Cyrus the Great
definition- king of Persia, united the persian empire (circa 600-529 BC) significance- founder of the Persian empire
Hellenism
definition- Culture derived from the Greek civilization that flourished between 800 and 400 B.C.E. significance- Greek culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world
Hellenistic culture
definition- Greek culture blended with Egyptian, Persian and Indian ideas, as a result of Alexander the Great's Empire. significance- spread Greek influence
polis
definition- city-state form of government typical of Greek political organization from 800 to 400 B.C.E. significance- power centralized with local city government
Socrates
definition- Athenian philosopher (ca. 470-399 B.C.E.) who shifted the emphasis of philosophical discussion to ethics and human behavior. significance- taught Plato and developed what is now called the socratic method of teaching
direct democracy
definition- citizens have a direct vote on laws and how the government operates significance- used in ancient greece
Pericles
definition- Athenian leader noted for advancing democracy significance- promoted democracy
Persian Wars
definition- A series of wars between Greek city-states and the Persian Empire (5th century B.C.). significance- Greek victory led into Greeces golden age
Peloponnesian War
definition- war from 431 to 404 B.C.E. between Athens and Sparta for domination in Greece significance- Spartans won but failed to achieve political unification in Greece
Macedon
definition- kingdom of northern Greece significance-
Phillip II
definition- ruled Macedon from 359 to 336 B.C.E significance- founder of centralized kingdom; conquered Greece
Alexander the Great
definition- son and successor of Philip II; conquered Persian empire and advanced to borders of India significance- attempted to combine Greek and Persian culture.
Aristotle
definition- Greek philosopher; taught that knowledge was based upon observation of phenomena in material world significance- teacher of Alexander
Roman Republic
definition-The period from 507 to 31 B.C.E., during which Rome was largely governed by the aristocratic Roman Senate. significance- citizens voted representatives into power
Roman Empire
definition-An empire established by Augustus in 27 BC and divided in AD 395 . significance- at its peak lands in Europe and Africa and Asia were ruled by ancient Rome.
patricians
definition- the wealthy class in Roman society; landowners significance-
plebians
definition- ordinary roman citizens significance-
consuls
definition-two chief executives of the Roman republic significance- there where two unless there was an emergency and one could be chosen as dictator
tribunes
definition- plebeian officials elected annually during the Roman republic significance-
Julius Caesar
definition-general responsible for the conquest of Gaul; brought army back to Rome and overthrew republic significance- assassinated in 44 B.C.E. by conservative senators
Octavian (Augustus Caesar)
definition- later took name of Augustus; Julius Caesar's grandnephew and adopted son; defeated conservative senators after Caesar's assassination significance- became first Roman emperor.
Diocletian
definition- Roman emperor of 284 C.E. Attempted to deal with fall of Roman Empire by splitting the empire into two regions run by co-emperors significance- Split Rome into two parts
Constantine
definition-Roman emperor (r. 312-337). After reuniting the Roman Empire, he moved the capital to Constantinople significance- made Christianity a favored religion.
Senate
definition-In ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of aristocrats. significance- elected representatives
Zoroastrianism
definition-Persian religion founded by Zoroaster; taught that humans had the freedom to choose between right and wrong significance- human freedom of choice
Christianity
definition-Religion emerging from Middle East in the first century C.E. holding Jesus to be the son of God who sacrificed himself on behalf of mankind significance- monotheistic exstention of Jeudism
Kush
definition-An African state that developed along the upper reaches of the Nile c. 100 B.C.E significance- conquered Egypt and ruled it for several centuries.
Shintoism
definition-a religion based in Japan, marked by worship of nature and reverence for ancestors significance-
Coptic Christianity
definition-form of Christianity that took hold in Egypt and Ethiopia 1500 years ago significance- differed with other Christian beliefs about Jesus's humanity