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McGraw Hill World History Chapter 4: The Ancient Greeks

Terms in this set (23)

Epic Poem
a long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer
Arete
in early Greece, the qualities of the excellence that a hero strives to win in as a struggle or contest
Polis
the early Greek city-state, consisting of a city or a town and its surrounding countryside
Acropolis
in early Greek city-state, a fortified gathering at the top of a hill that was sometimes the site of temples and public buildings
Agora
in early Greek city-states, an open area that served as a gathering place and as a market
Assemble
to gather, to meet together
Phalanx
a wall of shields, created by foot soldiers marching should to shoulder in a rectangular formation
Tyrant
a ruler who seized power by force from the aristocrats, gained support from the newly rich and the poor, and maintained power by using hired solders and fighting tactics
Democracy
the rule of many, government by the people, either directly or through their elected representatives
Oligarchy
the rule of a few, a form of government in which a select group of people exercises control
Helot
in ancient Sparta, a captive person who was forced to work for the conqueror
Ephor
one of the five men elected each year in ancient Sparta who were responsible for the education of youth and the conduct of all citizens
Age of Pericles
the period between 461 B.C. and 429 B.C. when Pericles dominated Athenian politics and Athens reached the height of its power
Direct Democracy
a system of government in which the people participated directly in government decision making through mass meetings
Ostracism
in ancient Athens the process for temporarily
Oracle
in ancient Greece, a sacred shrine where a god or goddess was said to reveal the future through a priest or priestess
Tragedy
a form of drama that portrays a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force and having a protagonist who is brought to ruin or extreme sorrow especially as a result of a fatal flaw
Philosophy
an organized system of thought, from the Greek for "love of wisdom"
Socratic method
the method of teaching used by the Greek Philosopher Socrates; it employs a question-and-answer forms to lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reason
Ethics
moral principles, generally recognized rules of conduct
Hellenistic Era
the age of Alexander the Great; period of when the Greek language and ideas were carried to the non-Greek world
Epicureanism
the school of thought developed by the philosopher Epicurus in Hellenistic Athens; it held that happiness is the chief goal in life, and the means to achieve happiness was the pursuit of pleasure
Stoicism
the school of thought developed by the teacher Zeno in Hellenistic Athens; it says that happiness can be achieved only when people gain inner peace by living in harmony with the will of God and that people should bear whatever life offers
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