Ancient Greece: City-States and Democracy

📋 Course Outline

1. City-States (Poleis)
2. Athenian Democracy
3. Greek Philosophers
4. Greek Religion and Mythology
5. Greek Art and Architecture
6. Greek Literature and Drama
7. Greek Science and Mathematics
8. Hellenistic Culture
9. Legacy of Greece

📖 1. City-States (Poleis)

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Polis (City-State): An independent, self-governing community comprising a city and its surrounding territory, with its own laws and customs. Examples include Athens, Sparta, Corinth.
• Acropolis: A fortified hilltop within a polis, often housing temples and religious sites, symbolizing civic pride and religious devotion.
• Agora: The central open space in a polis used for markets, political gatherings, and social interaction, serving as the heart of civic life.
• Oligarchy: A form of government where power resides with a small, privileged elite, common in some poleis like Sparta.
• Democracy: A system of government where power is exercised directly by the citizens, notably developed in Athens.
• Hoplite: A heavily armed foot soldier of the Greek city-states, representing the citizen-soldier ideal and contributing to the development of civic identity.

📝 Essential Points