Andrew Lockard

Mr. Haskell

World History E Core

25 September 2003

Ancient Rome and Greece Study Guide

CH. 5
*Minoan civilization and the importance of its location- Located on the Mediterranean on the island of Crete, near the Greek peninsula.  The civilization thrived on trade, rather than conquest.

*Explain how Sparta's location was important. -  Sparta’s location was in the middle of the middle of the Greek peninsula.  It was free from naval assaults and could easily attack other city states by foot.

*Trojan war- location – The Mycenaens fought against the city of Troy in what is present day Turkey.  Troy was located on vital straits that connected the Mediterranean and Black seas.

*geography of Greece created? – The geography of Greece, isolated valleys surrounded by mountains with hundreds of islands in the Mediterranean, led to the development of isolated city states.  These city states were fiercely independent, but still shared a similar culture.

* Post Persian wars domination – After the Persian Wars, Athens emerged as the central power in Greece.  This was so because of the formation of the Delian League; formed as an alliance between Greek city states during the wars, and an engine for Athens power after.

*Peloponnesian War – War between the city states of Athens and Sparta that began in 431 BC and lasted for 27 years.  It eventually ended with Sparta capturing Athens in 404 BC.

*Greek theater origins – Originated out of religious festivals.  Performed outdoors in large theaters gouged out of the sides of hills.

*Alexander's achievements and empire – Conquered much of the Mediterranean to India, and never lost a battle.  Spread Greek culture and created a blend of East and West; Hellenistic Civilization.

*center of Hellenistic world – The city of Alexandria, Egypt.  It was located on the sea lanes between Europe and Asia and contained over a million people and the Pharos.

*geographic characteristics of Greece – Many isolated valleys and small islands.  Located between the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea.

*oligarchy – Power is held by a small, powerful elite; usually from the business class.

*democracy – A government controlled by the people.  Elected officials and ordinances are decided upon by a vote by a majority rule.

*Spartan childhoods – The healthy and sick were separated from birth.  At age 7, boys left home and trained for military service; at age 20 a man could marry, but still had to live in a barracks, and at age 30 he joined the assembly.

*Athens' golden age – Athens reached its golden age under the rule of Pericles, a famed Greek leader.  Pericles promoted preservation of the state and democracy.

*Aristotle's meritocracy – Favored rule by a single strong and virtuous leader.  Promoted a moderate existence between extremes.

*Greek values – Greeks valued power of the human mind.  Explored the nature of the universe and the people and places within.

CH 6

*Augustus – Roman emperor who ruled from 31 BC to 14 AD and ended 500 years of Roman republic.  He was Caesars chief general and seized power after defeating Mark Antony.

*Julius Caesar – Powerful Roman General who conquered Gaul and returned to Rome and forced the Senate to make him dictator.  He pushed reforms in 48 BC to 44 BC to fix many of Rome’s problems before being stabbed to death by his enemies in 44 BC.

*Hannibal – Carthaginian leader who vowed revenge against Rome.  Led an army on tremendous march from Spain to destroy Rome; eventually rolled elephants down a mountain and failed.

*Jesus – Jew who claimed to be the messiah and taught radical messages.  Later put to death by crucifixion by the Romans in fear of starting a Jewish rebellion.

*Paul – Spread Jesus’ teaching beyond Jewish communities to gentiles.  He constantly traveled and set up Christian churches from Mesopotamia to Rome.

*Odoacer – A Germanic leader who is credited with being the “fall” of Rome.

*Ptolemy – An astronomer-mathematician who proposed the theory that the Earth was the center of the Earth.  The idea was accepted in the western world for nearly 1,500 years.

*Virgil – Author of the epic poem Aeneid, which compared Rome’s past to the heroic past of Greece.  He tried to inspire patriotism after years of civil war.

*Martyr – People who suffer or die for their beliefs.

*Mercenary – Foreign soldiers serving for pay.

*messiah – Savior sent by God.  The Jewish people believe the messiah would appear to lead the Jewish people to freedom.

*Patrician – A member of the landholding upper class.  In the early Roman republic, they were the only people allowed to hold office.

*Plebian – Farmers, merchants, artisans, and traders who made up the bulk of the population.  They had little governmental influence.

*Aqueduct – Bridge-like stone structures that brought water from the hills into Roman cities.

*heresy – Beliefs said to be contrary to official Church teachings.

*Legion – A basic Roman military unit made up of about 5,000 men.  They were armed with citizen-soldiers who fought without pay and supplied their own weapons.

*Republic – A form of government which officials are chosen by the people.  Romans thought this would keep a single individual from seizing too much power.

*Sect – A small group.