Ch 5: Ancient Greece Test

Mycenaeans

A large wave of Indo-Europeans migrated from the Eurasian Steppes to Europe, India and Southwest Asia. Some of the people who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C. were later known as Mycenaeans. The name came from their leading city, Mycenae. -the Mycenaean civilization lasted from about 1600 to 1200 BCE("before common era") -they built large fortresses and citadels(military stronghold used for defense) -The Mycenaeans fought 10 year war against Troy -The Minoans influenced the Mycenaeans by adopting their writing system and allowing them to realize the value of seaborne trade, which helped them unite -before, they sometimes fought against each other -collapse: natural disaster, such as a drought, caused widespread famine, or given their warlike ways, is that internal fighting among the kingdoms led to divisions which eventually brought the civilization down -the Dorians invaded from the north, bringing an end to Mycenaean civilization

Euclid

(circa 300 BCE), Greek mathematician. Considered to be the father of modern geomertry. Sometimes known as Euclid of Alexandria.

Plato

-student of Socrates -sophist -born into wealthy Athenian family -was wrestler and poet before he became a philospher -left Athens for many years after Socrates' death -eventually came back and opened the "Academy", a school of math and philosophy -Wrote one of the first works of political science called "The Republic", in which he argues that society should be governed by the wisest, not the richest or most powerful -stated "philosophy begins in wonder"

Spartans

-women were encouraged to exercise and build their bodies, so they could reproduce strong children -boys, if were allowed to survive, were expected to start harsh military training as soon as they were born, and were sent off to the agoge at the age of 7 or 8 -core of education: discipline, unlike academics in Athens -was a state based completely on military service

Rhodes

A Greek island, lying east of Crete in the Aegean Sea

Acropolis

A fortified hilltop in an ancient Greek city, where citizens gathered to discuss the city govt.

Tragedy

A serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character. It was about common themes such as love, war, hate, betrayal. The hero was usually an important person and often gifted with extraordinary abilities. A tragic flaw, often excessive pride, caused the hero's downfall.

Trojan Wars

During the 1200´s B.C., the Mycenaeans fought a ten-year war against Troy, an independent trading city state located in Anatolia. According to legend, a Greek army destroyed Troy because a Trojan prince kidnapped Helen, the beautiful wife of a Geek king. This attack on Troy was one of the last Mycenaeans battle campaigns. The Greeks captured and destroyed the city of Troy by hiding their soldiers in a hollow, wooden horse that they pretended to give as a gift to the Trojans to create peace and end war, but instead in the middle of the night, the Greek soldier came out of the horse and destroyed and besieged the city of Troy. The soldiers opened the gates of the city walls for the other soldiers to get in because that is how the Greeks decided to use the horse, to get in the city and attack from inside, not out.

Aristocracy

Govt ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families. These rich families often gained political power after serving in a king´s military calvary.

Polis

It could also be called ¨city-state.¨The polis was the fundamental(main, important) political unit in Ancient Greece. It was made up of a city and its surrounding countryside, which included many villages. Often home to fewer than 10,000 residents.

Alexander the Great

King of Macedonia for 13 years, who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia son of Philip II; received military training in Macedonian army and was a student of Aristotle; great leader; conquered much land in Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia; goal was to conquer the known world -Between 334 and 323 B.C.E. he conquered the Persian Empire, reached the Indus Valley, founded many Greek-style cities, and spread Greek culture across the Middle East. -suddenly died from malaria or typhoid fever within a few days, at the age of 32 -was tutored by Aristotle at the age of 13 years for 3 years before his father called him back to Macedonia

Dorians

Not long after the Trojan War, Mycenaean civilization collapsed, and this group of people moved into the war torn countryside. The Dorians spoke a dialect of Greek, and were far less advanced than the Mycenaeans. The economy collapsed and trade came to a standstill soon after their arrival. Greeks temporarily lost the art of writing during the Dorian Age. No written records exist from the 400-year period between 1150 and 750 B.C. As a result, little is known about this period of Greek history. Storytelling became popular because of the lack of writing during this period, which is Homer emerged.

Darius III

Persian king who lost his empire to Alexander the Great. -shocked by his defeat at the Battle of Granicus -raised a huge army between 50,000 and 75,000 men to face the Macedonians near Issus -ALexander's army won which gave control over Anatolia

Persian Wars

The Persian Wars, between Greece and the Persian Empire, began in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia. The Greeks had long been settled there, but around 546 B.C., the Persians conquered the area. When Ionian Greeks revolted and burned down the Persian capital of Sardis(in Asia Minor), Athens sent ships and soldiers to their aid. The Persian King Darius the Great defeated the rebels and then vowed to destroy Athens in revenge. 1st stop to destroy Athens-Marathon 10 years later, Xerxes, assembled a huge invasion force to crush Athens. Greeks fought Persians at Thermopylae Pass. Spartans lost. Persian had clear pathway to Athens. Athenians evacuated city. Themistocles lured Persians in with fake message. Greek tiremes sunk 1/3 of Persian ships. This took place at Strait of Salamis. Battle of Salamis saved Greek democracy. Led Athenians to form Delian Leauge and enter its brief Golden Age.

