Homer
lived about 750 B.C.; blind poet; sang tales from village to village like the Iliad and The Odyssey
Minoans
citizens who lived on Crete; named after Minos, legendary king of Crete; trade based; disappeared about 1400 B.C.
Mycenaeans
first Greek-speaking people; invaded Minoans; dominated Greek world 1400 B.C. to 1200 B.C.; sea traders; lived in separate city-states; invovled in Trojan War against Troy
Dorian Invasions
resulted in nationwide obscurity; small isolated villages and few contacts with outside world
Polis
city-state
Acropolis
high city
Hoplite
a heavily armed foot soldier (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861618689/hoplite.html)
Phalanx
large tactical formation of heavily armed foot soldiers
Monarchy
government with a hereditary ruler that has central power
Democracy
government by the people
Tyranny
cruel use of power: cruelty and injustice in the exercise of power or authority over others (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861722899/tyranny.html)
Oligarchy
government ruled by few, wealthy elites
Aristocracy
rule by a hereditary landholding elite
Athens
located in Attica; government grew from monarchy to aristocracy; 700 B.C. landowners held the power; chose chief officials and judged major court cases
Archon
Athenian magistrate; one of nine magistrates (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861586663/archon.html)
Solon
appointed archon in 594 B.C.; outlawed debt slavery and freed slaves; granted foreigners citizenship; opened high offices to citizens; encouraged olive oil and wine export
Pisistratus
Athenian tyrant became powerful in 546 B.C.; gave farmers loans and land; gave the poor a voice therefore weakening aristocracy
Cleisthenes
reformer; set up Council of 500 in 507 B.C.; Council was made of citizens over 30; became the legislature of the society
Sparta
city-state built by Dorians; military based society; women were expected to produce warriors; women had to obey men, but could inherit property; isolated themselves from otehr Greeks
Helots
state-owned slaves in Sparta
Ephors
officials who ran day-to-day affairs
Persian Wars
Persian vs. Athenians in Marathon, victor=Athenians; Persians vs. Spartans at Thermpylae, victor=Persians; Greeks vs. Persians in Asia Minor, victor=Greeks
Delian League
named after Delos, location of league meetings; united Athens to other city-states in an alliance
Peloponnesian War
enemies of Athens (Sparta and other city-states) countered the Delian League; lasted for 27 years; Sparta defeated Athens
Pericles
Athenian statesman; believed citizens should have a part in government; supported equality
Ostracism
pratice used to banish or send away a public figure who threatened democracy
Herodotus
Father of History"; wrote The Persian Wars; traveled and collected knowledge of historical events; stressed importance of research
Thucydides
wrote about the Peloponnesian War; tried to be fair to both side although he was Athenian; avoided bias
Socrates
Athenian stonemason and philosopher; taught Plato; founded the Socratic method: challenge ideas with questions; put on trial for opposing government
Plato
distrusted democracy after death of Socrates; wrote The Republic stating his ideal society of man and woman equality and social classes
Aristole
Plato's student; pursued "Golden Mean": the Middle Path; suspicious of democracy; favored one strong, virtuous leader; set up school, the Lyceum
Alexander the Great
son of Philip II; took over Persia at age 20; moved through Asia Minor, Palestine, Egypt, and India; died at age 32 from fever; his land was divided into 3 parts: Macedonia and Greece, Egypt, and Persia
Hellenistic Age
4th-1st Century B.C.; time period between conquest of Persian empire and Roman supremacy (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566312/Hellenistic_Age.html)
Hellenic Culture
classical Greece culture (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761566312/Hellenistic_Age.html)