Studied by 0 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Geography of Greece
Greece's mountainous and fragmented geography led to political fragmentation.
City-State (Polis)
Greeks identified primarily with their city-state (polis) rather than a united nation.
Minoan Civilization
Based on Crete, known for its palace complexes (e.g., Knossos), maritime trade, and advanced art (2000-1400 BCE).
Mycenaean Civilization
Mainland warriors, fortified cities, known for their role in the Trojan War (1600-1100 BCE).
Dark Age of Greece
The collapse of Mycenaean civilization led to a Dark Age (1100-800 BCE), with a decline in literacy and culture.
Hellenic Civilization
Recovery from the Dark Age led to the formation of city-states (poleis).
Key Poleis
Athens (cultural and democratic center) and Sparta (militaristic and authoritarian).
Political Evolution of Athens
Evolved from monarchy → aristocracy → oligarchy → democracy.
Key Reformers of Athens
Solon and Cleisthenes were key reformers who developed democratic structures.
Spartan Society
A rigid, militarized society that subjugated the helots and prioritized discipline.
Spartan Government
Oligarchy with two kings and ephors.
Persian Wars
Conflict between Greek city-states and the Persian Empire (499-479 BCE).
Battle of Marathon
Major battle in the Persian Wars resulting in a Greek victory.
Battle of Thermopylae
Heroic Spartan resistance during the Persian Wars.
Battle of Salamis
Naval victory for Athens during the Persian Wars.
Battle of Plataea
Final Greek victory in the Persian Wars.
Impact of Persian Wars
The wars solidified Greek identity and showcased the strength of democracy.
Peloponnesian War
A prolonged war between Athens (Delian League) and Sparta (Peloponnesian League) (431-404 BCE).
Pericles' Role
Athens, under Pericles, sought imperial expansion but was ultimately defeated in the Peloponnesian War.
Consequences of Peloponnesian War
The war weakened all Greek states, paving the way for Macedonian dominance.
Philip II of Macedon
Conquered Greece at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BCE).
Alexander the Great
Created an empire stretching from Greece to India (336-323 BCE) and spread Greek culture (Hellenization).
Hellenistic Kingdoms
After Alexander's death, his empire fragmented into three main kingdoms: Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Persia, and Antigonid Macedonia.
Ptolemaic Egypt
Greek rulers adopted Egyptian traditions.
Seleucid Persia
Blended Greek and Persian culture.
Antigonid Macedonia
Maintained control over Greece and Macedonia.
Hellenistic Culture
Fused Greek and Eastern traditions, influencing art, philosophy, and governance.
Polis
A Greek city-state; a self-governing political unit that included a city and its surrounding territory.
Free men/person
Adult male citizens of a polis who had full political and legal rights, unlike women, slaves, and resident aliens.
City-state
An independent city that functions as its sovereign political entity, governing itself and the surrounding land.
Interdependence
A mutual reliance between individuals or groups, such as the citizens of a polis depending on each other for governance, defense, and economy.
Public welfare
The well-being of the community as a whole, often considered in Greek democracy as the duty of all citizens.
Resident alien
A foreigner living in a Greek city-state who did not have citizenship rights but could work and pay taxes.
Ekklesia
The general assembly of Athenian citizens, where all free men could participate in decision-making and vote on important matters.
Boule
A council of 500 citizens in Athens chosen by lot to serve for one year; it prepared laws for the Ekklesia to vote on.
Deme
The smallest political subdivision of an Athenian polis, similar to a neighborhood or district, which determined local political representation.
Ostracism
A political practice in Athens where citizens could be exiled for ten years if they were deemed a threat to democracy, based on a vote.
Monarchy
A system of government in which a king or queen rules, often with hereditary succession.
Aristocracy
Rule by a privileged class, typically nobility, who inherit their status and power.
Oligarchy
Rule by a group of powerful and wealthy individuals, often landowners or merchants.
Democracy
Government by the people, where citizens participate directly in decision-making, as seen in Classical Athens.
Tyranny
Rule by an individual who seized power unlawfully, though some Greek tyrants were well-meaning rulers.
Oligarchs
Members of an oligarchy; wealthy elites who controlled government and policy.
Aristocrats
Members of an aristocracy, usually nobles who claimed superior birth and political rights.
Mesenian Wars
A series of conflicts between Sparta and Messenia in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, after which Sparta enslaved the Messenians as helots.
Sparta
A Greek city-state known for its militaristic and disciplined society, where all male citizens were trained as soldiers.
Athens
A Greek city-state famous for its development of democracy, philosophy, and arts.
Abdication
The voluntary resignation or renouncement of power, such as a king stepping down.
Helotry
The condition of being a helot, a state-owned serf in Sparta who worked the land for Spartan citizens.
Helots
Enslaved people in Sparta, originally from Messenia, forced to farm and provide food for Spartan warriors.
Patriotism
Devotion to one's city-state or country, often demonstrated through military service or civic duty in Greece.
Arable land
Land suitable for growing crops; in Greece, scarce farmland made territorial expansion and trade essential.
Civil peace
The maintenance of order and stability within a society, often considered vital in Greek city-states to prevent internal strife.
Archon
A high-ranking official in ancient Athens, originally a monarch but later an elected magistrate overseeing governance and law.
Note 
Flashcard (132)