Download Chapter 8 Study Guide Key

Chapter 8 Study
Guide Key
7th Grade World History
Vocabulary
• Aristocrat: Rich landowners in Greece
• Dark Age: Nothing was developed; disaster and raids; warfare and
disorder; nothing got done during this time. No history
• Tyrant: A leader who held power through the use of force.
• Polis: The Greek word for a city-state
• Classical Age an age marked by great achievements; architecture,
inventions, basically everything is stable (government) so people
can work on improving society
• Citizens: People who had the right to participate in government
Democracy
• Type of government in which people rule
themselves.
• Cleisthenes created the first democracy
• Government is based on the votes of its free
citizens
• People were encouraged to speak
• “Rule by Many”
Oligarchy
• A government in which only a few people
have power
• Rich land owners or aristocrats took
power
• Common people had little say
• “Rule by Few”
Tyranny:
• When a leader gains power (and holds it)
through the use of force
• Ancient Tyrants were normally good
rulers
• Tyrants were able to stay in power
because they had strong armies and
people supported them.
Cleisthenes
• Father of Democracy
• Developed and created the first
democracy.
• DID NOT want aristocrats to run the
government.
Pericles
• A leader in Athens during the time of
democracy.
• Wanted people to participate in the
government – and created paying jobs
for this (pay for jury duty and some
elected officials)
• Believed that Athens’ government
was superior to other city-states’.
Draco
•An aristocrat who created very
harsh laws after the common
Athenians attempted to
overthrow the oligarchy (small
crimes were punishable by death)
Solon
• An aristocrat – power in 590s BCE
• Reduces the strict laws of Draco to
appease the common people of Athens.
• Under his laws, all free men become
citizens. This to help give some power to
the common people of Athens.
Peisistratus
• The first tyrant of Athens.
• Came riding into Athens with “Athena” in 546 BCE.
• He was an aristocrat – and the woman probably just a very tall
lady from a near-by city-state. Claims to be under her
protection – and becomes first tyrant.
• He gives loans to farmers/reduces taxes and under him the
economy of Athens flourishes. He brings peace and
prosperity.
• However, when he dies his son Hippias takes over. He follows
in his father’s footsteps until his brother is murdered. He then
takes out his revenge on everyone – seeing what we consider
a tyrant today – very harsh rule. He is eventually overthrown
by the aristocrats.
Give and explain positives of Greek’s geography (landforms, climate, etc.) and
negatives. (min. 3 each)
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Mountains – Positive & Negative
Unpredictable rain fall – Negative
No major river – Negative
Mild Temperatures - Positive
Many peninsulas & Islands – Positive &
Negative
Minoans
• Lived on the Island of Crete
• They were excellent ship builders. Lived on the sea basically
big in trading;
• Destroyed by a volcano and tsunami wave that destroyed the
civilization.
• Weren’t considered Greek because they didn’t speak it.
Mycenaean
• Considered the first Greeks
• Attacked others and built fortresses
around Greece.
• They took over Crete when Minoans
declined.
• Mycenaean society began to fall apart in
the 1200’s BC when invaders from Europe
swept Greece. Earthquakes also destroyed
many cities and Greece slid into the Dark
Age.
How was the Athenian government ruled
prior to democracy? There are three ways –
please explain each with as much detail as
possible noting key figures when appropriate.
Monarchy should be mentioned as the very first. Oligarchy &
Tyranny should be fully explained here. Key figures such as
Draco, Pericles, Cleisthenes, Solon & Peisistratus should be
discussed.
How was the form of democracy in ancient
Greece different from our current democratic
government?
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•
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Representative vs. Direct
People able to vote – women – foreigners – military service
Way in which leaders were elected – vote vs. lottery
Levels of government – 1 vs. 3 (due to size)