Download Exam 1 | HIST - Western Civilization and more Quizzes Cultural History of Europe in PDF only on Docsity!
Oresteia Trilogy
Aeschylus. Agememnon returns, killed daughter. His wife kills him. Son kills mother. Son put on trial and acquitted by Athena. TERM 2
Archimedes
DEFINITION 2 287-212 BC Scientist of Hellenistic period. Geometry of spheres and cylinders; pi; and hydrostatics. Practical inventor-->Archimedean Screw, used to pump water out of mines and lift irrigation weights. Constructed devices to thwart Romans. TERM 3
Herodotus
DEFINITION 3 484 BC c.425 BC Historian--Greece. Author of The Persian Wars-->1st real history of Western Civ. Conflict between Greek freedom and Persian depotism. Traveled widely for info--sources = oral history. Sometimes added considerable "fanciful" material, but also exhibited a critical attitude toward materials he used. TERM 4
Menander
DEFINITION 4 342291 BC Athenian playwright--New Comedy. Simple plots--
typically, hero falls in love with ok prostitute who's actually long lst daughter of rich neighbor. They marry and live happily ever after. TERM 5
Diogenes
DEFINITION 5 Hellenistic philosopher-->escapist-->cynicism. Whole world's out of control. The worst's gonna happen. Liked to shock people. Basically dropped out of society.
Alexander (the
Great)
Philip's son-->Macedonian but Athenian characteristics. Wanted to unify Greece so, to put their minds on something else, attacks Persian empire. Won. Hellenistic. TERM 7
Epicurus
DEFINITION 7 341-270 BC Hellenistic philosopher-->escapist. Isolate yourself from things that will hurt. Surround with things that will make you happy. Friends not lovers-->lovers will eventually leave you or die. TERM 8
Allegory of the Cave
DEFINITION 8 By Plato, about Socrates. Learn by answering questions. Only see that's in front of you. (In cave, people behind you but see shadow...) TERM 9
Aristotle
DEFINITION 9 384-322 BC We can only know what we sense. Take our reasoning, and from what we sense we must gather things. Beginnings of scientific method-->gathered info, made hypothesis, checked hypothesis. Golden mean. Plato's student but didn't like his ideas. TERM 10
The Republic
DEFINITION 10 Socratic dialogue written by Plato sometime around 380 BC concerning the definition of justice and the order and character of the just city and the just man. Def of justice = harmony in a structured political body. Ideal society of 3 main classes. People who escape "cave" see bigger picture and become guardians/rulers.
Phalanx
600, 550 BC Greek battle formation. Hoplites walked shoulder to shoulder, in a rectangle, in a tight order, usually 8 ranks deep. The safety of the phalanx depended on the solidarity and discipline of its members. Shield wall. Men armed with spears, spikes etc. TERM 17
Lycurgus
DEFINITION 17 396-323 BC Lawmaker (Sparta)--changed entire social and political structure: 2 kings (war/peace), Council of Elders (28 60+ men, for life), Assembly (every other Spartan male, yes/no), Ephors (overseers of Kings.) Culture: isolated, no foreigners, no private property, no $, communal ownership, egalitarian, all men military, men marry @ 20, sexes segregated, women exercise outside, @ 30 = citizen, @ 40 = leave dorm, child @ 7 = put in dorm TERM 18
helots
DEFINITION 18 Captured Laconians in Sparta; slaves tied to land; workers. No rights-->governmental etc and human. Secret police were allowed to kill any helot considered dangerous. The state officially declared war on helots each year. In 630 and 640, helots revolted and were almost successful. TERM 19
Minoan
DEFINITION 19 3000-1150 BC Pre Greek--on Crete. Trade society, no walls but there was no worry about internal or external strife. Flora and fauna drawing. Indoor plumbing, hot water, little places to sleep. Theatre. One goddess above all. Sacrifices, wine, sports for her. Bull = central part-->Minotaur, bull leaping. Changed hands around 1450, 1400-->new language (linear B) we can read. New pottery, art-->prbs Mycenaeans. TERM 20
Ma'at
DEFINITION 20 Chief principal of Egyptian kings that conveyed the idea of truth and justice, especially right order and harmony. This order and harmony had existed throughout the universe since beginning of time. Pharaohs were the divine instruments who maintained it and were themselves subject to it.
