The oldest and simplest style of Greek column, with a plain capital (top).

A Greek column style featuring scroll-like decorations called volutes at the capital.

The most ornate Greek column style, decorated with acanthus leaves at the capital

A long narrative poem about heroic deeds, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

A serious dramatic play that usually ended in disaster for the main character, developed in Athens.

Homer's epic poem about Odysseus's ten-year journey home after the Trojan War.

Athletic competitions held every four years in honor of Zeus, bringing together Greeks from all city-states.

A medical ethics pledge created by Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," still used by doctors today.

The rights and responsibilities of being a member of a polis. In Athens, only free adult males born in the city could be citizens.

The process of governing or managing a city-state's affairs and making decisions for the community.

A series of conflicts (499-449 BCE) between Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, including famous battles at Marathon and Thermopylae.

A military alliance led by Athens to defend against Persian attacks, later became an Athenian empire.

A military alliance led by Sparta to counter Athenian power.

A devastating war (431-404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta that weakened all Greek city-states.

An agreement between city-states to support each other, usually for military protection.

Macedonian king who conquered a vast empire from Greece to India, spreading Greek culture throughout the known world.

The period after Alexander's conquests when Greek culture blended with local cultures across his empire.

The act of taking control of territory through military force, as Alexander did across Asia and Africa.

The spread of Greek culture, ideas, and customs throughout Alexander's empire.

A large territory controlled by a single ruler, like Alexander's empire that stretched from Greece to India.

The separate territories that Alexander's empire was divided into after his death.

The kingdom in Egypt ruled by one of Alexander's generals, Ptolemy, and his descendants.

The kingdom in Asia ruled by another of Alexander's generals, Seleucus, and his descendants.