CCP Wld Civ. - Classical Greece Test

What is a Basileus?

A Basileus was a king or chief in ancient Greece

What is a Polis?

A Polis was a city-state in ancient Greece, consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

What is a Aristocracy?

 (rule by the best of the citizens with best intentions for the polis). Translates into the rule of the best.

What is an Oligarchy?

Translates into the rule of the few.  Basically, a government run by the “few” or a handful of people; not necessarily bad, but the group was always exclusive.

What is Democracy?

“rule by mob” – democracy is not always defined as the modern world defines it, democracy can also include the “tyranny of the majority.”

What is Polity?

rule of many; could also be known as a republic form of government

What is a Tyrant in Ancient Greece?

Tyrants are self-made monarchs whose supporters are usually previously politically marginalized peoples. 

What are the Greek social classes?

1. Citizens: males, over 18-20, that could vote and hold office as well as held property

2. Residents: Free persons protected by local laws, but could not vote or hold office, similar to the modern idea of "resident aliens."

3. Underclass: slaves, often people in debt or prisoners of war.

What was Athens Government?

Arkhons = “governors,” serve one year terms.

Council = two different councils

• Boule who wield the most power; because they decide what assembly will vote on.

• Areopagos (composed of former Arkhons, the elite members of society).  The Areopagos eventually evolve into a role similar to the Supreme Court.

Assembly = All of the citizens eligible to vote. It had collective power and can vote on policies and propose policies.

Who was Draco?

Athenian legislator who implemented a harsh code of laws which consisted of severe penalties, many of which being death

Who was Solon?

Athenian statesman who repelled most of Draco’s laws and tried to balance social control in Athens through elimination of debts and division of citizens into 4 tribes; subsequently leading to social mobility. 

Who was Pisistratus?

Took control after Solon, when he died his sons continue his tyrannical rule, but ultimately are overthrown leading to the rise of democracy in Athens.

Who is Kleisthenes?

Known as the “Father of Democracy”, he replaced Pisistratus’s sons and established a new constitution with the following:

1. 10 new tribes representing all classes; Trying to end gerrymandering (factionalism)

2. All adult males became Assembly members

3. Introduced ostracism; removed discredited leaders

4. Equality of laws & freedom of speech.

5. Expands Boule to 500 members 

What is Ostracism?

During annual elections, citizens got to cast votes via pottery shards (such as those shown) with names of potential tyrants.  If a person got enough votes, they would be expelled for 10 years. This was a way to remove potentially dangerous politicians.

What are the two attributes of Athenian democracy?

1. No professional bureaucrats!!

Nobody served on council more than twice!

2.  Each citizen could hold office!

What is synoikism?

Loosely meaning “to dwell together,” synoikism is the process by which smaller villages come together to form a Polis. 

What is an Acropolis?

In a Greek Polis it is the high ground; inner fortress. Usually contained the treasury.

What is an Agora?

The center of public and economic and cultural activity in a Polis.  Where people came to trade, attend religious ceremonies, vote, etc.

What are Hoplites?

Heavily armored fighters who protected their city state. Hoplites fought together in a formation called a phalanx

What is a Phalanx?

A large body of closely packed hoplites with long spears extending outward. The "phalanx" was a closed linear formation method for war.

Who is Lykourgos?

He is credited with setting up the Spartan form of government. This included Rhetra, the militarized form of Spartan citizenship that cultivated a warrior society.

What characterizes Spartan religion?

Spartans were highly religious and wouldn’t fight during religious ceremonies. 

What characterizes Spartan society?

Male Spartan children were inspected by elders at birth; those deemed unfit were killed or cast off.  At an early age, Spartan boys were taught hunting and military skills. Agoge = Spartan training system starting at age 7 until age 20, where you would either the accepted or denied into the military 

What is infanticide?

The act of removing (killing) unwanted MALE children.

What characterizes Spartan women?

Women were encouraged to remain physically fit on the belief that fit women bore fit children (who would become better warriors). They had more rights than other Greek city-states.

What is Sparta’s Government?

Kings = Ruled by two kings with ceremonial power. Kingships are hereditary.  Kings are military and religious leaders in Sparta.

Ephors = There are 5 Ephors, they are More powerful than kings, they are the administrators of the city.

Gerousia = An advisory council of 28 elders.

Assembly = All of the citizens eligible to vote. In Sparta, the assembly can vote on policies but cannot propose policies.

What is the Spartan social hierarchy?

Full Spartan citizens were called Spartiates or homoioi.

Residents were called perioikoi = the “dwellers around” 
Slaves = helots: Similar to serfs, slave-like but not quite slaves.  

What were the Persian Wars?

The Persians conquered Lydia and other cities of Asia Minor including Greek city-states. In 499 BC, some of those Greek cities rebelled led by the city of Miletus. Called the Ionian Revolt, it took Persia (and their leader Darius I) six years to put it down. A small number of Greek city-states, including Athens, supported to the rebellion, incurring the wrath of the Persians.

What is the Ionian revolt?

Captured Greek cities, by the Persians, went to Greece for assistance, Athens and Eretria agreed to help, and the rebels sacked the Persian city of Sardeis. In return, Darius I of Persia decides to punish Greece for aiding the rebels. Persia, on their second attempt, destroys Erethia, and plan to destroy Athens, the two meet in Marathon. 

What is the Battle of Marathon?

The Battle of Marathon is an estimated 60,000 Persians vs. 10,000 Greeks led by general Miltiades. Greeks used the “Phalanx” a battle formation, 6,000 Persians are killed as the Persian army is pushed into the sea. Only 200 Greeks are killed. GREEKS WIN

What is the Battle of Thermopylai AKA Battle of 300?