Homer
early 8th C. BC Illiad and Odyssey. Illias--epic of Trojan War--
"wrath of Achilles." Odyssey-->"virtue is a better policy than vice." Many scholars believe, although describe Mycenaean warriors, these works really describe social conditions of Dark Ages. Viewed as history and gave the Greeks texts to educate generations of Greek males. A hero strives for excellence, or arete (even women.) TERM 22
Hesiod
DEFINITION 22 ~750-650 BC Poet from Boetia (central Greece). Wrote poem Works and Days. A farmer, and distrusted aristocracy. Wanted to show that the gods punished injustice and the way to success was to work. Greek mythology, farming techniques, early economic thought, archaic Greek astrology, and ancient time-keeping. Wrote about everyday life. TERM 23
Thales
DEFINITION 23 Thales 624-546 A pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Attempted to explain natural phenomena without references to mythology. The first to define general principles and set forth hypotheses. Used geometry to calculate distances, and credited with first use of deductive reasoning applied to geometry. Water was everything*-- the world started from water. Innovative use of geometry. Influence on other Greek thinkers. TERM 24
Assyrians
DEFINITION 24 Began in Fertile Crescent. Sumerians and Akkadians were there, then Akkadians fell and split into 2 nations: Babylon and Assyria. TERM 25
Book of the Dead
DEFINITION 25 Magical incantations that ensured a favorable journey to a happy afterlife. There were specific instructions explaining what to do when confronted by judge of dead. A negative confession (list of what one had not done) and a positive confession (listed good actions). Buried with dead.
Soloman
c. 970-930 BC David's son. Expanded political and military establishments and extended trading activities of Israelites. Building projects, especially Temple in Jerusalem-->housed Ark of the Covenant. Israel was at the height of its power BUT led to dissatisfaction among some of his subjects. TERM 32
covenant
DEFINITION 32 Abraham made a pact with God. Hebrews would do what He said and in return He would reward them with success; they'd be the chosen people. If they wouldn't, God would punish them. TERM 33
Zoroaster
DEFINITION 33 (Persians); Semi-legendary figure born in 660 BC. Began a prophet of "true religion." Monotheistic. Ahuramazda = God. Had: Good Thought, Right, Piety. Gave all humans free will and power to choose between right and wrong. Every soul faced a final judgement of its actions. Paradise or Abyss of Torment. TERM 34
Mystery Religions
DEFINITION 34 Included (for Greeks) initiation into secret rites that promised a more emotional involvement with spiritual forces and a greater hope of immortality. Eleusinian cult connected with Demeter (fertility) biggest one. Basically cults. TERM 35
Amos
DEFINITION 35 9th C. BC Prophet (Hebrew). Prophesied the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria.
Mycenaean
1600-1100 BC Overthrew Minoans. Intermarried with Minoans. More militant, warrior culture. Different dress. Center of culture on Peloponnesus pen.Thick, fortified walls. Pirates of Mediterranean. TrojanWar. Beehive tombs-->burial grounds for elite. Largest = 48' diameter, 43' tall. Capstone on top = 100 tons. Tholos. Might have weakened themselves to be overthrown (battled too much). By 1100, done. TERM 37
Aeschylus
DEFINITION 37 525-456 BC First tragedian whose plays are known to us. Only 7 have survived. Simple plots. Focuses on a tragic event and its meaning. Sometimes a trilogy: Oresteia Trilogy. Agememnon kills daughter...etc TERM 38
Euripides
DEFINITION 38 c. 485-406 BC Athenian tragedian; more realistic characters. Plots = more complex, greater interest in real life situations. The Bacchae: Dionysus. Euripides questioned traditional moral and religious values. Portrayed war as brutal and barbaric (not glorious) and felt compassion for women and children who suffered from it. TERM 39
Thucydides
DEFINITION 39 c. 460 - c. 400 BC Good historian; Athenian and participant in Peloponnesian War. He'd been elected general but a defeat got him exiled. Saw war and politics in purely rational terms, as activities of human beings. Accuracy and precision of facts. Insight into human condition. Human nature was constant. Political situations recur in similar fashion and the study of history is of great value n understanding the present. TERM 40
Sophocles
DEFINITION 40 c. 496-406 BC Great Athenian playwright. Oedipus the King & Antigone.
Metics
Resident foreigners in ancient Athens who were not permitted full rights of citizenship but did receive protection of the law. Subject to military services and funding of festivals.
