Ancient Greece

City-state

An independent city with its own government and economic system.

Polis

Another term for city-state used by the ancient Greeks

Agora

This was the marketplace in each Greek city-state. It served as a public meeting place where Greeks could discuss ideas about government and philosophy.

Acropolis

This was usually built on a fortified hill at the center of each city-state. It served as the city’s religious center and was usually home to a temple for their local god.

Citizens

In most city-states, this only included the free men who were born in the city-state and owned land. They had certain rights and responsibilities in their city-state, including the right to vote and own property.

Ionian Sea

The body of water located to the west of Greece.

Mediterranean Sea

The body of water located to the south of Greece.

Aegean Sea

The body of water located to the east of Greece.

Hoplite

Ancient Greek soldiers that defended their city-state

Phalanx

The formation that the ancient Greeks used in battle in which soldiers would March shoulder to shoulder.

Monarchy

Government led by one person (king or queen)

Tyranny

A government led by someone who illegally seized power

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a small group of people

Democracy

A government where power lays in the hands of all citizens

Sparta

Greek city-state located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula known for their military dominance and strict lifestyle. They used an oligarchy style government and focused on military strength.

Helots

Slaves in Sparta

Perioeci

Artisans, merchants, and other free people living in Sparta from conquered territories. They were not citizens and had no political rights.

Athens

Ancient Greek city-state located on Attica that was known as the birthplace of democracy and a center of learning, philosophy, and the arts.

Direct democracy

A form of democracy in which all citizens directly participate in governing by voting on government matters.

Peloponnesus

The Greek peninsula that Sparta is located on.

Attica

The Greek peninsula that Athens is located on.

Representative democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens elect a smaller group of people to represent them.

Polytheistic

Worshiping many gods and goddesses

Oracle

Priests/priestesses that the Greeks believed the gods spoke through

Mt. Olympus

Greece’s tallest mountain. The ancient Greeks believed their most important gods and goddesses lived there.

Zeus

King of Greek Gods and God of the Sky

Hera

Queen of the Greek Gods / Goddess of Women and Marriage

Aphrodite

Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty

Ares

Greek God of War

Artemis

Greek Goddess of the Hunt, Wilderness, and Wildlife

Demeter

Greek Goddess of Corn, Grain, and Harvest

Dionysus

Greek God of Grapes and Wine

Hermes

Messenger of the Greek Gods and Guide to the Underworld

Athena

Greek Goddess of Wisdom

Hades

Greek God of the Underworld

Persephone

Queen of the Underworld

Apollo

Greek God of Light and the Sun

Poseidon

Greek God of the Sea

Olympic Games

Starting in 776 BCE, these games were held in Olympia every four years to honor Zeus until they were banned in 393 CE. Events included running, jumping, discus throwing, javelin throwing, boxing, and wrestling. Male athletes would compete for their city-state.

Philosophy

Comes from the Greek word for “love of wisdom”

Socrates

(470 - 399 BCE) He developed the Socratic Method and encouraged people to ask lots of questions and learn to think for themselves. He was accused of corrupting the youth and sentenced to death in 399 BCE.

Plato

(427 - 347 BCE) He wrote “The Republic” which contained his plan for an ideal society and government. He claimed that the lower classes can’t be trusted and he wanted only the most intelligent citizens to run the government.

Aristotle

(384 - 322 BCE) He wrote “Politics” in which he described the three major types of government (monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy). He claimed the best government would have features of all three of those governments.

Persian Wars

War fought between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire between 499 - 449 BCE. The Ionian revolt against Persia (supported by Athens) caused this war to break out. Ultimately, the Greeks won this war and the Persian Empire was weakened afterward.

Battle of Marathon

Fought in 490 BCE, this was the first battle of the Persian War in which the Greeks were victorious.

Battle of Thermopylae

Fought in 480 BCE, this was the second major battle of the Persian Wars in which the Persians defeated the Greeks after Sparta’s King Leonidas and his Spartan soldiers fought to the death.

Battle of Salamis

Fought in 480 BCE, this was the third major battle of the Persian Wars in which the Greeks defeated the Persian navy in a strait (narrow strip of water).

Battle of Plataea

Fought in 479 BCE, this was the final major battle of the Persian Wars in which the Greeks defeated the Persian army. This was the turning point that would lead the Greeks to winning the Persian Wars.

Delian League

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens

Peloponnesian League

An alliance of Greek city-states led by Sparta

Peloponnesian War

Lasting from 431 - 404 BCE, this war was fought between Athens and the Delian League versus Sparta and the Peloponnesian League. Ultimately, the Athenians lost this war but the decades of fighting devastated all the Greek city-states leaving them very vulnerable to future invasion.

Macedonia

A kingdom north of Greece

Philip II

King of Macedonia from 359 - 336 BCE. He created a strong army and unified the Greek city-states under his rule before being assassinated.

Alexander the Great

He became King of Macedonia after his father’s death. He invaded and conquered the Persian Empire, expanding his empire all the way to northern India. Although he died young in 323 BCE, he allowed the spread of Greek culture in the Hellenistic Era.

Hellenistic

This term means “like the Greeks”

Hellenistic Era

This was the time in which Greek ideas spread to non-Greek people in all the lands that Alexander the Great had conquered.