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Unit 3 Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Epic | A long narrative poem celebrating the deeds of legendary or traditional heroes |
| Myth | A traditional story about gods, ancestores, or heroes, told to explain the natural world or the customs and beliefs of a society |
| Polis | A Greek city-state- the fundemental political unit of ancient Greece after about 750 B.C. |
| Acropolis | A fortified hilltop in an acient Greek city |
| Monarchy | A government in which power is in the hands of a single person |
| Aristocracy | A government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility |
| Oligarchy | A government in which power is in the hands of a few people |
| Tyrant | In ancient Greece, a powerful individual who gained control of a city-state's government by appealing to the power for support |
| Democracy | A government controlled by its citizens |
| Helot | In the society of ancient Sparta, a peasant bound to the land |
| Phalanx | A military formation of foot soldiers armed with spears and sheilds |
| Direct Democracy | A government in which citizens rule directly rather than through represenitives |
| Classical Art | The art of ancient Greece and Rome, in which hormony, order, and proportion were emphasized |
| Tragedy | A serious form of drama dealing with in downfall of a heroic or noble character |
| Comedy | A humorous form of drama that often includes slapstick or satire |
| Philosopher | A thinker who uses logic and reason to investigate the nature of the universe, human society, and morality |
| Republic | A form of government in which power is in the hands of represenitves and leaders are elected by citezens who have the right to vote |
| Patrician | In ancient Rome, a member of the wealthy, privileged upper class |
| Plebian | In ancient Rome, one of the cooman farmers, artisans, and merchants who made up most of the population |
| Tribune | In ancient Rome, an official elected by the plebeians to protect their rights |
| Consul | In the Roman republic, one of the two powerful officials elected each year to command the army and direct government |
| Senate | In ancient Rome, the supreme governing body, originally made up only of aristocrats |
| Dictator | a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force. |
| Legion | a unit of 3,000–6,000 men in the ancient Roman army. |
| Civil War | a war between citizens of the same country. |
| Triumvirate | a group of three men holding power, in particular the unofficial coalition of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in 60 BC and a coalition formed by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian in 43 BC. |
| Apostle | each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ. |
| Bishop | a senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders. |
| Pope | the bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church. |
| Infalation | a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. |
| Mercenary | primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics. |
| Aqueduct | A pipeline or channel built to carry water to populated areas |