The Greeks

the Greek word for a city-state, geographic and political center of Greek life, contained between 5,000 and 10,000 citizens, made up of villages, field, and orchards

type of government in which people govern themselves and the majority rules

a government in which only a few people have power

the study of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.

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

heavily armed Greek infantrymen who marched and fought in close ranks; most of the recruits were middle-class citizens

enslaved people in ancient Sparta

a high-ranked government official in Sparta who was elected by the council of elders

A literary work which ends happily because the hero or heroine is able to overcome obstacles and get what he or she wants.

A serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character

in ancient Greece, an athletic competition held every four years in honor of Zeus

way of teaching developed by Socrates that used a question-and-answer format to force students to use their reason to see things for themselves

The Mediterranean society that formed on the island of Crete and who were a big maritime society.

a group of people who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C.; leading city called Mycenae which could withstand any attack; nobles lived in splendor; these people invaded many surrounding kingdoms

a Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer) describing the siege of Troy