AP World History HHS Unit 2: The Classical Period – Flashcards
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Minoans
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People who lived in the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, ~1600 BCE
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Mycenaeans
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Replaced the Minoans, part of great trade network of the late Bronze Age
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Phoenicians
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A sea-faring group from the eastern Mediterranean Sea; visited the Aegean Sea; re-established contact between the Middle East and Greece
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Polis
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The Greek name for a city-state
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Monarchy
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Hereditary rule by one
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Oligarchy
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Rule by a few
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Aristocracy
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Rule by leading families
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Democracy
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A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them; a new form of popular government
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Tyrant
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Often military leaders who won popular support of the aristocracy; not necessarily oppressive
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Helots
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Servants captured when the Spartans defeated the neighboring city-state Messenia ~700 BCE
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Hoplites
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Heavily armored infantrymen who fought in very close contact and cooperation together
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Secularism
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Emphasis on affairs of this world, rather than on religion
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Natural Law
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A concept that early philosophers created; forces of nature that cause natural phenomena to occur, rather than the gods themselves causing the phenomena
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Socrates
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(470-399 B.C.E.) first philosopher to focus on ethical questions and truth-seeking regarding human nature, understandings, and relationships; clash between religion and and independent thinking
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Plato
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Student of Socrates, wrote The Republic about the perfectly governed society
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Aristotle
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Was Plato's student; interested in every field of human endeavor, including the natural and social sciences
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Cyrus the Great
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The first Persian Warrior King; overcame other rulers to extend territory from the edge of India to the Mediterranean Sea
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Satraps
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Persian governors responsible for collecting tribute, providing soldiers, and keeping order. Often had hereditary positions; had mini courts that mimicked that of the King
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Darius
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A Persian King
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Xerxes
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Darius's successor
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Delian League
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An alliance formed between many Greek city-states and Persia, under the leadership of Pericles, attacked Corinth, an ally of Sparta
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Peloponnesian War
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(431-404 B.C.E.) Highly destructive war between Athens and Sparta; Sparta eventually won, although all were weakened and left vulnerable to invaders in the north (Macedonia)
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Alexander the Great
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Had a short career of 13 years; conquered most of the known world to the Greeks
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Hellenistic Age
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(323-30 B.C.E.) Period following the conquests of Alexander the Great; marked by the spreading of Greek culture to north-eastern Africa and western Asia
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Etruscans
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Came into Italy (~800 B.C.E.); established a series of small city-states that ruled the native people
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Patricians
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Aristocrats who passed their possessions down to their sons; made up the Senate
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Plebeians
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Commoners who made up 90% of the population; represented by an elected General Assembly
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Julius Caesar
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A charismatic patrician general with great sway over his soldiers; formed a Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey. Caesar eventually declared himself dictator, only to be assassinated by senators on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 B.C.E.
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Augustus Caesar
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Julius Caesar's nephew Octavian; battled Mark Anthony, and in the Battle of Actium won control of Rome in 31 B.C.E. and the Senate declared him "Augustus", meaning "revered one"
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Law of the Twelve Tables
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The law code from the days of the republic
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Pax Romana
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The "Roman Peace" lasted until the late 2nd century C.E., when the empire reached its largest extent
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Punic Wars
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The wars between the Roman Republic and Carthage (246-146 B.C.E.) Romans won parts of the southern and western Mediterranean Sea, and burned the city of Carthage to the ground and salted the earth
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Republic
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a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
