Greece
Greek Maps, Myths & Games
Vocabulary
Acropolis - An acropolis is a fortified citadel within a larger city. It is usually located on top of a hill and at the center of the city. The most famous acropolis is the Acropolis of Athens.
Agora - The agora was the central meeting place in Ancient Greek cities. Democracy was born at the agora in Athens.
Alexander the Great - A ruler of Ancient Greece who conquered much of the civilized world from Greece to India including Egypt.
Archaic Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 800 BC to 480 BC. During this time the city-states of Athens and Sparta began to form. Greek philosophy and theatre began to develop as well.
Aristotle - A Greek philosopher who introduced the idea of observing and recording nature. He also tutored Alexander the Great and began his own school in Athens.
Assembly - In Athens the Assembly consisted of the group of citizens who showed up to vote.
Athens - One of the most powerful Greek city-states, Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
Chiton - A type of clothing worn by the Greeks. It was often made from a single piece of cloth with a belt at the waist.
City-state - A city-state consisted of a large city and the surrounding areas. Ancient Greece consisted of a number of independent city-states such as Athens, Thebes, and Sparta.
Classical Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 480 BC to 323 BC. During this time Athens was ruled by democracy. Also, Sparta and Athens fought the Peloponnesian War. It ended with the rise of Alexander the Great.
Cuirass - A piece of armor, usually made from metal, that covered the front of the torso.
Delian League - A group of Greek city-states that joined together to fight against the Persian Empire.
Democracy - A form of government where citizens have a say in how they are ruled including choosing their leaders and deciding on laws.
Ephors - The ephors were five leaders in Sparta who were chosen to oversee the Spartan kings. They were elected annually.
Helots - The helots were the serfs or slaves that worked for the Spartans. The majority of the people who Sparta ruled were helots.
Hellenistic Period - The Hellenistic Period of Ancient Greece lasted from 323 BC when Alexander the Great came to power to 146 BC when Rome conquered Greece.
Homer - A Greek epic poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Hoplite - The hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Greek city-states.
Macedonia - A region of northern Ancient Greece, Macedonia was home to the Greek kings Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Oligarchy - A type of government where the power is held by a few people.
Olympics - An athletic event held by the Ancient Greeks every four years.
Peloponnese - A large peninsula located in southern Greece. Many powerful Greek city-states were located here including Sparta, Argos, and Corinth.
Pericles - A leader of Athens during its golden age, Pericles promoted the arts and literature in the city. He also had many of the major structures built including the Parthenon.
Plato - A Greek philosopher who founded the Academy in Athens and wrote many philosophical dialogues.
Polis - The Greek name for a city-state.
Socrates - A Greek philosopher who is considered to be the founder of western philosophy.
Sparta - A power Greek city-state and rival to Athens, Sparta's culture was based around warfare and preparing for battle.
Stadion - The original Olympic event, the stadion was a running race the length of the stadium.
Strategos - The name for the general of the Athenian army.
Titans - The Titans were the first Greek gods. They were overthrown by their children, the Olympians.
Trireme - A type of boat used by the Ancient Greeks. It had three rows of oars on each side.
Tyrant - The ruler of a Greek city-state, a tyrant was like a king. Today the word tyrant is used to describe a ruler who rules unfairly or unjustly.
Acropolis - An acropolis is a fortified citadel within a larger city. It is usually located on top of a hill and at the center of the city. The most famous acropolis is the Acropolis of Athens.
Agora - The agora was the central meeting place in Ancient Greek cities. Democracy was born at the agora in Athens.
Alexander the Great - A ruler of Ancient Greece who conquered much of the civilized world from Greece to India including Egypt.
Archaic Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 800 BC to 480 BC. During this time the city-states of Athens and Sparta began to form. Greek philosophy and theatre began to develop as well.
Aristotle - A Greek philosopher who introduced the idea of observing and recording nature. He also tutored Alexander the Great and began his own school in Athens.
Assembly - In Athens the Assembly consisted of the group of citizens who showed up to vote.
Athens - One of the most powerful Greek city-states, Athens was the birthplace of democracy.
Chiton - A type of clothing worn by the Greeks. It was often made from a single piece of cloth with a belt at the waist.
City-state - A city-state consisted of a large city and the surrounding areas. Ancient Greece consisted of a number of independent city-states such as Athens, Thebes, and Sparta.
Classical Period - The historical period of Ancient Greece from 480 BC to 323 BC. During this time Athens was ruled by democracy. Also, Sparta and Athens fought the Peloponnesian War. It ended with the rise of Alexander the Great.
Cuirass - A piece of armor, usually made from metal, that covered the front of the torso.
Delian League - A group of Greek city-states that joined together to fight against the Persian Empire.
Democracy - A form of government where citizens have a say in how they are ruled including choosing their leaders and deciding on laws.
Ephors - The ephors were five leaders in Sparta who were chosen to oversee the Spartan kings. They were elected annually.
Helots - The helots were the serfs or slaves that worked for the Spartans. The majority of the people who Sparta ruled were helots.
Hellenistic Period - The Hellenistic Period of Ancient Greece lasted from 323 BC when Alexander the Great came to power to 146 BC when Rome conquered Greece.
Homer - A Greek epic poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Hoplite - The hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Greek city-states.
Macedonia - A region of northern Ancient Greece, Macedonia was home to the Greek kings Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Oligarchy - A type of government where the power is held by a few people.
Olympics - An athletic event held by the Ancient Greeks every four years.
Peloponnese - A large peninsula located in southern Greece. Many powerful Greek city-states were located here including Sparta, Argos, and Corinth.
