Review of Ancient Greece to Early Medieval Europe

Ancient Greece to Early Medieval Europe vocabulary flashcards, covering significant figures, concepts, and historical events.

Plato

Greek philosopher, student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle.

Utopia

An ideal or perfect society.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher, student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great.

The Politics

Aristotle’s major work on government and political organization.

Theory of Ideal Forms

Plato’s belief that perfect, eternal 'Forms' exist beyond the physical world.

Auxiliaries

In Plato’s ideal state, the warrior/helper class that supports the rulers.

Plato Academy

School founded by Plato in Athens; one of the first major institutions of higher learning.

The Republic

Plato’s famous philosophical dialogue about justice and the ideal state.

Guardians

In The Republic, the ruling class trained to govern wisely.

Theory of Form & Matter

Aristotle’s idea that everything is made of matter and form.

Greek Colonization

Movement of Greeks to establish colonies around the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Mediterranean Triad

The three staple crops of the Mediterranean: grain, olives, and grapes.

Romulus & Remus

Legendary twin founders of Rome.

Etruscans

Powerful people in central Italy before Roman dominance.

Praetor

Roman magistrate mainly responsible for legal matters.

Roman Senate

Council of elite Roman men that advised magistrates.

Republic

A form of government in which officials are elected.

Consuls

Two chief elected officials of the Roman Republic with one-year terms.

Assembly of Tribes

Roman assembly organized by tribes that voted on laws.

Assembly of Centuries

Roman assembly organized by military/economic class.

Plebian

Common people of Rome.

Patricians

Rome’s hereditary aristocratic class.

Struggle of the Orders

Long conflict between patricians and plebeians over rights.

Tribunes

Officials elected to protect plebeians from abuse.

Optimates

Conservative Roman political faction that supported the Senate.

Populares

Roman political leaders who appealed to the people for support.

Latifundia

Huge Roman estates worked by slaves.

Gracchi Brothers

Roman reformers who tried to fix land inequality.

Tiberius Gracchus

Roman tribune who proposed land redistribution to poor citizens.

Gaius Gracchus

Younger brother of Tiberius who expanded reform efforts.

Gaius Marius

Roman general who reformed the army.

Lucius Sulla

Roman general and dictator who marched on Rome.

Julius Caesar

Roman general, politician, and dictator.

Gaul

Region roughly corresponding to modern France.

Gaius Octavian

Adopted heir of Julius Caesar, later became Augustus.

Mark Anthony

Roman general, ally of Julius Caesar, rival of Octavian.

Cleopatra

Last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt.

Battle of Actium

Naval battle in 31 BCE where Octavian defeated Antony.

Augustus

Title taken by Octavian; first Roman emperor.

Diocletian

Roman emperor who reformed the empire.

Tetrarchy

System of rule by four emperors created by Diocletian.

Edicts of Diocletian

Imperial orders tied to persecution of Christians.

Battle of Milvian Bridge

Battle in 312 CE where Constantine defeated Maxentius.

Constantine the Great

Roman emperor who supported Christianity.

Edict of Milan

Decree in 313 CE that granted religious tolerance.

Theodosius the Great

Roman emperor who made Christianity the official religion.

Germanic Peoples

Various tribal groups from northern and central Europe.

Kingdom of Ostrogoths

Germanic kingdom established in Italy after the fall of Rome.

Kingdom of Visigoths

Germanic kingdom established in Spain and parts of Gaul.

Abraham

Patriarch of the Hebrews in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition.

Hebrews

Ancient Semitic people who became the Israelites/Jews.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Moses

Hebrew leader credited with leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

Judaism

Religion of the Jewish people centered on one God, covenant, and sacred law.

Yahweh

The personal name of the God of Israel in Hebrew tradition.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jewish teacher whom Christians believe is the Messiah.

Pontius Pilate

Roman governor of Judea who presided over Jesus’s trial.

Paul of Tarsus

Early Christian missionary who spread Christianity.

Gentiles

Non-Jews.

New Testament

Christian scriptures centered on Jesus’s life.

Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible used in Christianity.

Damascus

Ancient city in Syria, famous for Paul’s conversion experience.

Antioch

Major ancient city and early Christian center.

Kingdom of the Franks

Powerful Germanic kingdom in Western Europe.

Clovis

Frankish king who united many Frankish tribes.

Carolingian Dynasty

Frankish ruling family that replaced the Merovingians.

Pippin the Short

Frankish king, father of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne

Frankish king and emperor who ruled much of Western/Central Europe.

Coronation of Charlemagne

In 800 CE, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne.

Pope Leo III

Pope who crowned Charlemagne in 800 CE.

Theocratic Monarchy

A monarchy justified by divine/religious authority.

Missi Dominici

'Envoys of the lord' sent by Charlemagne to inspect officials.

Counts

Local officials appointed to govern counties in the Carolingian Empire.

Vikings

Scandinavian raiders, traders, and settlers active from the 8th–11th centuries.

Magyars

Nomadic people from Central Asia who raided Europe.

Muslims

Followers of Islam.

Feudalism

Decentralized medieval political/social system based on land and loyalty.

Vassal

A person who received land from a lord in exchange for loyalty.

Lord

Noble who controlled land and granted it to vassals.

Benefice

A grant of land or income given in return for service.

Manors

Self-sufficient agricultural estates that formed the economic base of feudal society.

Serfs

Peasants legally tied to the land they worked.

Bishop

Senior Christian church leader overseeing a diocese.

Pope

Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Papacy

The office and authority of the pope.

Papal States

Territories in central Italy ruled by the pope.

Gregory the Great

Pope Gregory I who strengthened papal power.

Benedict of Nursia

Founder of Western monasticism.

Benedictine Rule

Guidelines for monastic life written by Benedict.

Monasticism

Religious life in monasteries devoted to prayer.

Abbot

Head of a monastery.

Donation of Constantine

A forged medieval document claiming authority granted to the pope.

Pope Gregory VII

Reforming pope who challenged secular control over the Church.

Lay Investiture

Practice where kings or nobles appointed bishops.

Investiture Controversy

Major conflict between popes and emperors over church official appointments.

Henry IV

Holy Roman Emperor involved in the Investiture Controversy.

Canossa

Castle where Henry IV sought forgiveness from Gregory VII.

Concordat of Worms

Agreement ending the Investiture Controversy.

Thomas Aquinas

Medieval theologian and philosopher.

Scholasticism

Medieval method of learning using logic and debate.