Summary of Ancient Greece
- The polis (city-state) was the basic unit of politics and culture
- Athenian democracy: direct democracy by citizens (excluding women and slaves)
- Philosophy, science, drama, and the Olympic Games
- Victory in the Persian Wars → prosperity → Peloponnesian War → decline
- Formation of the Hellenistic world through Alexander's conquests
Summary of Ancient Rome
- Republic: the Senate and consul system
- Punic Wars → control of the Mediterranean
- Transition to empire under Caesar and Augustus
- “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace) reached its peak in the 2nd century
- Recognition of Christianity (Edict of Milan in 313) and establishment as the state religion (392)
- Division between East and West in 395 → fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476
Comprehensive Practice Questions
- Explain the problems with Athenian democracy (who was excluded).
- State the person who marked the beginning of the Roman Empire (the first emperor).
- State the Roman emperor who recognized Christianity and the year.
Answers
- Women, slaves, and foreigners (metics) were excluded from political participation
- Augustus (Octavian)
- Emperor Constantine (Edict of Milan in 313)