Peninsula
A piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides.
Peloponnesus
The peninsula forming the southern part of the mainland of Greece.
Isthmus
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas.
Phoenicians
Located on eastern Mediterranean coast; invented the alphabet which used sounds rather than symbols like cuniform.
Mainland
Main part of a country or territory.
Rugged
(adj.) rough, irregular, severe, stern; strong; stormy.
Zues
King of gods.
Mount Olympus
The highest mountain in Greece, where the ancient Greeks believed many of their gods and goddesses lived.
Myths
A symbolic story expressing ideas about reality or spiritual history.
Olympics
Greek athletic competitions to celebrate the Gods and feed city-state rivalries.
Epics
Long poems that tell the stories of heroes.
Fable
A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
Javelin
Light spear thrown by hand.
Polis
Greek city-state.
Aristocracy
The highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices.
Oligarchy
A government ruled by a few powerful people.
Tyrant
A cruel and oppressive ruler.
Democracy
A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them.
Ostracize
(v.) To exclude from a group, banish, send away.
Supreme
The highest rank or position.
Citizen
A person with certain rights and responsibilities in his or her country or community.
Entitled
Given the right to have or do something.
City-state
A city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.
Athens
A democratic Greek polis who accomplished many cultural achievements, and who were constantly at war with Sparta.
Sparta
A powerful Greek military polis that was often at war with Athens. Used slaves known as helots to provide agricultural labor.
Helots
Spartan Slaves.
Barracks
Military housing.
Battle of Marathon
A battle in 490 BC which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians.
Proposed
Suggested.
Clever
Bright; intelligent; having a quick mind.