - Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from ancient Greece, Rome, major world religions, and medieval Europe based on the provided notes.

How did the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations affect each other?

The Minoans influenced the Mycenaeans through trade and cultural exchange in art, architecture, and religion.

Define polis.

A city-state in ancient Greece, the fundamental political unit.

What was the focus of Sparta?

Military training, discipline, and a rigid social structure.

Describe Athens under the leadership of Pericles.

Athenian democracy with broader citizen participation, strong naval power, and cultural achievements.

What was the cause and effect of the Peloponnesian War?

Cause: rivalry between Athens and Sparta; Effect: weakened Greek states and contributed to their vulnerability to outside conquest.

Define philosophies.

Schools of thought in ancient Greece that explored questions about reality, ethics, and knowledge.

Who were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and what did each believe?

Socrates: method of questioning; focus on virtue and truth. Plato: student of Socrates; founder of the Academy; reason as key to truth. Aristotle: student of Plato; empirical observation and logic; knowledge from the real world.

Who was Alexander the Great and what was his legacy?

Macedonian king who conquered a vast empire and spread Greek culture, initiating the Hellenistic era.

Explain what Hellenistic culture was.

A period (roughly 323–31 BCE) of fusion of Greek culture with Persian, Egyptian, and Indian influences, spreading Greek language and ideas.

Which traditions contributed to the developments in art, philosophy, and science during the Hellenistic era?

Persian, Egyptian, and Indian traditions.

How did Rome begin and what was the purpose of the Senate?

Rome grew from Latins on the Tiber; the Senate was a powerful advisory and legislative body.

What were the two consuls in the Roman Republic responsible for?

Head of state and military commanders with executive power, elected annually.

What was a dictator in the Roman Republic?

A temporary leader granted supreme power during crises, usually for six months.

Who were plebeians and what rights could they exercise?

Common citizens who could vote, elect Tribunes, and veto laws to protect plebeian interests.

What is a legion?

A Roman military unit of about 5,000 soldiers.

How did Romans treat conquered peoples?

They could maintain their own customs and governments as long as they obeyed Roman laws.

What was Pax Romana?

A prolonged period of relative peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire.

Who was Julius Caesar and what happened to him?

A military commander who defeated Pompey, became dictator for life, and was assassinated in 44 BCE.

Who was Octavian/Augustus and why is he significant?

Caesar’s heir who defeated Antony and became Rome’s first emperor, establishing a stable government and reforms.

Who was Cicero and what was his role?

A philosopher and defender of law who supported republican ideals and spoke out against dictatorship.

What were some key Roman contributions to infrastructure and law?

Roads, bridges, aqueducts; Arch and dome architecture; Law of nations influencing later legal systems; concepts like innocent until proven guilty.

What is the Edict of Milan and why is it important?

A 313 AD decree by Constantine granting freedom of worship to Christians.

What are Christian core teachings?

Love, forgiveness, compassion, and service to others.

Who was Paul the Apostle and his role in Christianity?

Spread Christianity through mission work and networks across the Roman world.

What was Virgil known for in Roman culture?

Wrote about Roman patriotism and culture (notably the Aeneid).

What architectural and engineering advances did Romans make? How did they influence later civilizations?

Arches and domes; roads and aqueducts; laid groundwork for later engineering and architectural styles.

What happened around 200 AD to the Roman Empire?

The empire began to weaken politically, economically, and culturally, leading to a division into East and West.

Who divided the empire and who continued reforms in the East?

Diocletian divided the empire; Constantine continued reforms and established Constantinople as the eastern capital.

What happened to Rome’s western empire?

It surrendered to invading forces, while the eastern empire continued as the Byzantine Empire.

What is the legacy of Rome in literature, architecture, and engineering?

Latin literature, monumental architectural styles, and enduring engineering feats (roads, bridges, aqueducts).

What is the Law of Nations (Roman law concept)?

A system of rules to protect the empire and its citizens, influencing later legal traditions.

How did Roman law influence today’s democracy?

Concepts like innocent until proven guilty, and the right to face one's accuser contributed to modern legal rights.

What symbol represents Christianity, and what are the two parts of the Bible?

The cross; Old Testament and New Testament.

What are the sacrament(s) in Christianity mentioned?

Baptism was highlighted as a key sacrament.

What is the holiest site and core practice of Islam?

The Kaaba in Mecca; the Five Pillars of Islam.

Who is Muhammad in Islam?

The prophet and founder of Islam.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage).

How are Muslims, Jews, and Christians similar?

All are Abrahamic religions sharing belief in one God, prophets, and an afterlife.

What is Sharia?

Islamic law that provides a moral and legal framework for Muslims.

What is monotheism?

Belief in the existence of only one God.

What is the Torah?

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

What is the Diaspora?

The dispersion of Jews beyond Israel.

What is the Judeo-Christian tradition?

Shared ethical and cultural values arising from Judaism and Christianity.

What is a messiah in Jewish and Christian contexts?

A divinely appointed deliverer or savior.

How were Jews treated in Rome and what contributed to their decline?

They faced political instability and persecution amid broader economic and social troubles, contributing to decline.

How did Christianity spread in part 1?

Through missionaries like Paul, word-of-mouth, trade, and social networks.

How were popes established in early Christianity?

By educated bishops of Rome speaking Latin who claimed authority over other bishops.

What is a heresy?

A belief deemed false or incorrect within a religious context.

What was Justinian’s impact on the Byzantine Empire?

Strong central government, Roman law reform, and a powerful military.

What was the Justinian Code?

A single, comprehensive legal code that unified Byzantine law.

Who was Charlemagne and what did he accomplish?

A Frankish king and the first Holy Roman Emperor who united much of Western and Central Europe and defended the church.

Define vassals, fiefs, feudal contracts, and chivalry.

Vassal: loyalty-bound servant to a lord; Fief: land granted; Feudal contract: exchange of land for military service; Chivalry: knightly code of conduct.

What was the manor system?

Organization of farming where a lord’s manor was worked by peasants or serfs.

Who were serfs and what was their role?

peasants legally bound to the land who worked it in exchange for protection and the right to live on the manor.

What is common law?

A legal system based on judicial precedents and customs that developed in feudal Europe.

What did the Magna Carta establish specifically?

Limited the king’s power; rule of law; due process and representative select rights.

What does the phrase power of the purse mean?

The legislative body's control over taxation and public spending.

What was the Estates General in France?

A representative assembly of three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

What is scholasticism?

A method of learning that used reason to address philosophical and theological questions.

What was Byzantine civilization?

The continuation of the Roman Empire in the east, centered in Constantinople.

What were the causes and effects of the Black Death?

Caused by Yersinia pestis transmitted by fleas on rats; led to massive population decline and economic upheaval.

What was the Hundred Years’ War and its impact on feudalism?

A protracted conflict between England and France that helped erode feudalism and shifted power toward monarchies and commoners.

Who was Joan of Arc and why is she important?

A French peasant girl who led troops and helped turn the tide of the war, contributing to France’s victory.

How did the Hundred Years’ War contribute to the end of feudalism?

It shifted power from feudal lords to monarchs and common people due to taxes and professional armies.