Spielvogel Ch. 3 Vocab Flashcards

Front 1

frescos

Back 1

the art or technique of painting on a moist, plaster surface with colors ground up in water or a limewater mixture

Hint 1

"The rooms were decorated with frescos..."

Front 2

incalculable

Back 2

incapable of being forecast or predicted; undeterminable

Hint 2

"'...(man) will still be weak, and the gods strong and incalculable.'"

Front 3

routed

Back 3

To drive or force out as if by digging; eject

Hint 3

"The phalanx was easily routed, however..."

Front 4

solidarity

Back 4

union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests, as between members of a group or between classes, peoples, etc.

Hint 4

"The safety of the phalanx depended on the solidarity and discipline of its members..."

Front 5

commensurate

Back 5

corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree

Hint 5

"...rich men ...desired political privileges commensurate with their wealth..."

Front 6

coup d'etat

Back 6

a sudden and decisive action in politics, esp. one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force

Hint 6

"Tyrants usually achieve power by a local coup d'etat..."

Front 7

regimental

Back 7

To subject to uniformity and rigid order

Hint 7

"...the Spartans viewed their strength as justification for their ...regimental society."

Front 8

vie

Back 8

to strive in competition or rivalry with another; contend for superiority

Hint 8

"Aristocratic factions continued to vie for power."

Front 9

decisively

Back 9

indisputable; definite

Hint 9

"...The Greeks formed the largest Greek army,... and decisively defeated the Persian army..."

Front 10

imperialism

Back 10

the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies

Hint 10

"The Athenian pursuit of democracy at home was coupled with increasing imperialism abroad."

Front 11

despotism

Back 11

absolute power or control; tyranny

Hint 11

"The central theme of Herodotus' work (was) ...the struggle between Greek freedom and Persian despotism."

Front 12

superfluous

Back 12

being more than is sufficient or required; excessive

Hint 12

"The Parthenon typifies the principles of classical architecture :...freedom from superfluous detail."

Front 13

enigmatic

Back 13

perplexing; mysterious

Hint 13

"Responses (of the oracle) were often enigmatic and at times politically motivated."

Front 14

stipulate

Back 14

to require as an essential condition in making an agreement

Hint 14

"Strict laws ...had stipulated that a citizen must be the offspring of a legally acknowledged marriage..."

Front 15

predilection

Back 15

A partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference

Hint 15

"The Greeks did not feel that the coexistence of homosexual and heterosexual predilections created any special problems..."

Front 16

topography

Back 16

the relief features or surface configuration of an area

Hint 16

"Greek topography helped determine the major territories into which Greece was divided."