Government in Ancient Greece

By: W. YoungFor Mr. Haskvitz

Government in Ancient Greece

In an oligarchy, each of the aristocrats is always trying to get more power than the others, but the other aristocrats keep them from doing it.

oligarchies are generally bad for the poor, but they are pretty good for women, at least for rich women from powerful families.

they may be elected, and sometimes they are born into their position, and at other times you might have to have a certain amount of money or land in order to be in the council.

group of people meets every so often to decide important questions, and to appoint somebody to deal with things.

Oligarchies were not as common as monarchies in the ancient world

Right after the Dark Ages, most of the city- states in Greece were oligarchies, between about 1000 and about 500 BC.

Oligarchy

around 650-400 BC when many city-states were ruled by tyrants.

a tyrant is like a King, but a king who does not have the law or Religion behind him, and only rules because the poor people support him.

Tyrannies usually grew out of Oligarchies

the other aristocrats hated tyrants, and tried to stop them and go back to an Oligarchy again.

In order to stay in power, the tyrant has to promise the poor people that he will do good things for them

Usually tyrant promises one or two of these things:

1. Cancellation of debt

2. abolition of debt-bondage

3. redistribution of land

tyrants are usually really good for the poor people, and only bad for the other aristocrats.

In English today, tyrant means a bad king, but that is because the aristocrats hated tyrants, and in Ancient Greece only the aristocrats could write.

Tyranny

The Famous Tyrant

One of the most famous tyrant would be Pisistratus

Became tyrant for 33 years

popular ruler, reducing taxes, helping the poor and disabled, uniting Attica and beautifying Athens with new buildings

Pisistratus was able to finance water pipes for the city

also founded the first public library of Athens

succeeded by his two sons Hippias and Hipparchus.

Transition from Tyranny to Oligarchy

Most city states started out as oligarchy

One aristocrat would want more power, so he gained the poor peoples favor which then led to tyranny

Other aristocrats got jealous and would try to knock the tyranny down, which led to oligarchy again

Democratic to Dictatorship

The earliest democracy in the world began in Athens, in 510 BC. When democracy proved to be successful in Athens, many other city states chose it for their government too.

problem for democracies is that it is very inconvenient for men to always be going to the meeting-place to vote. Most men have work to do.

Was wiped out my the Roman Empire about 100 B.C. and became monarchy

Citizenship

The concept of citizenship first arose in towns and city-states of Ancient Greece, where it generally applied to property owners but not to women, slaves, or the poorer members of the community.

A citizen in a Greek city-state was entitled to vote and was liable to taxation and military service.

You could be a citizen if you were rich or poor, so rich didnt overpower, which allowed benefits on both sides.

Had to take part in government issues

Before and Now Democracy

U.S: A Representative Democracy: A government in which people vote for representatives. The representatives make rules and laws that govern themselves and the people.

Ancient Greece: A Direct Democracy: A government in which people vote to make their own rules and laws

Time to take a Quiz!

How is oligarchy different from tyranny?

Who was of the most famous tyrants? Why?

How is present day democracy different from Ancient Greece?

How did citizenship benefit everyone?

How did one aristocrat become tyrant?

Answers

With oligarchy, it is a whole bunch of aristocrats that rule together, but with tyranny, one one main aristocrat rules and everyone favors him.

One of the most famous tyrants would be Pisistratus because he had found water pipes, reduced taxes, beautified Athens, and found the first library.

Present day democracy is different from today because in order for a direct democracy to be successful, it must be in a relatively small, localized region. Citizens must also have an active interest in the success of their governments. The U.S. is too big to be able to do that so we hire representatives to speak out for us.

Not only did the rich could vote, but also the poor, so there were less arguments.

The aristocrat became a tyrant when many people favored him and wanted a more improved city