Ancient Greece, Rome & Early Christianity – Lecture Review

These 51 question-and-answer flashcards cover major people, events, philosophical ideas, and historical developments from Ancient Greece through Byzantium, as well as key points from the Perry and Course Reader selections.

What did Plato believe rulers should ultimately seek?

The eternal Forms (truth, justice, the Good)

Which school did Aristotle found?

The Lyceum

According to Aristotle, what four elements compose all matter?

Earth, fire, air, and water

How did Aristotle argue that knowledge should be acquired?

Through observation and systematic data collection

Which term best describes Plato’s overall view of reality?

Idealist

According to Aristotle, what is the corrupt form of monarchy?

Tyranny

What form of government did Aristotle regard as the “good rule by the many”?

Polity

Rome derives its name from which legendary figure?

Romulus

In what year did Rome transition from monarchy to republic?

509 BC

What was the foundation of early Roman law?

The Twelve Tables

Rome was the first society to maintain what kind of military force?

A full-time, volunteer standing army

Roman architecture was revolutionary for its extensive use of what two building technologies?

Concrete and arches

Roughly what percentage of Roman society were plebeians?

About 60 %

Julius Caesar’s most famous military campaign took place in which region?

Gaul (modern-day France)

What work did Julius Caesar author describing his campaigns?

The Gallic Wars

What major event occurred on the Ides of March, 44 BC?

The assassination of Julius Caesar

After Caesar’s death, Octavian assumed what new name?

Augustus

Under which ruler did the Pax Romana begin?

Augustus

Traditional Roman religion was predominantly what?

Polytheistic

Which emperor formally legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire?

Constantine

What was the outcome of the Edict of Milan (313 AD)?

It legalized Christianity throughout the empire

Which influential book was written by St. Augustine?

City of God

Augustine held that reality is grounded in what kind of truths?

Immaterial, universal truths

Augustine described society as divided between which two symbolic cities?

The City of God and the City of Man

In what year did the Western Roman Empire officially fall?

476 AD

Which barbarian king famously sacked Rome in 410 AD?

Alaric

Which toxic material in Roman pipes contributed to water contamination?

Lead

Galen’s principal contributions were in which field?

Medicine

Cicero argued for the existence of what kind of moral law?

A universal moral law

Lucretius maintained that the world is composed of what?

Atoms

Justinian is most renowned for compiling which legal code?

The Justinian Code

The Hagia Sophia, commissioned by Justinian, originally functioned as what?

A grand Christian church (cathedral) in Constantinople

Charlemagne ruled a kingdom consciously modeled on which earlier empire?

The Roman Empire

Medieval “textbooks” were most commonly written on what material?

Vellum (lambskin)

Feudalism rested on the reciprocal relationship between whom?

Lords and vassals

Vikings were especially skilled in which two related crafts?

Shipbuilding and open-sea sailing

Which Viking explorer, son of Erik the Red, reached North America?

Leif Erikson

In Perry, Chapter 4, what foundational idea in early philosophy is highlighted?

The “Golden Mean”

According to Perry, early thinkers believed knowledge arose primarily from what process?

Rational reflection

Perry (p. 23) links the origin of governance to what concept?

Social contracts among rational individuals

Perry, Chapter 5, says Aristotle’s classification of knowledge emphasizes what two tools?

Logic and empirical observation

Perry identifies the key divide between Plato and Aristotle as what?

Idealism versus empiricism

Which ethical theory receives special emphasis in Perry, Chapter 5?

Virtue Ethics

During the Hellenistic era, which school sought emotional control through reason?

Stoicism

The Reader (p. 42) identifies what Roman innovation as pivotal to law?

Jus civile (the civil law code)

How does the Reader define the Latin term “res publica”?

“The public thing,” or the commonwealth

Stoic influence on Roman leadership is best exemplified by whose Meditations?

Marcus Aurelius

St. Augustine’s Confessions primarily explores what themes?

Personal sin and divine grace

The Nika Revolt (528–532 CE) is described as what?

A massive public uprising against Emperor Justinian

According to the Course Reader, Justinian’s legal reforms were driven by what need?

To unify and simplify the vast body of Roman law

The construction of the Hagia Sophia is highlighted as what kind of symbol?

A religious and architectural emblem of imperial authority