Term Definitions (Group 2)

Assignment:
On your blogs... define the following terms. Remember, these are more than just basic definitions. These definitions should include but not be limited to the following...
Definition, what was is, why is it important, what impact did it have, what effect did it have on other events....

Polis-
A ancient greek city-state. It is the system that governs all of greece- it is how each city is organized and it is how daily life is pursued in greece.

Homer-
He was a well-known, highly respected man of greek literature. He was known to be the first European poet. He wrote the Iliad and The Odyssey, two epic tales that still wander through our english and history classes in the modern world.

Iliad & The Odyssey-
These two book-like tales are actually epics. Written by Homer. Written in a greek literary device known as Ionic. These two poems are subjected for use to examplify the greatest works of western literature.

Pericles-
Athenian general involved in the persian and peloponnesian wars. He was the one man who realized that the spartans and the athenians are the same people. He convinced the spartans and the athenians to make a treaty to end the war; allowing the polis system to survive!

Persian War-
Begun by King Xerxes because of his desires to have control of greece for its fertility and beauty, along with adding to his existing population of his empire. At the battle of Thermopolae: Leonitis stands up with 300 other men just to get them slaughtered, but to prove that they are brave and led the polis's to unite as one army and banding their militaries to work together to push out the persians.(That's known as the Battle of Platea which is when Greece defeats the Persians.)

Peloponnesian War-
The greek civil war. The polis's chose sides strictly based on the types of governments. The Athenian Democrats(& similar governments) vs. Spartan Oligarchies(& similar governments). Pericles brought the polis's to their senses and led them to create a treaty to end the war, making Sparta forfeit. The treaty is what single handedly saved the polis system! But then Hermes statues were vandalized and an Athenian General was accused for it. This General fled to Sparta to use it as a safe haven, but ended up re-igniting the angry Spartans and prepared them to defeat the Athenians. They wiped out the city leading the Macedonians to sweep in and conquer.

Centuriate Assembly-
First type of Roman Government. This type of government allowed every citizen to participate. It was setup with a senate which is above everything else, once your in you are in for life. Along with the senate the centuriate assemble there were 193 centuries which are groups of people based on their class(98 wealthy/95 poor). There was one vote allowed per century.

Conflict of the Orders-
This consists of the poor centuries becoming tired of being outnumbered by the wealthy centuries and not really being allowed to have a say in what gets passed or not. The Plebians, the newer poor centuries, were the ones who fought for the wealthy also known as the Patricians, the native romans that date back to the beginning of Rome, so they decided to fight for their rights for over 200 years to make a say in the governmental process.

Tribal Assembly-
This is created when the Senate and the upper wealth caved in after 200 years of strike. This assembly consisted of 36 tribes which were based on where you came from not based on your class or state of wealth. It gave the Plebians more of a say in the government and an opportunity to become a senator. It also alowed them to be allowed to intermarry or change social classes which gave them another chance other than war to move up. It gave a new social structure consisting of: two consuls, praetor, Aedile, the Senate, and the Quaestors.

Patrician-
A Native Roman that dates back to the beginning of Rome. One of the many upper Roman class citizens.

Plebeian-
They are the citizens that fought for their say in government. The Plebians are also known as the newer poor class centuries. They are the ones who changed the government from the Centuriate assembly to a Tribal Assembly!

Senator-
They are the citizens that are the bosses of the Centuriate Assembly and assist the rulers in the Tribal Assembly. Once these roman citizens become senators they are in the senate for life.

Consul-
A consul is one of two leaders. It is what the leaders of the senate are called. They are elected by the senate to ensure that one man never again has the power of ruling the government and the people to himself.