peninsula a body of land that is connected to a larger landmass and surrounded on three sides by water

isthmus a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses

Phoenician a member of a trading people who lived on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean

alphabet a set of letters used to represent the individual sounds of a language

myth a story that explains beliefs, practices, or natural phenomena, often featuring gods and goddesses or other supernatural beings

epic poem a long poem that tells a story of heroes

fable a short story that conveys a moral lesson, often by means of animal characters that possess human characteristics

polis a Greek city-state, such as Athens or Sparta

aristocracy an upper class or nobility

oligarchy A government that is controlled by the few, with the basis of power often being wealth

tyrant A ruler who has taken power illegally and rules without restrictions

citizen a person who is loyal to a particular government and entitled to be protected by that government

democracy a government in which citizens make political decisions, either directly or through elected representatives

helot an agricultural slave in ancient Sparta

barracks group of buildings used to house soldiers