WACE Ancient History Unit 2: Ancient Greece — Flashcards & Quiz

Q1: What was the Greek polis and why was it significant?

The polis (city-state) was the fundamental political unit of ancient Greece. Each polis — such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth and Thebes — was an independent self-governing community with its own laws, government, army and patron deity. The polis shaped Greek identity, as citizens owed primary loyalty to their city-state rather than to a unified Greek nation.

Q2: How did Athenian democracy develop and function?

Athenian democracy evolved through the reforms of Solon (594 BCE), Cleisthenes (508/7 BCE) and Ephialtes/Pericles (mid-5th century BCE). Citizens voted directly in the Assembly (Ekklesia) on laws and policy. The Council of 500 (Boule) set the agenda, and officials were chosen by lot (sortition). Only free adult males born to Athenian parents could participate — excluding women, metics and slaves.

Q3: Describe the key features of Spartan society and government.

Sparta was a militaristic oligarchy governed by two hereditary kings, a council of elders (Gerousia), five annually elected overseers (Ephors) and an assembly (Apella). Male citizens (Spartiates) underwent rigorous military training (agoge) from age 7. Spartan society depended on a large enslaved population (helots) who farmed the land. Women had more freedoms than in Athens, including property ownership and physical training.

Q4: What were the key battles of the Persian Wars and their significance?

The Persian Wars (499–449 BCE) were fought between Greek city-states and the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Key battles: Marathon (490 BCE) — Athenian hoplites defeated a larger Persian force; Thermopylae (480 BCE) — 300 Spartans under Leonidas delayed the Persian advance; Salamis (480 BCE) — the Athenian-led Greek navy destroyed the Persian fleet; Plataea (479 BCE) — a combined Greek army decisively defeated the Persians on land.

Q5: What happened at the Battle of Thermopylae and why is it historically significant?

At Thermopylae (480 BCE), King Leonidas I of Sparta led approximately 7,000 Greeks (including 300 Spartans) to defend a narrow coastal pass against Xerxes I’s massive Persian army. After a local Greek (Ephialtes) revealed a mountain path allowing the Persians to outflank them, Leonidas dismissed most of the army and fought a sacrificial rearguard action with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans.

Q6: What caused the Peloponnesian War and what were its consequences?

The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) was fought between the Delian League (led by Athens) and the Peloponnesian League (led by Sparta). Thucydides identified the underlying cause as Spartan fear of growing Athenian power. The war ended with Athens’ surrender in 404 BCE, the dismantling of the Long Walls and the temporary installation of the Thirty Tyrants. It weakened all Greek city-states, ultimately enabling Macedonian domination.

Q7: What role did religion play in ancient Greek society?

Greek religion was polytheistic, centring on the twelve Olympian gods (Zeus, Hera, Athena, Apollo, etc.) who were believed to dwell on Mount Olympus. Religion permeated daily life: rituals, sacrifices and festivals (such as the Panathenaea and the Dionysia) were civic duties. Oracles, particularly the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia), were consulted before major decisions including warfare and colonisation.

Q8: Who were the major Greek philosophers and what were their key contributions?

Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE): the Socratic method of questioning to reveal truth; examined ethics and virtue. Plato (c. 428–348 BCE): Theory of Forms, The Republic (on justice and the ideal state), founded the Academy. Aristotle (384–322 BCE): empirical observation, classification of knowledge into disciplines (biology, politics, logic), founded the Lyceum, tutored Alexander the Great.

Q1: Ancient Greece was a unified nation-state governed by a single central government.

Answer: FALSE

Ancient Greece was not a unified nation-state. It consisted of hundreds of independent city-states (poleis), each with its own government, laws and army. City-states such as Athens and Sparta frequently competed and fought against each other.

Q2: Cleisthenes is credited with establishing the foundations of Athenian democracy in 508/7 BCE.

Answer: TRUE

Cleisthenes reformed the Athenian political system in 508/7 BCE, reorganising citizens into ten tribes based on residence (not kinship), establishing the Council of 500 and creating the conditions for direct democratic participation in the Assembly.

Q3: Spartan women had fewer rights and freedoms than Athenian women.

Answer: FALSE

Spartan women had considerably more freedoms than Athenian women. They could own and inherit property, received physical education, managed households during men’s absence and had greater social visibility. Athenian women were largely confined to the household.

Q4: The Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) was a decisive Athenian victory against the invading Persian army.

Answer: TRUE

At Marathon, the Athenian army (with Plataean allies) defeated a larger Persian force under Darius I. The victory demonstrated that Persian armies could be beaten and became a defining moment in Athenian identity and pride.

Q5: All Greek forces at Thermopylae retreated before the final Persian assault.

Answer: FALSE

While Leonidas dismissed most of the Greek army, approximately 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans remained for the final stand. The Thespians in particular chose to stay voluntarily alongside the Spartans.

The Polis and Greek Political Systems

The city-state (polis) was the defining institution of ancient Greece. Understanding the differences between Athenian democracy, Spartan oligarchy and other forms of polis government is essential for SCSA assessments, which frequently require comparative analysis of political systems.

The Persian Wars and Greek Identity

The Persian Wars (499–449 BCE) transformed the Greek world. Victory over Persia fostered a shared Hellenic identity and elevated Athens to imperial leadership through the Delian League. Key battles (Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea) must be understood in terms of strategy, significance and source evidence.

Athens versus Sparta

The contrast between democratic Athens and militaristic Sparta is a central theme of Unit 2. SCSA assessments require you to compare these city-states across multiple dimensions: government, society, military organisation, the role of women and cultural values.

Greek Cultural Achievements

Philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), theatre (tragedy and comedy), the Olympic Games and architectural achievements (the Parthenon) represent Greece’s enduring cultural legacy. Being able to explain how these achievements reflect broader Greek values and social structures demonstrates higher-order historical thinking.

What does WACE Ancient History Unit 2 cover?

Unit 2 covers ancient Greece including the polis system, Athenian democracy, Spartan society, the Persian Wars (Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis), the Peloponnesian War, Greek religion, philosophy, drama and cultural achievements.

Are these flashcards aligned to the SCSA curriculum?

Yes — every flashcard and quiz question is mapped to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Ancient History curriculum for WACE Unit 2: Ancient Greece.

What study techniques work best for this unit?

Use comparison tables to contrast Athens and Sparta across categories (government, society, military, culture). Practise with spaced-repetition flashcards and test yourself with quiz questions. Focus on primary sources like Herodotus and Thucydides for source analysis tasks.