Unit 4: Persia and Greece Review Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Persian governance and culture, early Greek civilizations, Athenian democracy and Spartan militarism, the Persian Wars, the Athenian Golden Age, and Greek contributions to science, philosophy, and art.

Avesta

The holy book of Zoroastrianism.

Cyrus the Great

Persian ruler known as a tolerant ruler and military genius.

Darius I

Persian leader who created the imperial bureaucracy, the Royal Road, and the capital of Persepolis.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A government structure that is organized and divided into local provinces.

Royal Road

An extensive Persian road network used for trade, communication, and military defense.

Satrap

A royal governor of a province in the Persian Empire.

Tolerance

The acceptance of other religions, languages, and customs; the core policy used by the Persians in their political and social governance.

Xerxes

Persian leader who launched an invasion of Greece and lost against the Greeks.

Zoroastrianism

Persian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster.

Dorians

A less advanced group that took over the Mycenaeans in ancient Greece.

Greek Gods

Polytheistic deities rooted in myths that explained natural phenomena and represented shared Greek religious culture.

Homer

The blind Greek poet credited with composing the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Iliad

An epic story composed by Homer recounting the events of the Trojan War.

Minoans

Early civilization regarded as the first Greeks, known for artistic themes of bull leaping, myths, and water-based activities.

Mycenaeans

Civilization that replaced the Minoans, settled mainland Greece, and fought in the Trojan War.

Myths

Traditional stories handed down through generations that explain natural phenomena and describe the actions of gods and heroes.

Odyssey

An epic adventure story composed by the poet Homer.

Trojan War

The legendary conflict fought between the Mycenaeans and the city of Troy.

Citizen

Individuals with recognized legal and political rights within a society.

Cleisthenes

Athenian reformer who expanded political participation by granting citizenship to all free Athenian men.

Direct Democracy

A system of government characterized as rule by the people, in which citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Draco

Athenian tyrant who codified harsh laws featuring severe punishments for offenses.

Monarchy

A form of government featuring a single ruler holding all governing power.

Oligarchy / Aristocracy

A system of government characterized by the rule of a small, wealthy group of elite men.

Polis

The Greek term for an independent city or city-state.

Solon

Athenian leader who outlawed and abolished debt slavery.

Tyrant

A leader who seizes political power illegally.

Helots

State-owned slaves in Spartan society.

Militarism

The glorification and prioritized development of military power.

Olympic Games

Athletic competitions held periodically between rival Greek city-states.

Peloponnese

The large peninsula located on mainland Greece that was home to city-states like Sparta.

Athens

Greek city-state characterized by direct democracy, an economy based on trade, formal school for boys, and domestic education for girls.

Sparta

Militaristic Greek city-state governed by an oligarchy, with an economy based on farming and conquest, schooling for girls, and boys beginning military training at age 7.

Delian League

An alliance formed during the Persian War era between Athens and its allied city-states.

Herodotus

Greek historian who wrote the detailed historical accounts of the Persian Wars.

Peloponnesian League

A mutual defense alliance formed by Sparta and its allied Greek city-states.

Phalanx

A tight Greek battle formation of soldiers lined up closely side-by-side with overlapping shields and forward-pointing spears.

Battle of Marathon

An early Persian War engagement in which Greece defeated the Persian invading force.

Battle of Thermopylae

Persian War conflict at a narrow mountain pass where Persia defeated the defending Greek forces.

Battle of Salamis

A decisive naval battle during the Persian Wars in which the Greek fleet defeated Persia.

Battle of Plataea

A major land battle of the Persian Wars in which Greek forces secured victory over Persia.

Acropolis

A fortified hilltop located at the top of a Greek city that housed temples and government buildings.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian military commander and ruler who established the largest empire for Macedonia.

Corinthian Column

A classical architectural column style characterized by elaborate, highly decorated with intricate designs.

Doric Column

The simplest and plainest of the classical Greek architectural column styles.

Ionic Column

A classical architectural column style featuring distinctive spiral scroll motifs at the top.

Golden Age

A historical time period characterized by exceptional cultural, political, and artistic success and achievement.

Parthenon

The premier temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, located on the Athenian Acropolis.

Pericles

Prominent Athenian statesman and general who led Athens during its Golden Age.

Phillip II

King of Macedonia who led the invasion and conquest of Greece.

Archimedes

Greek scientist and mathematician recognized as the father of simple machines, such as the lever and pulley.

Aristarchus

Greek astronomer who developed the heliocentric model of the universe, arguing that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

Aristophanes

Ancient Greek playwright celebrated for writing comedic theatrical plays.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who studied under Plato and served as the personal tutor to Alexander the Great.

Euclid

Greek mathematician renowned for writing foundational works on geometry.

Hellenistic Culture

The cosmopolitan blend of Greek, Persian, Indian, and Egyptian cultural traditions, knowledge, and ideals.

Hippocrates

Greek medical pioneer widely revered as the father of modern medicine.

Phidias

Famous Greek artist who sculpted the renowned statue of Athena.

Plato

Greek philosopher, student of Socrates, and author of The Republic, in which he described an ideal society.

Ptolemy

Ancient astronomer who formulated the geocentric model of the universe, proposing that the Sun moves around the Earth.

Pythagoras

Greek mathematician credited with developing the Pythagorean theorem: $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$.

Socrates

Greek philosopher who challenged people to question their assumptions by asking "why"; he was subsequently condemned and sentenced to death.

Sophocles

Athenian playwright known for composing renowned dramatic works and tragedies.

Thucydides

Greek historian who documented the events of the Peloponnesian War.