Ancient Greece: City-States, Wars, and Cultural Achievements

Geographic characteristics of Greece

Mountainous land, rocky soil, many islands, long coastline; encouraged trade and independent city-states.

What does the word polis mean?

A city-state; the center of Greek political, social, and cultural life.

What is arete?

The Greek idea of excellence and virtue in mind and body.

Athens - main characteristics

Democracy, strong navy, focus on education, arts, and philosophy.

Sparta - main characteristics

Military-focused society, strong army, discipline, obedience, oligarchy.

Cause of the Persian Wars

Persia attempted to conquer Greek city-states.

Major battles of the Persian Wars

Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea.

Result of the Persian Wars

Greek victory; Athens gained power and confidence.

Golden Age of Athens

Period of peace and prosperity marked by drama, architecture, and democracy.

Role of Pericles

Strengthened democracy and supported art and architecture.

Peloponnesian War

War between Athens and Sparta; Sparta won; Greece weakened.

Delian League

Alliance led by Athens to protect against Persia; became an Athenian empire.

Herodotus

"Father of History"; wrote about the Persian Wars.

Thucydides

Historian who wrote factual, eyewitness-based history of the Peloponnesian War.

Socrates

Philosopher who used questioning (Socratic Method); executed for corrupting youth.

Plato

Student of Socrates; wrote The Republic; he made people question if the things that they are seeing are actually real.

Aristotle

Student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great; he believed that truth comes by observing, studying, and gathering evidence.

Philip II

King of Macedonia who united Greece using military force.

Alexander the Great - military achievements

Conquered the Persian Empire and built a vast empire.

Alexander the Great - cultural impact

Spread Greek language and culture across his empire.

Hellenistic culture

Blend of Greek and local cultures after Alexander's conquests.

Major achievements of Hellenistic culture

Advances in science, math, medicine, philosophy, and the growth of cities like Alexandria.