Ancient Greece Vocabulary Study Guide Peninsula: an area of land bordered by land on three sides Epic: a long poem that tells a story Acropolis: a high, rocky hill on or near which early people built cities City-state: a city with its own traditions and its own government Aristocrat: a member of rich and powerful family Tyrant: a ruler who takes power with the support of the middle and working classes; not necessarily cruel and violent Democracy: a form of government in which citizens govern themselves Tribute: a payment made by a less powerful state or nation to a more powerful one Immortal: someone or something that lives forever

Philosopher: someone who uses reason to understand the world Philosopher: someone who uses reason to understand the world. In Greece, the earliest philosophers used reason to explain natural events Tragedy: a type of serious drama that ends in disaster for the main character Agora: a public market and meeting place in an ancient Greek city Plague: a widespread disease Blockade: the cutting off of an area by enemy forces that closes it to travel and trade Barbarian: person considered to be wild and uncivilized Assassinate: murder for political reasons Hellenistic: term that describes Greek culture after the death of Alexander the Great, including the three main kingdoms formed by the breakup of Alexander’s empire Polytheism: the belief in many gods