Today in class we took notes:

Citizens and Communities: The Greek City-States

Greek city-states were small places, generally consisting if no more than a town and a few square miles of surrounding countryside. Athens and Sparta, each about the same size as a couple of U.S. counties, were giants among city-states

Acropolis- The high fortified citadel and religious center of an ancient greek town.

Both fortresses and temples were vitally important ot the Greek city-states. They were fiercely competitive communities that continually fought one another, and their single most important civic activity was the worship of the gods and goddess on whom each community was thought to depend on


City-states and Citizens

The Greek city-states first developed at exactly the time that the Assyrians were reaching for power westward from Mesopotamia, but Greece was protected by many miles of land and sea.

hoplite- A heavily armed and armored citizen-solider of Ancient Greece

phalanx- A unit of several hundred hoplites, who closed ranks by joining shields when approaching the enemy

Monarchy- A state in which supreme power is held by a single, usually hereditary ruler

Oligarchy- a state in which supreme power is held by a small group

triremes- Massive fighting vessels with three banks of oars, used to ram or board enemy ships

tyranny- rule by a self-proclaimed dictator

democracy- In ancient greece, a form of government in which all adult male citizens were entilted to take part in decisions making

Helots- Noncitizens forced to work for landholders in the ancient city-state of Sparta

aristocrats- members of prominent and long-established Athenian families