Pericles - A leader of Athens during its golden age, Pericles promoted the arts and literature in the city. He also had many of the major structures built including the Parthenon.
Plato - A Greek philosopher who founded the Academy in Athens and wrote many philosophical dialogues.
Polis - The Greek name for a city-state.
Socrates - A Greek philosopher who is considered to be the founder of western philosophy.
Sparta - A power Greek city-state and rival to Athens, Sparta's culture was based around warfare and preparing for battle.
Stadion - The original Olympic event, the stadion was a running race the length of the stadium.
Strategos - The name for the general of the Athenian army.
Titans - The Titans were the first Greek gods. They were overthrown by their children, the Olympians.
Trireme - A type of boat used by the Ancient Greeks. It had three rows of oars on each side.
Tyrant - The ruler of a Greek city-state, a tyrant was like a king. Today the word tyrant is used to describe a ruler who rules unfairly or unjustly.
Timeline of Greece
1) What period of Greek history began with the death of Alexander the Great?
Dark Ages Period
Archaic Period
Classical Period
Hellenistic Period
Roman Period
2) What was the name of the wars between Sparta and Athens?
Spartathenian Wars
Persian Wars
Peloponnesian Wars
Messenian Wars
Marathon Wars
3) Which of these events came last in the order of Greek history?
Socrates is put to death
Rome conquers Greece
Draconian laws are enforced in Athens
Aristotle begins to tutor Alexander the Great
The Parthenon is built
4) What famous philosopher was put to death by the Greeks during the Classical Period?
Socrates
Plato
Euclid
Aristotle
Pythagoras
5) What period of Greek history ended about the time democracy was established in Athens?
Dark Ages Period
Archaic Period
Classical Period
Hellenistic Period
Roman Period
6) Who was the Greek conqueror who rose to power at the end of the Classical Period taking over much of Persia and Egypt?
Julius Caesar
Philip of Macedonia
Pericles
Archimedes
Alexander the Great
7) What Greek writer wrote the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey during the Archaic Period?
Homer
Aristotle
Sophocles
Euripides
Plato
8) Which of these events came first in Greek history?
Alexander the Great dies
The first Olympics
The Peloponnesian Wars
Democracy is introduced
The Greek Tyrants come into power
9) What Greek god or goddess was the Parthenon of Athens build for?
Zeus
Hera
Athena
Hermes
Apollo
10) Which of the following statements are correct?
The Archaic Period came before the Classical Period
Alexander the Great died before the Romans conquered Greece
Homer wrote the Iliad before Sophocles began to write plays
All of the above
None of the above
1) What period of Greek history began with the death of Alexander the Great?
Dark Ages Period
Archaic Period
Classical Period
Hellenistic Period
Roman Period
2) What was the name of the wars between Sparta and Athens?
Spartathenian Wars
Persian Wars
Peloponnesian Wars
Messenian Wars
Marathon Wars
3) Which of these events came last in the order of Greek history?
Socrates is put to death
Rome conquers Greece
Draconian laws are enforced in Athens
Aristotle begins to tutor Alexander the Great
The Parthenon is built
4) What famous philosopher was put to death by the Greeks during the Classical Period?
Socrates
Plato
Euclid
Aristotle
Pythagoras
5) What period of Greek history ended about the time democracy was established in Athens?
Dark Ages Period
Archaic Period
Classical Period
Hellenistic Period
Roman Period
6) Who was the Greek conqueror who rose to power at the end of the Classical Period taking over much of Persia and Egypt?
Julius Caesar
Philip of Macedonia
Pericles
Archimedes
Alexander the Great
7) What Greek writer wrote the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey during the Archaic Period?
Homer
Aristotle
Sophocles
Euripides
Plato
8) Which of these events came first in Greek history?
Alexander the Great dies
The first Olympics
The Peloponnesian Wars
Democracy is introduced
The Greek Tyrants come into power
9) What Greek god or goddess was the Parthenon of Athens build for?
Zeus
Hera
Athena
Hermes
Apollo
10) Which of the following statements are correct?
The Archaic Period came before the Classical Period
Alexander the Great died before the Romans conquered Greece
Homer wrote the Iliad before Sophocles began to write plays
All of the above
None of the above
Classical Philosophy
The Sophists were popular for awhile, but many Classical philosophers, starting with Socrates (5th century BCE), began to criticize the Sophists' skepticism and their practice of getting paid for teaching. Socrates argued that reason, pursued through intense questioning, can in fact decipher truth. The use of reason in this way would make the soul virtuous. Because Socrates looked to reason and not mythology, he was actually considered a threat to Greek tradition and was put to death for his ideas!
8 Bit Philosophy: Socrates
8 Bit Philosophy: Socrates
Though the Greek government was suspicious of Socrates, he was still an incredibly popular figure. All that we know about Socrates we know from his pupil,Plato (circa 429-347 BCE). Plato believed that fundamental truth existed beyond our physical world in what he called the Realm of Ideas, and we should devote our minds to studying this realm. Studying this realm would produce wise rulers and virtuous citizens.
Plato: Allegory of the Cave |
The PhilosopherAristotle was Plato's student, but he argued that we could discover truth not just by contemplating the Realm of Ideas but by examining the physical world. Aristotle wrote on numerous subjects like political philosophy and poetry, but he is most well known for developing a cohesive system of science and logic by which to understand the world. This system, in fact, is an early form of the scientific method--the same scientific method we still use today. He argued that when we studied nature using science and logic, we can determine everything's purpose and cause. When it came to ethics, Aristotle argued that a happy life can be pursued through the use of reason, virtue, and moderation.
Biography of a Great Thinker The Philosopher The Good Life |