Ancient Greece Vocabulary

An area within a country that is small like a city but acts like a country. It will have its own laws, language, army, and culture.

A city-state in Greece known for it's education and philosophy

A city-state in Greece known for having a strong army

Home of the Greek gods

This body of water separates Europe and Africa

This body of water is to the west of Greece

This body of water is to the east of Greece; it is considered an "arm" of the Mediterranean Sea.

A Greek philosopher who developed the socratic method--questioning; sentenced to death for "corrupting Athens 'youth"

way of teaching developed by Socrates that used a question-and-answer format to force students to use their reason to see things for themselve

A greek philosopher who was the student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle

Believed in the wisest people ruling the people

A Greek Philosopher: he taught Alexander the Great, started a famous school, studied with Plato

The 27 year war between Athens and Sparta that Sparta won. This war left Greece as a whole weak and ready to fall to its neighbors in the north.

An athletic competition held every four years in honor of Zeus.

A series of wars between the Greeks and the Persians.

A 10 year war fought between the Mycenaean Greeks and the city of Troy (from Greek mythology). This story is famously told in the Iliad by Homer.

A large hollow wooden figure of a horse (filled with Greek soldiers) left by the Greeks outside Troy during the Trojan War. This technique was what allowed Greece to defeat Troy

An Ancient Greek poet, author of The Iliad and The Odyssey.

A style of government that gives power to the citizens to make decisions through voting.

A government ruled by a few powerful people

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator. This means they are not restricted by a constitution/ laws/ opposition, etc.

A monarchy ruled by a king or queen.

Between 334 and 323 BCE this man conquered the Persian Empire, reached the Indus Valley, founded many Greek-style cities, and spread Greek culture across the Middle East.

After Alexander's death, Greek art, education, and culture merged with those in the Middle East. Trade and important scientific centers were established, such as in Alexandria and Egypt.