Download WH Unit 2: Classical Empires Vocab Alexander the Great Aristotle

WH Unit 2: Classical Empires Vocab
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WH Unit 2: Classical Empires Vocab
Word List
Alexander the Great
Aristotle
Augustus Caesar
Christianity
Germanic invasions
Hellenistic
Jesus
Julius Caesar
Plato
Roman law
Socrates
city-state
consul
democracy
dictator
economy
monarchy
oligarchy
patrician
philosophers
plebeian
polis
polytheism
republic
senate
Definitions
Alexander the Great
Macedonia's young king and student of Aristotle who conquered the
Persian Empire, Egypt, and the Indus Valley.
Aristotle (EHruhstotuhl) One of the greatest of the ancient Athenian philosophers; pupil of
Plato; teacher of Alexander the Great (384-322 BC).
Augustus Caesar
Rome's first emperor who stabalized the frontier, erected splendid buildings,
and created an enduring government.
Christianity (krihscheeanihtee) noun A monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of Jesus
Christ who promised eternal life and embraced all people. Spread throughout the Roman empire due
to an excellent road system that allowed for the easy exchange of ideas.
Germanic invasions
Invaded the Roman empire due to a fear of attacks by the Huns. Disrupted
Roman trade and created a disruption in the Roman military. One of the causes of the eventual fall
of Rome.
Hellenistic (hEHluhnihstihk) Relating to the civilization, language, art, science, and literature of
the Greek world from the reign of Alexander the Great to the late second century B.C. Hellenistic
sculpture, for example, was very realistic and emotional.
Jesus (jeezuhs) noun A prophet of the first century; to Christians he was both God and man--the
Messiah sent to save the human race from the sin it inherited through the Fall of Man (circa 8 BC 29 AD).
Julius Caesar
One of the leaders of the first Triumvirate of Rome. He was a military genius.
He was appointed dictator for life by the Senate.
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Plato (playtoh) A Greek student of Socrates
Wrote of a perfectly governed society: Only the elite would vote for what was best for all of the
people. Started the Academy-a philosophy school in Athens.
Roman law
All persons had the right to recieve equal treatment, to be punished only for
actions, and to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Socrates (sokruhteez) noun The first great Greek philosopher. Wanted people to think about
their values and actions. Plato was one of his students. Was sentenced to death for corrupting his
students with his ideas.
city-state
A city and its surrounding lands functioning as an independent political unit. Both
Athens and Sparta, for example.
consul (konsuhl) noun
In the early roman government, the chief executives of the government.
democracy (dihmokruhsee) noun
through representatives.
A government controlled by its citizens, either directly or
dictator (dihktaytur) noun In ancient Rome, a political leader given absolute power to make laws
and command the army for a limited time.
economy (ihkonuhmee) The system of production and distribution and consumption in a
country. In Rome, this was characterized by trade, slavery, and agriculture.
monarchy (monorkee) noun
A government in which power is in the hands of a single person.
oligarchy (oluhgorkee) noun A government in which power is in the hands of a few people-especially one in which rule is based on wealth.
patrician (puhtrihshuhn) noun,adjective In ancient Rome, a member of the wealthy, privileged
upper-class.
philosophers (fuhlosuhfurz) noun Thinkers who use logic and reason to investigate the nature of
the universe, human society, and morality.
plebeian (pluhbeeuhn) noun,adjective In ancient Rome, one of the common farmers, artisans,
and merchants who made up most of the population.
polis (pohluhs)
750 B.C.
A Greek city-state--the fundamental political unit of ancient Greece after about
polytheism (polihtheeihzuhm) Belief in multiple Gods. Roman rulers, for example, opposed
Christianity becuase Christians would not worship Roman gods.
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republic (reepuhbluhk) noun A form of government in which power is in the hands of
representatives and leaders are elected by citizens who have the right to vote.
senate (sEHnuht) noun
of aristocrats.
In ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only
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