Ancient Mediterranean Big-Picture Review Flashcards

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Mesopotamia

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A civilization centered on river valleys where people believed humans existed to serve the gods. Society emphasized divine kingship, social hierarchy, unpredictable nature, and a bleak afterlife reflected in its art and institutions.

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Hammurabi

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Babylonian king known for a law code that prescribed different penalties by social class and reinforced order and hierarchy. His code is often contrasted with later ethical legal traditions because it emphasizes retribution and status.

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Hebrew Monotheism

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A major religious shift where God is conceived as moral, personal, and distinct from nature. This worldview prioritized ethical covenant, moral accountability, and prophetic critique of rulers.

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Torah

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The foundational Hebrew law and religious text framing a covenant between God and people with an emphasis on moral obligations. It is often contrasted with Hammurabi’s code by prioritizing ethical duties over merely maintaining order.

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Minoans

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An Aegean civilization noted for trade-based economy and fluid, nature-inspired art. Their culture was less militaristic and emphasized maritime connections and aesthetic naturalism.

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Mycenaeans

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Early Greek mainland people characterized by fortified citadels, warrior culture, and the development of early Greek language. They contrast with Minoans by being more militaristic and defense-oriented.

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Polis

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The Greek city-state that served as the primary political and social identity for citizens. It emphasized citizen participation, public debate, and local governance.

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Persian Wars

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A series of conflicts that united Greek city-states, boosted Athenian pride, and inspired cultural works like art and drama. They helped solidify a Greek identity framed around freedom versus tyranny.

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The Odyssey

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An epic focused on intelligence, identity, temptation, hospitality, justice, and loyalty as central themes. The narrative emphasizes cleverness over raw strength and consequences for breaches of hospitality.

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Odysseus' Hubris

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A character flaw where Odysseus reveals his true name after blinding the Cyclops, which brings divine retribution. This pride prolongs his journey home when Poseidon punishes him for the boast.

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Greek Classical Art

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Art of the Classical period that emphasizes balance, idealized proportions, calmness, and controlled emotion. It seeks perfect forms and measured beauty rather than overt drama.

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Hellenistic Art

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Art produced after Classical Greece noted for emotional intensity, dramatic movement, and realistic portrayals of suffering. Sculptures often capture moments of action or expressive anguish.

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Athenian Democracy

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A system of direct democracy in which male citizens participated directly in decision-making and valued public debate. Citizenship was limited to free-born males, excluding women, slaves, and foreigners.

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Socrates

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A philosopher famous for asking probing ethical questions to expose ignorance and stimulate moral reflection. He focused on dialogue and the examined life rather than writing systematic treatises.

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Plato

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A philosopher who emphasized ideal Forms and abstract truth, arguing that the material world is a shadow of higher realities. He founded the Academy and explored justice, governance, and knowledge theoretically.

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Aristotle

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A philosopher who prioritized observation, classification, and logical analysis of the natural world and human affairs. He developed systematic methods for studying ethics, politics, and science rooted in empirical investigation.