Greece Vocabulary Study Guide citizen a legal member

Greece Vocabulary: Study Guide

citizen a legal member of a country or city-state

polis a Greek city-state

politics art and practice of government

aristocracy hereditary class of rulers (Greek for “rule by the best people”)

democracy a form of government in which citizens hold political power

Assembly met to discuss political issues and make decisions for the city-state

tyranny unjust use of power, or in ancient Greece, a government run by a strong leader

oligarchy a government in which a small group of people rule

ephor man responsible for the day-to -day operation of the government in Sparta

military state society organized for the purpose of waging war

helot a Messenian person forced to work as a lowly farmer by Sparta

tenant farmer a person who pays rent, either in money or crops, to grow crops on another person’s land

mercenary a soldier who fights for pay rather than for his or her country

Hippocratic Oath an oath taken by medical students swearing to practice medicine in an ethical way

cease to stop

Socratic Method a form of teaching in which the teacher asks students question after question to force them to think more clearly

Delian League a military alliance led by Athens

Peloponnesian League a military alliance led by Sparta

Hellenistic the form of Greek culture that emerged after Alexander’s conquests

mythology a collection of myths or stories that people tell about their gods and heroes