HH205 First Midterm Dates and Terms/Tucker/Fall 2003
1
NAMES AND TERMS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Agon – competition
Alcibiades – charming, unscrupulous aristocrat who convinced the Athenians to reopen the Peloponnesian War with a foolish attack on
Syracuse, Sicily. Thousands were lost and it greatly demoralized the demos, and the citizens voted democracy out of existence for
the time.
Archon – one of the nine principal magistrates of ancient Athens
Arete – excellence
Aristocracy – hereditary ruling class; nobility
Carthage – Phoenician city in modern-day Tunisia; ultimately rose to be a powerful Mediterranean nation which brought it into conflict with
Rome later (Third Punic War destroys it, Julius rebuilds it)
Civil law, natural law - doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature
Cleisthenes – Brings beginnings of direct democracy to Athens. Spartans tried to put aristocrats in power but Athenians overthrow them in
name of democracy under the aristocrat Cleisthenes (he had served the demos well). He extended democracy to local levels and
introduced ostracism.
Delian League – alliance of Greek polis led by Athens; later Athens profits from it greatly and forces its members to do as it wishes
Dictator – An ancient Roman magistrate appointed temporarily to deal with an immediate crisis or emergency
Gracchi brothers – Tiberius Gracchus proposes a limit on land per family and to distribute the leftover to the poor (wants to help the poor
and increase number of available soldiers [had to be landowners]). His is killed when he runs for reelection for fear of a dictator. His
brother, Gaius, becomes a tribune after Tiberius’ law is passed and he tries to do more (public grain holders to stabilize prices, a role
of equestrians in checking administrators, etc) but he is killed after proposing citizenship to many Italian slaves.
Julius Caesar – he and Pompey rose for the people’s cause and at first worked together but later went separate ways to gain popularity.
Pompey is appointed consul and declares Julius an outlaw. Julius marches on Rome and eventually fights Pompey’s army and wins.
Helots – serf in ancient Sparta
Hoplite Phalanx – heavily armed Greek foot soldier in a tight formation with overlapping shields
Hubris – excessive pride
Imperator – one who possess imperium; authority to raise troops, make war and peace, raise money, punish citizens, and rule Rome
Imperium – the right and power to command, civilian administrative and judicial authority and military authority
Monarchy – a form of government in which the power is vested in hereditary kings and queens
Octavian /Augustus Caesar – ruled with complete power but made it look like the Republic still operated and instituted a number of lasting
reforms; conquered more land than any other Roman
Oligarchy – a form of government in which the right to participate is always conditioned on the possession of wealth, social status, military
position, or achievement
Optimates – aristocracy of Rome
Ostracism – exile of a politician for ten years; done once a year by Athenians
Patrician – noble Roman; exclusive right to serve as magistrate or Senator before 3rd century BCE
Plebeian – commoner in ancient Rome
Patron/client relationship Pax Romana – period of peace in the Roman empire
Pericles – advanced Greek democracy and built the Parthenon; died in a plague while under siege by the Spartans
Pietas/dignitas/gravitas – weight, importance
Pisistratus – Athenian tyrant who promoted athletic competition and literary efforts
Polis – Greek city-state organized around an urban center (an asty); around that was the land (khora)
Populares – people’s party of ancient Rome
Socrates – great philosopher who sought to challenge conventional thinking and assumptions; was put to death and never wrote anything
(his student recorded dialogues of Socrates).
Praetorian Guard – elite bodyguard of a Roman emperor; legion-sized (3,000-6,000 infantry + 100-200 cavalry)
Princeps – First Citizen; the title Octavian preferred to be called (set better with the people)
Solon – elected as archon as a compromise (he was born an aristocrat but made his wealth as a merchant). He instituted a number of
political reforms that would lead to democracy later. He outlawed debt slavery, encouraged cash crops and urban industry, and gave
more citizens a say in government.
Sophist – professional Greek 5th century philosopher known for being superficial and false
Stoicism – philosophy of Stoics; believe the universe had a certain order and that all had a plan in life; believed in “right reason”
Strategos – general; elected to command both land and sea forces
Twelve Tables – the codified Roman laws in 450BC that were brought about after a plebeian uprising
Tyranny – Absolute power, often exercised unjustly or cruelly