Knowra Ancient Greece Ancient Greece Ancient Greece was a civilization of Greek-speaking peoples around the Mediterranean, flourishing from the early first millennium BCE until Rome conquered Greece.
Polis : A self-governing city-state that joined an urban center to its surrounding territory. The polis was the main political unit of ancient Greek life.
Classical Athens : The Greek city-state that became a leading center of democracy, naval power, drama, and philosophy in the fifth century BCE. Athens offers a prominent case of political and cultural achievement.
Athenian democracy : A system of direct political participation by eligible male citizens in classical Athens. Athens developed a distinctive system of citizen decision-making.
Hellenistic period : The era from Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE to the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BCE, marked by Greek cultural spread. It followed the classical era and carried Greek culture across successor kingdoms.
Persian Empire : A succession of Iranian empires that ruled much of Western Asia and challenged Greek states in the fifth century BCE. Conflict with Persia helped unite some Greek communities while exposing their divisions.
Ancient Greek language : The language of ancient Greek communities, written in several regional forms and dialects. Shared language connected Greek communities despite their political independence.
Sparta : A Greek city-state whose society was organized around a militarized citizen elite and the subjugated helot population. Sparta shows a distinct alternative to Athens's political and social order.
Peloponnesian War : A conflict from 431 to 404 BCE between Athens and Sparta, with their allies, for dominance in Greece. The war weakened leading poleis and reshaped the balance of power.
Hellenization : The adoption or adaptation of Greek language, customs, and institutions by people in regions beyond Greece. Greek influence spread through settlements, kingdoms, trade, and administration.
Minoan civilization : A Bronze Age civilization centered on Crete, known for palace complexes, maritime exchange, and Linear A writing. Minoan Crete preceded the historical Greek world and differed in language and culture.
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