Ancient Greece & Rome Exam Notes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Ancient Greece and Rome for exam preparation.

Myth

A traditional story that explains a cultural or religious belief, often involving supernatural beings.

Mythos vs Logos

Mythos refers to storytelling and narrative truth, whereas Logos refers to rational explanation and logic.

Apuleius

The author of 'The Golden Ass', a novel written in the 2nd century CE.

Transformation (metamorphosis)

A key theme in literature, particularly in 'The Golden Ass', highlighting significant change.

Fortuna

In ancient belief, the power of fortune or luck that influences fate.

Mycenaean Greece

A Bronze Age civilization known for its palace-based society and Linear B writing.

Trojan War

A legendary conflict between Greeks and Trojans; used to explain Greek identity and heroic values.

Dark Age Greece

A period marked by the collapse of Mycenaean society and decline in population and writing.

Olympic Games

Established in 776 BCE, these games were a significant event in Archaic Greece.

Historiography

The study of historical writing; exemplified by Herodotus.

Peloponnesian War

A conflict (431–404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta leading to the decline of Athens.

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Philosophers who focused on ethics, knowledge, and politics in Classical Greece.

Honour

Social reputation and public recognition, which can be ascribed (by birth) or achieved (by actions).

Shame

A mechanism of social control, which can lead to moral awareness or humiliation.

Social Death

The loss of identity and rights in the context of slavery.

Hellenization

The spread of Greek culture following Alexander the Great's conquests.

Gender Roles

Traditional expectations for men and women in ancient Greek society, often divided between public and domestic spheres.

Founding Myths

Stories that explain the origins of cities or cultures, like Romulus and Remus for Rome.

Wealth & Poverty

Economic measures in ancient Rome, including income, health, and social status.

Sexuality & Power

The concept that sexual relationships were viewed as power dynamics between social classes.

Crisis of the Third Century

A period marked by political instability, economic decline, and military chaos within the Roman Empire.

Interpretatio Romana

The practice of Romans reinterpreting foreign gods in relation to their own.