Classics Exam 1 Key Terms Significance

Citizen

Citizenship allowed male Athenians to participate directly in democracy

Tribe

Tribes organized citizens for government, voting, and military service

Boule

The Boule kept the government functioning by preparing laws and overseeing daily affairs

Ekklesia

The Assembly gave citizens the power to debate and vote on important decisions

Deme

Demes gave citizens a local identity and determined political membership

Altar

Altars were the center of religious sacrifice and worship

Frieze

Friezes celebrated religion, mythology, and civic identity through sculpture

Metope

Metopes depicted myths that reinforced Greek values like bravery and order

Pediment

Pediments displayed important myths connected to the gods honored in each temple

Cleisthenes and his reforms

His reforms established the foundations of Athenian democracy

Solon and his reforms

His reforms reduced social conflict and promoted political stability (So-lon-g social conflict)

Seisachtheia

It freed many Athenians from debt slavery and eased economic inequality

Persian Conflict (490–480 BC)

The wars united many Greek city-states against a common enemy

Sacking of Attica (480 BC)

The destruction of Athens became a symbol of Greek resilience and rebuilding

Panathenaic Procession

The procession honored Athena while reinforcing Athenian identity and unity

Peisistratus

He strengthened Athens through public works

Tyrant

Tyrants often centralized power while sponsoring public projects and cultural development

Peloponnesian War

The war ended Athenian dominance and reshaped the Greek world

First Part (460–445 BC)

This period marked the growing rivalry between Athens and Sparta

Thirty Years' Peace

The treaty temporarily delayed renewed conflict between Athens and Sparta

Second Part (431–404 BC)

Sparta's victory ended Athens' Golden Age and empire

Amazons

They symbolized the Greek triumph of civilization over outsiders (barbarians)

Centaurs

They represented the struggle between civilization and savagery

Delian League

The alliance gave Athens wealth and eventually became its empire

Sacred Way

It connected Athens to the important religious sanctuary at Eleusis

Jury

Citizen juries ensured that justice reflected the will of the people (201-501 people)

Eleusinian Mysteries

The mysteries offered initiates hope for a blessed afterlife

Ostrakon/Ostraka

They allowed citizens to vote to exile individuals seen as threats to democracy

Metic

Metics contributed greatly to Athens' economy despite lacking political rights

Sumptuary Laws

These laws limited extravagant displays of wealth, especially in funerals in order to promote social equality

Greek Ethnic Groups

Regional identities shaped Greek language, culture, and politics

Doric

The Doric style became a symbol of strength and simplicity

Ionian

The Ionic style emphasized elegance and decorative detail

Bronze Age

This period saw the rise of Mycenaean civilization and palace culture

Iron Age

This era led to the recovery that produced the Greek city-state

Archaic Period

The period saw the growth of city-states colonization and monumental art

Classical Period

This era marked the height of Greek democracy philosophy and artistic achievement

Bronze Sculpture

Bronze allowed artists to create realistic and dynamic works of art

Erastes/Eromenos

These relationships reflected ideals of mentorship and education among elite males (Erastes - lover; Eromenos - beloved)

Symposium

Symposia strengthened social political and intellectual relationships among elite men

Barbarian

The term helped Greeks define their cultural identity against non-Greeks

The Thirty

Their rule demonstrated how fragile Athenian democracy could be

Socrates

He encouraged critical thinking by questioning accepted beliefs

Socratic Method

His method taught people to examine ideas through careful questioning

Trial of Socrates

The trial revealed tensions between free thought and democratic society

Kouros/Kore Statues

These statues show the development of Greek sculpture and religious dedication

City Dionysia

The festival promoted drama, religion, and civic pride

Herodotus

His writings preserved the history of the Persian Wars and early Greek civilization

Theognis

His poems reflected aristocratic values and political concerns

Plato

His philosophical writings shaped Western thought for centuries