Darius I’s son, Xerxes, launches a huge force from land and sea (estimated at 1 million people) in order to avenge his father and defeat. A small Greek army gathers to fight Xerxes at Thermopylae, The Greek army consists of 300 Spartans and 1,000 other Greeks, and they initially hold off Xerxes and the Persians. The Greeks eventually are betrayed and the PERSIANS WIN

What are the Battles of Salamis & Plataiai?

Persians burn Athens, the refugees gather at Salamis. The Persians follow the refugees to attack them, but the Greek navy (led by Themistokles) is hidden nearby and destroys most of the Persian fleet.  1,200 Persian ships vs. 300 Greek ships (led by Themistocles). Themistocles lures and traps the Persians in a strait and defeats them.

Xerxes must retreat to Persia for the time being, but leave a large army behind. The remaining Persians are defeated by the Greeks at Plataiai.

GREEKS WIN

What are the results of the Persian Wars?

1. Athens becomes the most powerful hegemonic city-state

2. Organized Delian League, an alliance with other city-states.

3. Dominated alliance, which slowly turned into Athenian Empire

What is the Delian League?

An naval alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens,

Why?

1. Formed after the Persian Wars to promote mutual defense. The treasury is in Delos.

2. Designed to protect silver and grain shipments

What is the Peloponnesian League?

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Sparta, formed in opposition to the Delian League during the Peloponnesian Wars to ensure mutual defense against Athenian aggression.

Why is Sparta in decline?

1. Earthquake destroys the city and leads to a helot revolt.  

2. Prominent generals accused of aiding the Persians.

3. Men and women kept separate; low reproductive rates

4. Agoge deaths

5. Warfare casualties i.e. Peloponnesian war 

Who was Themistokles?

Leader of the Delian League early on and the Athenians’ naval leader. Eventually, he is ostracized and ends up in Persia!

What causes the Peloponnesian Wars to begin?

Athens establishes kleroukhies (military outposts) within the Delian League, alienating many of Athens’ allies. One of these is the city of Megara, which wants to leave the Delian League and join the Peloponnesian League. Athens imposes an embargo (trade restriction) on Magera, an ally of Corinth, which is an ally of Sparta. Sparta supports Corinth and declares war on Athens, sparking the Peloponnesian Wars.

How long did the Peloponnesian War last and why?

The war lasted 27 years because the war was incongruent, Athens dominated the sea, and Sparta dominated the land. 

What is Athens’ strategy in the Peloponnesian War?

Athens’ strategy is: Pericles had people in the hinterlands move into the city to live. Athens’ citizens were drawn behind its walls. However, in 429BC, a plague broke out and killed 1/3 population and eventually, Pericles.

What does Pericles death lead to?

A power vacuum forms and central leadership splits:

1. Cleon: “War Hawk” wants to continue the war

2. Nicias: Wants to sue for peace and end the war

What was the Peace of Nicias?

A peace treaty between Athens and Sparta, which outlined peace for 50 years. However, it only lasted 3 years before both were back fighting each other.

Who is Alcibiades?

Nephew of Pericles, He convinced the Athenians to undertake an expedition to the island of Sicily, which turned into a disaster. Additionally, he is to stand trial for religious offense in Athens. To avoid punishment, he defected from Athens and traveled to Sparta. 

What were the major turning points against Athens?

1. Death of Pericles; Victim of plague brought on by Spartans, HE IS NOT REPLACED; creating a power vacuum 

2. Failed Sicilian Expedition; Athens loses two armies, no ships, soldiers, or sailors returned home 

3. Defection of Alkibiades; TO BE ADDED

4. Persian alliance with Sparta; To defeat Athens, Sparta offered Persia several cities in exchange for gold to build ships used to attack Athens navy

5. Defeat at Arginusae; b/c Athenian Admirals disobeyed SOPs they were executed, killing off the last of their experienced naval commanders
6. Defeat at Aegospotomi; Athenian navy is obliterated, allowing the Spartans to invade Athens, forcing them to disband the Delian League and their protective walls.

What are the results of the Peloponnesian Wars?

1. Greece becomes a multi-polar system i.e. back to way it use to be; individual city states, no leagues

2. Democracy survives in Athens!!

3. Sparta declines because its social structure is not fit for the outside world.

4. The real winner is PERSIA!!Gain many Greek cities in the east.

Who is Lysander?

A Spartan admiral, who wins the battle of Aegospotomi. The Athenian fleet is destroyed. Athens surrenders, and  is forced to disband the Delian League,

Who is Miltiades?

Athenian general who led the Athenian armies in the Battle of Marathon

Who is Xerxes of Persia?

Darius I’s son, who launches the Persian attack during the battle of Thermopylae

Who is Darius I of Persia?

The King of Persia, who was the ruler during the Persian wars

Who is Cimon?

Leader of Athens who introduced the drachma (silver coinage)

What is drachma?

Athenian silver coinage was introduced under Cimon; is still used in Greece today

Who is Pericles?

Replaced Cimon, Perikles is the leader of Athens at the start of the Peloponnesian War and leads Athens through what is considered the “Golden Age” of Athens.

Who is Mardonius?

Xerxes’ son-in-law, who led Persia in a failed battle at Plataiai against Greece

What is a Triremes?

Greek naval ships, very fast and maneuverable.  They use wind and human power to operate

What is a demagogue?

Those who “lead the mob”

What are cleruchies?

Athenian military/economic base/outpost spread throughout the Delian League, which created animosity between Athens and the league members