Greece/Rome Study Guide

CH. 5

*Minoan civilization and the importance of its location- The Minoans were named after the legendary king Minos. Instead of conquest, the success of the Minoans was from trade. Its location is important because they were able to contact Egypt and Mesopotamia which they acquiered ideas nad technology from.

*Explain how Sparta's location was important.- Sparta’s location was important by being on southern part of Greece, Peloponnesus and they were able to isolate themselves from other Greeks. This disallowed their neighbors to contact them and therefore the Spartans had little use for new ideas.

*Trojan war- location The Trojan War was taken place at around 1250 BC in Greece. Ther conflict was between the Mycenaean and Troy.

*geography of Greece created? The geography of Greece is it’s a part of the Balkan Peninsula which extends out into the Mediterranean sea. The mountains divide the peninsula into isolated valleys and hundreds of rocky island spread towards the horizon.

* post Persian wars domination- Athens emerged as the wealthiest Greek city-state by 500 BC. Athens and the Greek world faced a threat from the Persians.

*Peloponnesian War- The Peloponnesian War was a war between the Athens and Sparta. Since Sparta was located inland, Athens had a disadvantage on being able to attack from the sea. After Athenian greatness, The Peloponnesian War ended.

*Greek theater origins- The first Greek plays came from religious festivals. Actors wore detailed costumes and fashioned masks. Sounds came from a chorus who responded to the action by singing or commenting between scenes.

*Alexander's achievements and empire- Alexander invaded Persia and won his first victory against the Persians at the Granicus River. He later conquered Asia Minor into Paletine and south to Egypt, he too Babylon, and seized the Persian capitals.

 
*center of Hellenistic world- The Hellenistic world had architects and artists that built large grander buildings than of classical Greece. The rise of new schools of philosophy was contributed by the political turmoil. Advances in mathematics and sciences were important advances to the Hellenistic age. Medicine was later studied.

*geographic characteristics of Greece- Greece was divided by water so the islands became city states but still part of the empire. The main land was a peninsula that came out into the Mediterranean sea. The mountains divided the county into valleys.

*oligarchy- In an oligarchy, power is in the hands of a small, powerful elite, usually from the business class. Oligarchy is the form of government resulted from city-state being dominated.

*democracy- Government by the people. Athens moved slowly to this type of government.

*Spartan childhoods- A Spartan prepared to be part of a military state from childhood. Boys began training for a lifetime in the military by the age of seven.

*Athens' golden age- During this time, their government of democracy was doing well. Later Solon’s reforms came into place.

*Aristotle's meritocracy- Aristotle was Platos most famous student and he set up a school, the lyceum for the different studies in the branches of knowledge. He developed his own ideas on how the government should be run.

*Greek values- The Greek values were their military which provided them protection. Their government was also another value to them because it allowed them to take part in their day to day lives.

CH 6

*Augustus- Augustus helped Rome recover from the civil war. He also created an efficient well-trained civil service charged with enforcing the laws.

*Julius Caesar-Julius Caesar dominated Roman politics with Pompey. Caesar and his army made new conquest and after nine yars of constant fighting he succeeded in bringing all of Gaul.

*Hannibal- Hannibal dedicated his life to the destruction of Rome. Hannibal took poison rather than surrendering to the Romans.

*Jesus- Jesus was born about 4 BC. Jesus worshiped God and followed Jewish law when growing up.

*Paul- Paul had vision in which Jesus spoke to him and decided to spread Jesus’ teaching beyond Jewish communities to gentiles, or non-Jews. He promised that those who believed Jesus was the son of God and followed his teaching would achieve salvation, or eternal life.

*Odoacer- The Germanic leader Odaacer overthrew the emperor in Rome. This even is referre to the “fall” of Rome by historians.

*Ptolemy- Ptolemy proposed his theory that the Earth was the center of the universe. This idea was accepted in the western world for nearly 1,500 years.

*Virgil- Virgil wrote his epic poem the Aenied which he tried to show that Rome’s past was as heroic as that of Greece.

*martyr- A person who suffers or dies fro their beliefs. Paul was one who was killed during the reign of Nero.

*mercenary- A foreign soldier serving for pay to defend its borders. According to some historians, many were German warriors.

*messiah- Savior sent by God. Some Jews believed that a messiah would soon appear to lead the Jewish people to freedom.

*patrician- A member of the landholding upper class. The most powerful governing body was the senate with 300 patrician members.

*plebian- Member of the lower class in ancient Rome, including farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders. These people demanded equality.

*aqueduct- Bridge like stone structures that brought water for the hills ito Roman cities. Roman engineers built aqueducts.

*heresy- A belief said to be contrary to official Church teachings. Church leaders battled these heresies.

*legion- Made up of about 5,000 men. This was the basic unit that of consisted citizen –soldiers.

*republic- “Thing of the people” Romans thought that a republic would keep any individual from gaining too much power.

*sect- A small group. Christianity remained a sect within Judaism at first.