AP World History HHS Unit 2: The Classical Period

People who lived in the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, ~1600 BCE

Replaced the Minoans, part of great trade network of the late Bronze Age

A sea-faring group from the eastern Mediterranean Sea; visited the Aegean Sea; re-established contact between the Middle East and Greece

The Greek name for a city-state

Hereditary rule by one

Rule by a few

Rule by leading families

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them; a new form of popular government

Often military leaders who won popular support of the aristocracy; not necessarily oppressive

Servants captured when the Spartans defeated the neighboring city-state Messenia ~700 BCE

Heavily armored infantrymen who fought in very close contact and cooperation together

Emphasis on affairs of this world, rather than on religion

A concept that early philosophers created; forces of nature that cause natural phenomena to occur, rather than the gods themselves causing the phenomena

(470-399 B.C.E.) first philosopher to focus on ethical questions and truth-seeking regarding human nature, understandings, and relationships; clash between religion and and independent thinking

Student of Socrates, wrote The Republic about the perfectly governed society

Was Plato's student; interested in every field of human endeavor, including the natural and social sciences

The first Persian Warrior King; overcame other rulers to extend territory from the edge of India to the Mediterranean Sea

Persian governors responsible for collecting tribute, providing soldiers, and keeping order. Often had hereditary positions; had mini courts that mimicked that of the King

A Persian King

Darius's successor

An alliance formed between many Greek city-states and Persia, under the leadership of Pericles, attacked Corinth, an ally of Sparta

(431-404 B.C.E.) Highly destructive war between Athens and Sparta; Sparta eventually won, although all were weakened and left vulnerable to invaders in the north (Macedonia)

Had a short career of 13 years; conquered most of the known world to the Greeks

(323-30 B.C.E.) Period following the conquests of Alexander the Great; marked by the spreading of Greek culture to north-eastern Africa and western Asia

Came into Italy (~800 B.C.E.); established a series of small city-states that ruled the native people

Aristocrats who passed their possessions down to their sons; made up the Senate

Commoners who made up 90% of the population; represented by an elected General Assembly

A charismatic patrician general with great sway over his soldiers; formed a Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey. Caesar eventually declared himself dictator, only to be assassinated by senators on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 B.C.E.

Julius Caesar's nephew Octavian; battled Mark Anthony, and in the Battle of Actium won control of Rome in 31 B.C.E. and the Senate declared him "Augustus", meaning "revered one"

The law code from the days of the republic

The "Roman Peace" lasted until the late 2nd century C.E., when the empire reached its largest extent

The wars between the Roman Republic and Carthage (246-146 B.C.E.) Romans won parts of the southern and western Mediterranean Sea, and burned the city of Carthage to the ground and salted the earth

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them