About this Flash Card Set
16 Cards
by elena_vasquez
Explore the ideas, leaders, and landmarks of Ancient Greece and Rome that still shape the world today. From Athenian democracy to Roman aqueducts, these cards cover the classical essentials.
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What was a Greek polis?
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A polis was an independent Greek city-state, including the city and its surrounding countryside. Each had its own government, laws, and identity; Athens and Sparta were the most famous.
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How did Athens and Sparta differ?
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Athens was known for democracy, philosophy, art, and trade, while Sparta was a strict military society focused on discipline and training warriors from a young age.
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What was Athenian democracy?
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A direct form of government beginning around 508 BCE in which free adult male citizens could vote in person on laws and policies, rather than electing representatives to decide for them.
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Who was Socrates?
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An Athenian philosopher (c. 470-399 BCE) famous for questioning people to examine their beliefs, a method now called the Socratic method. He was sentenced to death by an Athenian court.
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Who was Plato?
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A student of Socrates (c. 428-348 BCE) who founded the Academy in Athens and wrote philosophical dialogues, including 'The Republic,' exploring justice and the ideal state.
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Who was Aristotle?
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A student of Plato (384-322 BCE) who studied nearly every field of knowledge, from biology to ethics to politics, and tutored Alexander the Great.
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Where did the Olympic Games begin?
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In Olympia, Greece, traditionally dated to 776 BCE. The games were held every four years as a religious and athletic festival honoring the god Zeus.
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What is Greek mythology?
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The collection of stories about Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes, such as Zeus, Athena, and Hercules. These myths explained nature, human behavior, and the will of the gods.
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Who was Alexander the Great?
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King of Macedon (356-323 BCE) who built one of history's largest empires, stretching from Greece to Egypt and India, and spread Greek culture across the ancient world.
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What was the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire?
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The Republic (509-27 BCE) was governed by elected officials and the Senate, while the Empire (from 27 BCE) was ruled by an emperor with supreme power, beginning with Augustus.
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What was the Roman Senate?
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A powerful governing body of leading citizens that advised officials and shaped policy. It was central during the Republic and continued in a reduced role under the emperors.
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Who was Julius Caesar?
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A Roman general and statesman (100-44 BCE) who gained enormous power and became dictator. His assassination on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BCE helped end the Republic.
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Who was Augustus?
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The first Roman emperor (ruled 27 BCE-14 CE), originally named Octavian. He ended the Republic's civil wars and began a long era of stability known as the Pax Romana.
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What was the Colosseum?
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A giant amphitheater in Rome, completed around 80 CE, that held tens of thousands of spectators for gladiator contests, animal hunts, and public spectacles.
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What were Roman aqueducts?
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Engineered channels and bridges that carried fresh water over long distances into cities for drinking, baths, and fountains, using a gentle downward slope powered by gravity.
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What was the Pax Romana?
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Latin for 'Roman Peace,' a roughly 200-year period (27 BCE-180 CE) of relative stability and prosperity across the Roman Empire that encouraged trade and building.
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