Minoan Civilization

The first advanced civilization of what would become Ancient Greece developed on the isalnd of Crete by about 200 B.C. The Minoans, named for King Minos, a ruler from Greek Mythology, were influenced by other civilizations around the Med Sea such as the Egyptians. Crete was an important stopping point for the small trading ships in the Med and Black Seas. Based on the frescoes showing scenes from daily life of the early civilization, we know the Minoans were a lively and active people who enjoyed life. They were fond of animals, dancing and sports. Young Minoans used to do an activity called ¨bull-leaping.¨ The Minoans built temples to their gods and goddesses. Unlike most early civilizations that relied mainly on farming, the Minoans made their living from sea. Their trade brought them in frequent contact with lands in the Middle East. Later the Greeks would adopt the Minoan´s system of writing, gold work and architecture. Sometime the Minoans came into contact with the Mycenaens. The Minoans influenced them by showing them the value of seaborne trade. The Myceanaeans adopted the Minoan´s writing system and they influenced the core of their culture(religion, literature, art and politics). The height of the Minoan´s civilization was around 1600 B.C. and its collapse was only 200 years later. Some historians believe that the busy Minoan cities may have been destroyed by volcanoes or perhaps by huge tidal waves that may have crashed to shore following underwater earthquakes. Minoan civilization ended in about 1400 B.C. After the Minoans, their mainland neighbors took over the land, the Mycenaeans. lasted from 2700 to 1400 B.C.

phalanx

The shift bronze to iron weapons, which were cheaper, made possible a new kind of army composed not only of the rich but also of merchants, artisans, and small landowners. The foot soldiers of this army, called hoplites, stood side by side, each holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. This fearsome formation of the phalanx became the most powerful fighting force in the ancient world.

Peloponnesian War

When Athens started to gain more wealth, prestige and power, other city-states began to view it with hostility, especially Sparta. Instead of trying to avoid conflict, leaders in Athens and Sparta pressed for a war to begin, as both groups of leaders believed war was inevitable and their own city had the advantage. Sparta declared war on Athens in 431 B.C. Athens had the stronger navy when the Peloponnesian War, but Sparta had the stronger army, and its location inland meant it could not easily be attacked by sea. Pericles´ strategy was to avoid land battles with the Spartan army and wait for an opportunity to strike Sparta and its allies from sea. Sparta marched into Athenian territory, and burnt the Athenian food supply. In the 2nd year of war,a frightful plague struck Athens, killing 1/3 of the pop, including Pericles. Although weakened, Athens continued to fight for several years. Then in 421 B.C., the two sides, worn down by the war, signed a truce. The peace did not last long. IN 415 B.C., the Athenians sent a huge fleet carrying more than 20,000 soldiers to the island of Sicily. Their plan was to destroy the city-state of Syracuse, one of Sparta´s wealthiest allies. The expedition ended with a crushing defeat in 413 B.C. Thucydides, the greatest historian of the Classical age, recalled ¨the Athenians were destroyed with a total destruction-their fleet, their army, there was nothing that was not destroyed, and few out of many returned home.¨ A terribly weakened Athens fended off Spartan attacks for another nine years. In 404 B.C., the Athenians and their allies finally surrendered. Athens lost its empire, power and wealth.

Homer

When the Dorians moved into the war torn countryside after the Mycenaean civilization collapsed, Greeks lost the art of writing because the Dorian Age, because Dorians were far less advanced than the Mycenaeans. Lacking writing, the Greeks of this time learned about their history verbally/through the spoken word. The greatest storyteller, according to tradition, was a blind storyteller named Homer. Historians believe Homer composed his epics sometime between 750 and 700-B.C. The Trojan War forms the backdrop for one of his famous epics poems, the ¨Iliad.¨

Alexander "the Great" conquests

With Greece now secure, Alexander felt free to follow his father's plan anc conquer Persia.Anatolia in Persia. Conquered Egypt, where he was crowned pharaoh and where he founded Alexandria. Darius panicked and fled at the Battle of Guagamela, which ended Persia's power. Alexander's army also conquered Babylon, Susa and Persepolis(Persia's royal capital). He conquered Asia, but wanted to expand rather than govern his empire. He won against the Indians, too, so he also conquered India. When the people of Thebes rebelled, he destroyed the city, killed 6,000 Thebans, and sold the survivng ones into slavery. Frightened by his cruelty, the other Greek city-states gave up any idea of rebellion.

