A large body of water bordered by Europe, Asia, and Africa, which lies to the south of the Greek mainland.

The body of water that lies to the east of the Greek mainland.

Sea to the west of Greece.

With 400+ founded colonies, the Greeks facilitated trade among the Mediterranean region and its inhabitants, spreading the Greek language and its cultural traditions and also stimulating development of surrounding areas.

A piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.

Self-governing city surrounded by its territory, known as polis in ancient Greek times.

A fortified hilltop in an ancient Greek city.

An open area in Greece where people met to sell things and gather for discussions, also known as a central marketplace.

A person with certain rights and responsibilities in his or her country or community.

A powerful Greek military polis that valued military training.

A democratic Greek polis that valued education and the arts.

A government ruled by a few powerful people.

All citizens share in running the government.

Group of the most wealthy and privileged.

Cruel and unjust use of power.

A ruler who has complete power over a country.

A long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are significant to the culture of the poet.

A body of stories about gods and heroes that try to explain how the world works.

Greek culture spread across western Asia and northeastern Africa after the conquests of Alexander the Great. The period ended with the fall of the last major Hellenistic kingdom to Rome, but Greek cultural influence persisted until the spread of Islam.

King of Macedonia who conquered Greece, Egypt, and Persia. He united the Greek city-states.

Monotheistic religion founded before 600 BCE in the Persian Empire. Teachings involve a single divine figure with cosmic conflict between good and evil always present.

The body of water that lies to the east of the Greek mainland.