Untitled Flashcards Set

1. What are the major characteristics of a civilization?

• Urban centers, complex social structure, organized religion, political systems, economic systems, written language, technological innovations, art, and culture.

2. Where is Ancient Sumer?

• Located in southern Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

3. What is cuneiform? When was it developed? Why was it important to the Sumerians?

• Cuneiform is an early system of writing developed around 3200 BCE, important for record-keeping, trade, laws, and literature.

4. What is the Lady of Warka, and what does she represent?

• A Sumerian sculpture of a woman, possibly a goddess, symbolizing beauty, divinity, and fertility.

5. What are ziggurats? What were they used for?

• Ziggurats are large stepped pyramids used as religious temples dedicated to gods.

6. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, how does Enkidu describe the world of the dead?

• A dark, dreary place where people live in dust, with no light or joy.

7. How does Utnapishtim prove to Gilgamesh that he had slept, thus losing eternal life?

• Utnapishtim shows that the plant Gilgamesh was given to restore youth wilts while he sleeps, proving he lost immortality.

8. How did Gilgamesh gain and then lose eternal youth?

• Gilgamesh gains eternal youth through a special plant but loses it when a serpent steals the plant while he rests.

9. Who was Gilgamesh, and what was his destiny according to the epic?

• Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk, seeking immortality, but his destiny was to learn that human life is limited, and fame and wisdom are more important.

10. Name the 4 divisions of ancient Egyptian history.

• Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, Late Period.

11. What was the Book of the Dead?

• A collection of spells to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

12. What was the title of the Egyptian ruler?

• Pharaoh.

13. Who was Akhenaton? Why did he cause a problem?

• Akhenaton was a pharaoh who introduced the worship of Aten, causing religious and political turmoil.

14. Why is King Tut important?

• King Tut is important due to the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922, providing insights into ancient Egyptian culture.

15. What is the purpose of the pyramids?

• The pyramids were monumental tombs built for pharaohs, designed to protect the body and possessions for the afterlife.

16. Complete the proverb: “Man fears time, but time fears ___________.”

• “Man fears time, but time fears the pyramids.”

17. What is a necropolis?

• A large, ancient cemetery, often with elaborate tombs.

18. Where did the Egyptians get their workforce to build the pyramids?

• Skilled laborers, craftsmen, and seasonal workers, not slaves.

19. The Sphinx is part ______________ and part _________________?

• The Sphinx is part lion and part human.

20. What does a Cycladic idol look like?

• A small, abstract marble figure with geometric shapes and exaggerated features like large eyes and triangular faces.

21. Who killed the Minotaur? With which city is the legend associated?

• Theseus killed the Minotaur; the legend is associated with Athens.

22. What is the Snake Goddess of Knossos?

• A Minoan figurine of a female deity holding snakes, symbolizing fertility and life.

23. Who discovered the remains of the Mycenaean culture?

• Heinrich Schliemann discovered the remains of Mycenaean culture.

24. Who sculpted the Doryphoros and the Discus Thrower, and why are they examples of the Classical ideal?

• Polykleitos sculpted the Doryphoros and Myron sculpted the Discus Thrower, both idealizing the human body with perfect proportions.

25. In what ways does Classical architecture exhibit elements of the Classical ideal?

• Classical architecture emphasizes symmetry, proportion, and the use of columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).

26. What are friezes and pediments, and their function in Classical architecture?

• Friezes are horizontal decorative bands, and pediments are triangular sections above columns, both used for decoration and storytelling.

27. What was the Peloponnesian War, and who was involved?

• A conflict between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BCE), with their allies, leading to Athens' downfall.

28. What are the main tenets of the Classical ideal?

• The Classical ideal emphasizes harmony, proportion, balance, and the idealization of the human form.

29. What is the role of the Chorus in Greek drama?

• The Chorus comments on the action, provides background, and guides the emotional response of the audience.

30. Who was the most successful and prosperous Classical Greek playwright?

• Sophocles, known for works like Oedipus Rex and Antigone.

31. What is the main difference between the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle?

• Plato emphasized abstract forms and ideas, while Aristotle focused on empirical observation and the physical world.

32. What does “to Hellenize” mean?

• To adopt Greek culture, ideas, and ways of life.

33. What are the characteristics of Hellenistic art?

• Hellenistic art is known for emotion, movement, dramatic contrasts, and intricate details.

34. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Greek polis?

• Strengths: Independent, democratic, focused on civic participation.
  Weaknesses: Fragmented, leading to conflicts and lack of unity.

35. Why could ancient Greek religion be considered contradictory?

• Greek religion combined rational and mythological elements, with gods exhibiting human-like flaws and virtues.

36. Who is credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey?

• Homer.

37. What is the main theme of the Iliad?

• The wrath of Achilles and its consequences during the Trojan War.

38. What is a meander?

• A decorative motif consisting of a continuous, twisting, and repetitive line or pattern.

39. What led to colonization in the 8th and 7th centuries BC?

• Population growth, search for arable land, and trade opportunities.

40. What effect did colonization have on Greek art?

• Colonization spread Greek art and culture, leading to new styles influenced by local cultures.

41. What caused the trade wars between Corinth and Athens?

• Competition over control of trade routes and influence.

42. What is a kouros?

• A free-standing Greek sculpture of a young male, typically depicted in a rigid pose.

43. What are the two possible reasons for the “archaic smile”?

• It could represent idealized beauty or show that the subject is alive.

44. Why is the Kritios Boy important?

• The Kritios Boy is significant because it marks a transition to more naturalistic representation in Early Classical sculpture.

45. What are the differences between Doric and Ionic architecture?

• Doric columns are simple with plain capitals, while Ionic columns are ornate with scroll-like capitals and bases.

46. What is ethos?

• Ethos refers to the character or credibility of a speaker or artist.

47. What does philosophy mean?

• Philosophy means "love of wisdom," and is the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics.

48. What were the three earliest schools of Greek philosophy?

• Pre-Socratic philosophy, Socratic philosophy, and Platonism.