school of thought developed by the philosopher epicurus in Hellenistic Athens; it held that happiness is the chief goal in life, and the means to achieve happiness was the pursuit of pleasure
Epicureanism
"the rule of the few," a form of government in which a small group of people exercises controls
oligarchy
in ancient Greece, a sacred shrine where a God or Goddess was said to reveal the future through a priest or priestess.
oracle
in ancient Sparta, captive peoples who were forced to work for their conquerors
helot
the early Greek city-state, consisting of a city or town and its surrounding territory
polis
in early Greece, the qualities of excellence that a hero strives to win in a struggle or contest
arete
a wall of shields created by foot soldiers marching close together in a rectangular formation
phalanx
in the early Greek military system, heavily armed foot soldiers
hoplite
a ceremony or rite
ritual
in early Greek city-states, a fortified gathering place at the top of a hill which was sometimes the sight of temples and public buildings
acropolis
an organized system of thought, from the Greek for "love of wisdom"
philosophy
a long poem that tells the deeds of a great hero, such as the lliad and the odyssey of Homer
epic poem
in ancients Athens the process for temporarily banning ambitious politicians from the city by popular vote
ostracism
a form of drama that portrays a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force and having a protagonist who is brought to ruin or extreme sorrow, especially as a result of a fatal flaw.
tragedy
the period between 461 and 429 B.C when Pericles dominated Athenian politics and Athens reached the height of its power
Age of Pericles
a school of thought developed by the teacher Zeno in Hellenistic Athens
Stoicism
a system of government in which the people participate directly in a government decision making through mass meetings
direct democracy
the age of Alexander the Great; period when the Greek language and ideas were carried to the non-Greek world.
Hellenistic Era
one of the five men elected each year in ancient Sparta who were responsible for education of youth and the conduct of all citizens
ephor
