Ancient Greece 1750BC-133BC

History

The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete

Knossos

The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. Knossos. It is an ancient palace complex that was the center of the Minoan civilization.

A war between the Achaeans and the city of Troy, after Paris took Helen from king of Sparta

Trojan War

A war between the Achaeans and the city of Troy, after Paris took Helen from the king of Sparta. Trojan War. The Trojan War was an ancient conflict between the Greeks and Trojans, sparked by the abduction of Helen by Paris.

A sacred site dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero or similar figure of respect

Shrine

A sacred site dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero or similar figure of respect. Shrine. A shrine is a place where people honor and remember important figures from history, religion, or culture.

A naturally formed, narrow waterway that connects two larger bodies of water

Strait

A naturally formed, narrow waterway that connects two larger bodies of water. Strait. In History, straits have been crucial for trade and military strategy as they serve as key maritime passageways.

A technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid, or wet lime plaster

Fresco

A technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid, or wet lime plaster. fresco. Fresco is a method used during the Renaissance to create large wall paintings by applying pigments onto wet plaster.

The legendary author of the two epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey

Homer

The legendary author of the two epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer. Homer is an ancient Greek poet whose works are foundational to Western literature and culture.

A rectangular mass military formation used in Ancient Greek warfare

Phalanx

A rectangular mass military formation used in Ancient Greek warfare. Phalanx. It was a tactical formation of heavily armed foot soldiers arranged in rows and columns, designed to present a united front against the enemy.

A settlement, especially a citadel, built upon an area of elevated ground

Acropolis

A settlement, especially a citadel, built upon an area of elevated ground. Acropolis. The Acropolis is a famous ancient site in Athens known for its historic structures like the Parthenon.

A prominent city-state in ancient Greece known for dominant military power

Sparta

A prominent city-state in ancient Greece known for dominant military power. Sparta. Sparta was a fierce and disciplined military society in ancient Greece known for its powerful army.

A legal member of a sovereign state or belonging to a nation

Citizen

A legal member of a sovereign state or belonging to a nation. Citizen. In history, a citizen is someone who has rights and responsibilities in a society or country.

One of the most powerful cities in ancient times, a centre for the arts and philosophy

Athens

One of the most powerful cities in ancient times, a centre for the arts and philosophy. Athens. Athens is the ancient Greek city known for its contributions to democracy and culture.

A form of government in which the monarch is head of state

Monarchy

A form of government in which the monarch is head of state. Monarchy is a system where a king or queen rules a country.

A form of government in which the people exercise the authority of government

Democracy

A form of government in which the people exercise the authority of government. Democracy. In history, democracy is a system where citizens vote to choose their leaders and make laws.

A form of government that places strength in the hands of a privileged ruling class

Aristocracy

A form of government that places strength in the hands of a privileged ruling class. Aristocracy. Aristocracy is a system where power is held by nobility or a privileged upper class.

An absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law

Tyrant

An absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law. Tyrant. In history, a tyrant is a leader who holds power without legal right and often uses it oppressively.

A form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people

Oligarchy

A form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. Oligarchy means a few people or families control a country or organization, like in ancient Sparta.

A deliberative assembly with the authority to make laws

Legislature

A deliberative assembly with the authority to make laws. Legislature. In history, a legislature is a group of people officially chosen to create, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state.

A relationship among groups or states that have joined together for mutual benefit

Alliance

A relationship among groups or states that have joined together for mutual benefit. Alliance. In history, an alliance is when countries or groups agree to work together to help and protect each other.

A regular fixed sum of money paid to defray expenses, such as for scholarship

Stipend

A regular fixed sum of money paid to defray expenses, such as for scholarship, is called a stipend. In history, a stipend was often used to support artists or scholars so they could focus on their work without financial worries.

Greek statesman and general of Athens during its golden age

Pericles

Greek statesman and general of Athens during its golden age. Pericles. He was a key leader who helped develop democracy and led Athens during its most prosperous and influential period.

