World history semester 2 exam review

Flashcards for Ancient Greece, Byzantine Empire, and Medieval Europe

Polis

Independent city-state in ancient Greece.

Agora

Marketplace and public gathering space in a Greek city-state.

Acropolis

Elevated area with temples and fortifications in a Greek city-state.

Hoplites

Citizen-soldiers in ancient Greece, with spears, shields, and armor.

Phalanx

Tight ranks formation used by Hoplites for defense and power.

Jesus's Teachings

Emphasized compassion, humility, forgiveness, shaped Western moral and legal values.

Monasticism

Withdrawal from society for religious life.

Wergild

Compensation for injury/death in Germanic Justice.

Carolingian Renaissance

Revival of learning and culture under Charlemagne.

Missi Dominici

Royal agents who inspected lords and reported back to Charlemagne.

Tetrarchy

Government by four rulers; failed after power struggles.

Justinian's Code

Organized Roman law created by Emperor Justinian.The laws within the code addressed various social issues, including:

• Religious practice (Christianity as the state religion). 

• Rights of women (protection from abuse, inheritance, etc.). 

• Slave rights and conditions. 

• Treatment of prostitutes. 

Silk, Spices, Wine, Olive Oil

Key trade goods in the Byzantine Empire, connecting Europe and Asia.

Fief

Land granted in exchange for loyalty and service in feudalism.

Vassal

One who pledges loyalty and service to a lord in exchange for land.

Serf

Peasant bound to the land in feudalism.

Knight

Armed warrior who provides military service to a lord.

Manor

Economic unit in feudalism, consisting of land and serfs.

Chivalry

Code of conduct for knights.

Mountainous Terrain of Greece

Led to independent city-states (polis).

Greek Seas (Aegean, Ionian, Mediterranean)

Facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and contact with other civilizations.

Limited Farmland in Greece

Encouraged colonization and competition among city-states.

Rivalries among City-States

Example: Athens vs. Sparta, but united against common enemies like Persia.

Delian League

Alliance led by Athens to defend against Persia; turned into the Athenian Empire.

Mycenae

First advanced civilization on mainland Greece with fortified cities.

• The Mycenaeans were a warlike people who dominated much of the Aegean region and exerted influence over Crete, the Cyclades, and parts of southwest Anatolia. 

• Mycenaean myths and legends were preserved through oral tradition and became the basis for Homeric epics and Greek tragedies. 

Homer

Blind poet credited with writing the Iliad and Odyssey.

Iliad and Odyssey

Poems preserving heroic ideals (courage, honor, loyalty).

Achilles

Greek hero and central figure in the Iliad.

Hector

Trojan prince and defender in the Iliad.

Agamemnon

Leader of Greek forces in the Iliad.

Odysseus

Clever Greek warrior in the Iliad.

Paris

Trojan prince who took Helen, starting the Trojan War.

Helen

Her abduction started the Trojan War.

Polis

Independent city-state in ancient Greece.

Agora

Marketplace and public gathering space in Greek city-states.

Acropolis

Elevated area with temples and fortifications in Greek city-states.

Hoplites

Citizen-soldiers of Greek city-states.

Phalanx Formation

Tight ranks used by hoplites for defense and power.

Causes of the Persian Wars

Greek support of Ionian Revolt against Persia.

Battle of Marathon

Greek victory using surprise tactics in the Persian Wars.

Battle of Thermopylae

Heroic stand by Spartans in the Persian Wars.

Battle of Salamis

Naval battle resulting in Greek victory in the Persian Wars.

Key Figures in the Persian Wars

Darius I, Xerxes, Themistocles, Leonidas.

Athenian Empire

Used Delian League to build naval power and wealth.

Golden Age of Athens

Flourishing of democracy, arts, and architecture under Pericles.

Peloponnesian War

War between Athens and Sparta over control and power.

Results of the Peloponnesian War

Sparta wins, but all of Greece is weakened.

Alexander the Great

Son of Philip II of Macedonia who conquered Persia, Egypt, and India.

Hellenism

Spread of Greek culture by Alexander the Great.

Colonization by Greek City-States

Led to increased trade and wealth around the Mediterranean.

Tyrants in Ancient Greece

Seized power to represent common people and laid groundwork for democracy.

Cleisthenes and Solon

Reformed laws and increased citizen participation in Athens.

Sparta

Military society with oligarchy, strict discipline, and little trade.

Athens

Democracy focused on arts, education, and a strong navy.

Greek Religion

Polytheistic with gods representing natural forces and human traits.

Major Greek Gods

Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Ares, Hera, Poseidon.

Greek Myths

Explained natural events and justified cultural practices.

Socrates

Philosopher known for questioning method and ethics; condemned to death.

Plato

Wrote The Republic and founded the Academy.

Aristotle

Philosopher known for logic, science, and tutoring Alexander the Great.

Greek Drama and Tragedy

Public performances dealing with fate, hubris, and moral lessons.

Key Greek Playwrights

Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus.

Hellenistic Era

Fusion of Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and Indian cultures after Alexander’s death.

Advances in the Hellenistic Era

Science (Archimedes), math (