Classical Culture: Greece and Rome Flashcards

Classical Culture

• Represents ancient civilizations, notably Greece and Rome, with enduring cultural influences.

Cultural Diffusion

• The process of spreading ideas, customs, and technologies between different cultures.

Persian Empire

• Existed from 522 to 486 B.C. under Darius, known as the "road builder."

Geography of Greece

• Mountainous terrain limited unity among Greek populations, fostering independent city-states (polis) like Sparta and Athens.
• The sea served as a crucial link for trade and interaction with other regions.

Greek Polis

• Refers to city-states that emerged in Greece beginning around 750 BC.

Minoans of Crete

• An advanced civilization located on Crete, notable for the Palace at Knossos, featuring significant frescoes.
• Known as a thalassocracy, strong maritime society; civilization declined around 1400 BC, possibly due to volcanic activity.

Athens

• Initially an aristocracy governed by noble landowners, later became the first democracy initiated by Solon, though with limited voting rights.

Sparta

• A society centered on military training and warrior culture, ruled by a council of elders and kings, emphasizing discipline from childhood.

Democracy in Athens

• Recognized as a direct democracy where all male citizens aged 18 and older could vote, regardless of wealth.

Oligarchy

• A form of government where a small, affluent group holds power; Sparta had dual kingship alongside other elites.

Delian League

• A coalition of Greek city-states established for mutual defense and economic purposes.

Peloponnesian Wars

• A series of conflicts between Athens and Sparta lasting from 431 BC to 404 BC.

Socrates

• A philosopher critical of Athenian governance, known for promoting self-examination among his followers.

Plato

• A prominent philosopher whose works, including "The Allegory of the Cave" and "The Republic," highlighted the significance of rational thought.

Aristotle

• A philosopher and educator for Alexander the Great who advocated for reason and empirical observation as fundamental to knowledge.

Euclid

• Mathematician known for "Elements," which laid the groundwork for geometry.

Pythagoras

• Developed the Pythagorean Theorem (a² + b² = c²) and contributed significantly to philosophy, science, and mathematics.

Parthenon

• An ancient temple on the Athenian Acropolis dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens.

Eratosthenes

• Early mathematician and geographer credited with calculating the Earth's circumference.

Archimedes

• Formulated the principle stating that a body immersed in a fluid experiences upward buoyant force equal to the weight of displaced fluid.

Alexander the Great

• Ascended to the Macedonian throne following his father's assassination; known for creating the vast Hellenistic Empire through conquests.

Hellenism

• The cultural blending of Eastern and Western influences originating from the conquests of Alexander the Great, with Alexandria as its cultural epicenter.

Geography of Rome

• Situated on seven hills, with Palatine Hill being particularly significant to Rome's early development.

The Punic Wars

• Series of conflicts between Rome and Carthage, marked by Cato the Elder's call to destroy Carthage, notable for Hannibal's military campaign.

Twelve Tables

• The earliest codification of Roman law, establishing legal principles.

Rule of Law

• Refers to the legal framework within ancient Rome, encompassing over a millennium of legal development.

Roman Republic

• A political system featuring elected representatives and limited governmental power.

Patricians

• The upper class of Rome, consisting of landholding elites.

Plebeians

• The lower-class citizens of Rome, including farmers, merchants, and artisans, representing the majority of the population.

Senators

• Influential figures in Roman government, responsible for electing consuls who oversee military and civic affairs.