Social Studies 12/11/25

Arete

In early Greece, the qualities of excellence that a hero strives to win in a struggle or contest

Homer

The author of the Odyssey and the Iliad

Age of Pericles

The period between 461 BC and 429 bc when Pericles dominated Athenian politics and Athens reached the height of it’s power

Direct democracy

A system of government in which the people participate directly in government decision making through mass meetings

Socratic method

The method of teaching used by the Greek philosopher Socrates, it employs a question-and-answer format tp lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reason

Ethics

Moral principles; generally recognized rules of conduct

Satrapy

The provinces into which Darius divided the Persian Empire

Satrap

The governor of a province of the Persian Empire under Darius

Monarchy

A government by a sovereign ruler such as a king or queen

Philosophy

An organized system of thought, from the Greek for “love of wisdom”

Confucianism

The system of political and ethical ideas formulated by the Chinese philosopher Confucius towards the end of the Zhou dynasty; it was intended to help restore order to a society that was in a state of confusion

Daoism

A system of ideas based on the teachings of Laozi; teaches that nature is allowed to take its course

Legalism

A popular Philosophy developed in a china towards the end of the Zhou dynasty; it proposes that human beings are evil by nature and can be brought to the correct path only by harsh laws

Varnas

The name given by Aryans in ancient India to a group of people in what wa believed to be ideal social structure of four groups

Castle System

A set of rigid categories in ancient India that determined a person’s occupation and economic potential, as well as his or her position in society, based partly on skin color

Nirvana

In Buddhism, ultimate reality, the Ned of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul.

Clergy

Church leaders

Laity

Regular church members