A body of people convened to render an impartial verdict or to set a penalty or judgment

Jury

A body of people convened to render an impartial verdict or to set a penalty or judgment. Jury. In history, a jury is a group of citizens chosen to decide the outcome of a legal case.

A body of people convened to render an impartial verdict or to set a penalty or judgment

Direct democracy

A body of people convened to render an impartial verdict or to set a penalty or judgment. Direct democracy. In history, direct democracy is a system where people vote directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives to make those decisions.

A procedure in which any citizen could be expelled from the Athens for ten years

Ostracism

A procedure in which any citizen could be expelled from Athens for ten years. Ostracism was a process in ancient Athens where citizens could vote to exile someone suspected of being a threat to the state.

Someone who practices philosophy, focusing on resolving existential questions

Philosopher

Someone who practices philosophy, focusing on resolving existential questions. A philosopher is a person who seeks wisdom and answers about life and existence.

A Greek philosopher and polymath, student of Plato

Aristotle

A Greek philosopher and polymath, student of Plato. Aristotle. He is an ancient thinker who greatly influenced Western philosophy and science.

The study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration

Logic

The study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration. logic. In history, logic is used to analyze and understand the reasoning behind key events and decisions.

A temple in the middle of the Acropolis in Athens built in honor of goddess Athena

Parthenon

A temple in the middle of the Acropolis in Athens built in honor of goddess Athena. Parthenon. The Parthenon is an ancient Greek temple that served as a symbol of Athens' power and cultural achievement.

The art of convincing and persuading people by language

Rhetoric

The art of convincing and persuading people by language. Rhetoric. In History, rhetoric is the skillful use of language to influence others, as seen in famous speeches by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.

A form of drama based on human suffering

Tragedy

A form of drama based on human suffering. Tragedy. In history, tragedy refers to events that lead to significant loss, suffering, or destruction, like wars or natural disasters.

A classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy

Socrates

A classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Socrates was an ancient thinker known for his method of questioning to seek truth and wisdom.

An entertainment with generally funny content

Comedy

An entertainment with generally funny content. Comedy. In history, comedy is a genre that uses humor to entertain and often to comment on society.

An ancient Greek historian often referred to as ‘The Father of History’

Herodotus

An ancient Greek historian often referred to as The Father of History. Herodotus. He was one of the first to collect and systematically document historical events.

A king of the Macedon and one of history's most successful military commanders

Alexander the Great

A king of the Macedon and one of history's most successful military commanders. Alexander the Great. He was a ruler who created one of the largest empires in ancient history by conquering much of the known world in the 4th century BC.

An ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher

Pythagoras

An ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher. Pythagoras was known for developing the Pythagorean theorem, which is used to relate the sides of a right triangle.

The King of Spain, Portugal, Naples and Sicily

Philip II

The King of Spain, Portugal, Naples and Sicily. Philip II. Philip II was a significant 16th-century monarch who ruled over a vast Spanish empire and strengthened its global influence.

The astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun

Heliocentric

The astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun. Heliocentric. In history, heliocentric is the model proposed by Copernicus that placed the Sun at the center of the solar system, changing our understanding of the universe.

The murder of a prominent person

Assassination

The murder of a prominent person. Assassination. Assassination is the deliberate killing of a significant individual, often for political reasons.

A Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer

Archimedes

A Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Archimedes. He was an ancient scholar known for his contributions to mathematics and mechanics, such as the invention of the Archimedes' screw.

The process in which a minority group or culture comes to resemble a dominant group

Assimilate

The process in which a minority group or culture comes to resemble a dominant group. Assimilate. In history, to assimilate means adopting the customs and norms of the dominant culture.

A physician, one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine

Hippocrates

A physician, one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. Hippocrates. Hippocrates is often called the "Father of Medicine" for his contributions to medical ethics and practice in ancient Greece.

One of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic world, founded by Alexander the Great

Alexandria

One of the greatest cities of the Hellenistic world, founded by Alexander the Great. Alexandria. It was an ancient city in Egypt known for its vast library and as a center of learning and culture.