Ancient Greece and Rome Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key figures, events, and concepts from Ancient Greece and Rome.

Polis

A Greek city-state.

Oligarchy

Government controlled by a group of people, usually elites or aristocracy.

Tyrant

Person who seized power in government with the help of the common people.

Democracy

A government controlled by its citizens, and they vote directly on issues.

Helots

Peasants who were forced to work.

Phalanx

Military formation in which soldiers equipped with a shield and spear stood shoulder to shoulder.

Persian Wars

Series of wars in the 5th century B.C. in which the Greek city-states battled the Persian Empire.

Battle of Marathon

1st battle of the Persian war with Greece. The Athenians defeat the huge Persian army and send a runner back to Athens with the news, who runs 27 miles and dies after delivering the news.

Thermopylae

A narrow pass in the mountains north of Athens. A battle during 2nd Persian War took place here in which 300 Spartans held off the entire Persian Army for Athens to be saved.

Delian League

An alliance founded by several Greek city-states with Athens at the head.

Pericles

Wise and able statesman who led Athens during much of its Golden Age.

Peloponnesian War

Series of wars from 431 to 404 B.C. between Athens and Sparta.

Macedonia

Ancient kingdom north of Greece whose ruler, Phillip II, conquered Greece.

Alexander the Great

Son of Phillip of Macedonia; he is considered to be one of the greatest generals of all time. He led an army 11,000 miles for 11 years and was never defeated.

Republic

Form of government in which the power is in the hands of citizens who elect representatives in the government.

Patrician

In ancient Rome, a member of the privileged upper-class.

Plebeian

In ancient Rome, a commoner.

Twelve Tables

These tablets hung in the Roman Senate and were the basis of Roman law.

Punic Wars

A series of wars between Carthage and Rome.

Julius Caesar

Popular Roman general and leader; his assassination sparks a civil war in Rome.

Triumvirate

In ancient Rome, this was a group of three leaders who controlled government.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who divided the Roman Empire in order to save it.

Constantine

First Christian Roman emperor, he reunited the two halves of the empire and moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium.

Attila the Hun

Leader who united the Germanic tribes and terrorized the western part of Rome.