Aristotle

favorite student of Plato at the Academy -stayed at the Academy for 20 years until Plato's death eventually opened his own school called the "Lyceum" in Athens -an excellent ex of what the Greeks considered a well-educated man, he studied math, political science, philosophy, medicine and bio) -the "Lyceum" often rivaled with The Academy -Aristotle argued, "He who studies how things originated...will achieve the clearest view of them."

epic

long narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds composed by Homer around 750-700 B.C. The Trojan War forms the backdrop for one of Homer's epics, called the "Iliad."

Comedy

scenes filled with slapstick situations and crude humor. Playwrights often made fun of politics and respected people and ideas of the time. Aristophanes wrote the first comedies for the stage.

Athens and Sparta

Athens was the political, commercial, and cultural center of Greek civilization; Sparta was an agricultural and highly mitilaristic region. Women had more rights in Sparta than Athenian women. -Fought in Peloponesian War Athens and Sparta: Persian Wars Athens saw that Persia was mobilizing and increasing its army, so they reached out to Sparta to help them. The Spartans went to their gods at the local temples to ask them for advice, they said to help them because the Persian Empire took over all of Greece, so they united to stop and defeat them, but that they shouldn´t be too convinced by the Persian threat, so they should only use 300 soldiers. It was one of the first time Athens and Sparta united in a while, they finally became one nation there. If they didn´t unite to stop Persia, democracy never would´ve existed in all of Greece.

Democracy

Athens went through power struggles between rich and poor. When the leaders reformed their govt by creating a democracy, Athenians avoided major political upheavals. This form of govt allowed the people to rule and directly participate in political decision making.

Philip II or Philip of Macedon

After the Peloponnesian War severely weakened several Greek city-states and caused a rapid decline in their military and economic power, in the nearby kingdom, Philip of Macedon took note of this. Philip dreamed of taking control of Greece and then moving against Persia to seize its wealth. He also wanted revenge on Persia after their invasion of Greece. -he was very shrewd and fearless, so he was an important resource to Macedonia -he prepared his heavy phalanx for an invasion of Greece -Athens and Thebes finally agreed to fight Philip after Greek debated on a single policy for a while -by then, it was too late -the Macedonians defeated Greeks at the Battle of Chaeronea, which ended Greek independence -the city-states kept self govts in local affairs -Greece was under Philip's control -Philip planned to invade Persia next, but he was stabbed to death at his daughter's wedding by one of his former guardsmen -there is suspicion his son, Alexander, might've been involved in his own death -Alexander proclaimed himself king of Macedonia right after Philip's death

Geography of Greece

Ancient Greece consisted mainly of a mountainous peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. The Greeks considered themselves of not necessarily living on a land, but around a sea. Greeks rarely had to travel more than 85 miles to reach the coastline. The Aegan, Ionian and Black Seas were important transportation routes for trading. These seaways linked most parts of Greece, and as the Greeks became more skilled sailors, they could travel to and trade with other societies. Trade was important because Greece lacked natural resources, such as usable farmland. Also, having easy access to water was always very helpful in people´s everyday life. Mountains covered 3/4 of Greece, ran across the Balkan Peninsula. Mts divided the land into different regions. Greeks developed small, independent communities and govts within each little valley and its surrounding mts, instead of one large govt. In ancient times, uneven terrain made traveling difficiult, so it often took travelers several days to reach a destination that would take a few hours for us to reach today. Most of the island was stony, only 1/4 it was arable. With so little fertile land, Greece wasn´t able to support a huge pop. lnd small islands allowed city-states to develop into independent communities. A desire for more living space, grassland for living stock, and adequate farmland may have been factors that motivated the Greeks to seek new sites for colonies.

Hellenistic

As a result of Alexander's conquests and policies that formed to create his empire, many countries started to connect and a vibrant, new culture emerged. A blend of Egyptian, Persian and Indian influences with Greek culture became known as Hellenistic or "Greek-like" culture. The Egyptian city of Alexandria became the foremost center of commerce and Hellenistic civilization.

Oligarchy

As trade explained, a new class of wealthy merchants and artisans emerged in some cities. When these groups became dissatisfied with aristocratic rule, they sometimes took power or shared it with the nobility. An oligarchy is a govt ruled by a few powerful people.

Demosthenes

Athenian orator who tried to warn the Greeks of the threat Philip of Macedon and his army posed to begin an invasion of Greece and urged them to unite against Philip -his orations(speeches) provide insight into the politics of and culture of Greece during the 4th century B.C.