Vocabulary
agora - in early Greek city-states, an open area that served as both a market and a meeting
place
colony - settlement in a new territiory that keeps close ties with its homeland
comedy - form of drama in which the story has a happy ending
democracy - government in which all citizens share in the running of the government
direct democracy - system of government in which people gather at mass meetings to decide on
government matters
drama - story told by actors who pretend to be characters in the story
epic - long poem that tells about legendary or heroic deeds
fable - short tale that teaches a lesson
Hellenistic Era - period when the Greek language and Greek ideas spread to the non-Greek peoples
of southwest Asia
helot - person who was conqureed and enslaved by the ancient Spartans
legacy - what a person leaves behind when he or she dies
myth - traditional story describing gods or heroes or explaining natural events
oligarchy - government in which a small group of people holds power
oracle - sacred shrine where a priest or priestess spoke for a god or goddess
peninsula - bod of land with water on three sides
philosopher - thinker who seeks wisdom and ponders questions about life
philosophy - study of the nature and meaning of life; comes from the Greek word for "love of
wisdom"
polis - the early Greek city-state, made up of a city and the surrounding countryside and run
like an independent country
representative democracy - system of government in which citizens choose a smaller group to
make laws and governmental decisions on their behalf
Socratic method - way of teaching developed by Socrates that used a question-and-answer format
to force students to use their reason to see things for themselves
Sophist - professional teacher in ancient Greece; believed people should use knowledge to improve
themselves and developed the art of public speaking and debate
tragedy - form of drama in which a person struggles to overcome difficulties but meets an unhappy
end
tyrant - person who takes power by force and rules with total authority
