Ancient Greece Vocab

  1. Polis: A Greek city-state, a central political and social unit in Ancient Greece, often including a city and surrounding territories.

  2. Acropolis: A fortified area located on a hill within a polis, typically featuring religious buildings, temples, and monuments.

  3. Oligarchy: A form of government where power is held by a small group of individuals or families, often the wealthy or elite.

  4. Monarchy: A system of government with a single ruler, typically a king or queen, who holds supreme authority.

  5. Democracy: A governmental system where power is vested in the hands of the people, allowing citizens to participate in decision-making.

  6. Direct Democracy: A type of democracy where citizens directly participate in decision-making rather than through elected representatives.

  7. Sparta: An ancient Greek city-state known for its militaristic society, emphasis on discipline, and focus on military training.

  8. Helots: Enslaved individuals in ancient Sparta who worked the land and served the Spartan citizens.

  9. Peloponnesian War: A conflict between Athens and Sparta along with their allies, lasting from 431 to 404 BC, causing significant damage to Greek city-states.

  10. Phalanx: A military formation in which soldiers stand closely packed in a rectangular formation, shields overlapping, used notably by Greek hoplites.

  11. Battle of Marathon: A significant battle in 490 BC where Athenians defeated the Persians, preventing their invasion of Greece.

  12. Battle of Thermopylae: A famous battle in 480 BC where a small Greek force, including Spartans, fought bravely against a large Persian army led by Xerxes I.

  13. Battle of Salamis: A naval battle in 480 BC, where the Greek fleet, led by Themistocles, defeated the Persian fleet, preventing Persian conquest.

  14. Pericles: An influential Athenian statesman and general, known for promoting democracy and for his leadership during the Golden Age of Athens.

  15. Philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle): Philosophers who greatly influenced Greek thought and Western philosophy, exploring ethics, politics, metaphysics, and more.

  16. Socrates: Socratic method (questioning and dialogue), nature of goodness and virtue (ethics and moral philosophy)

  17. Plato: Theory of Forms (physical world is imperfect, not its ideal form), Philosopher-King(most qualified individuals govern society), Founded Academy in Athens(higher learning)

  18. Aristotle: Empirical approach(observe natural world), developed metaphysics, advocated for constitutional government, made advancements in biology etc

  19. Parthenon: A famous temple in Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena, renowned for its architectural beauty.

  20. Delian League: An alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens to protect against Persian threats, later becoming an Athenian empire. Some city states refused to pay their contributions, which resulted in growing tensions.

  21. Sicilian Expedition: A disastrous military campaign by Athens against Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War.

  22. Philip II: King of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, known for military innovations and expansion.

  23. Susa Weddings: Marriages of Macedonian and Persian nobility initiated by Alexander to promote unity between the two cultures.

  24. Hellenistic Culture: The blend of Greek and local cultures that emerged after Alexander's conquests, spreading Greek influence across Asia and Egypt.