 | Term | Definition |
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Minoans |
A Cretan civilization which flourished from 2700 to 1450 BCE before being conquered by the Mycenaeans. |
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Mycenaeans |
The last great civilization of Greece. Flourished from 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE before the dark age of Greece. It started in the mainland and spread to Crete. Its fall was attributed to the Dorian invasion. |
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Dorian Invasion |
1100 BCE - 900 BCE. The spread of Dorian culture that took Greece a step back intellectually. |
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Polis |
City-state. Taken from 'Acropolis' which most big cities centered around. |
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Acropolis |
A fortified hill-top. Cities centered around these. |
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Hoplite |
Heavily armed Greek soldier. Hoplites made up the Phalanx formation. |
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Phalanx |
Greek fighting technique. A formation of foot soldiers wielding spears. This type of warfare replaced the use of chariots. |
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Monarchy |
Rule by a single person. |
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Democracy |
Rule by the people. Athens practiced direct democracy, in which the Athenian public would assemble to make government decisions. |
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Tyranny |
Rule by a single person who takes control of the government. |
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Oligarchy |
Rule by a few |
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Aristocracy |
Rule by the best |
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Sparta |
A southern Greek city-state which was focus on war. After conquering |
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Ephors |
Spartan officials |
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Helots |
Spartan serfs. Conquered people enslaved by the Spartans. |
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Athens |
The capital and cultural center of Greece |
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Archon |
The chief official in Athens |
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Solon |
Appointed Archon in 594 BCE. Outlawed debt slavery, encouraged trade, let foreigners become citizens |
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Pisistratus |
had power from 546 BCE - 527 BCE. Tyrant who gave the poor more influence, weakened aristocracy. |
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Cleisthenes |
Started Council of 500 |
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Persian Wars |
492 BCE - 449 BCE Wars between the Greek and Persians. First Athens, then Greece as a whole. |
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Delian League |
An alliance of city-states led by Athens. |
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Peloponnesian Wars |
Athens used its position as leader of the Delian league for its own ends causing resentment from other city-states. Some broke off and form the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. From 431 BCE - 404 BCE The 2 alliances fought. Sparta won. |
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Pericles |
495 BCE- 429 BCE Able leader during height of Athens. |
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Ostracism |
Banishment from a group. In Athens, a government figure who threatened democracy was ostracized. |
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Hellenic Culture |
. |
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Herodotus |
"the Father of History" Recorded information on many significant historical events. |
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Thucydides |
Greek historian who wrote about the Peloponnesian wars. |
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Socrates |
A philosopher who gave no answers, only asked questions to make people think. |
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Plato |
Student of Socrates who recorded a lot of his conversations. Envisioned a perfect 3-tiered society. |
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Aristotle |
Plato's student. Worked through inducing. Taught Alexander the Great. |
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Alexander the Great |
The leader of Macedonia (which had conquered Greece). Conquered Persia and pushed farther East. Never lost a battle. In power for 12 years, died at 32. |
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Hellenistic Age |
323 BCE (death of Alexander the Great) - 30 BCE (Rome takes over Egypt).T |
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Homer |
Greek writer. Believed to have written The Odyssey and The Illiad. |
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