Forms of Government in Ancient Greece

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Forms of Government in Ancient Greece

• Global History I Spiconardi

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Monarchy

• Definition
• MONARCHY - Form of government in which the ruling
  power is in the hands of one person.
• Etymology
• Monos single
• Arkhein rule

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Monarchy

• How was it practiced in ancient Greece?
• People paid taxes to their in king, obeyed his
  laws, and depended on the king for protection.
• Usually monarchs inherited their power
  hereditarily.

• How did this form of government decline?
• Kings fought one another for territory

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Oligarchy

• Definition
• Oligarchy- Form of government in which the ruling
  power is in the hands a few individuals.
• Etymology
• Oligos few
• Arkhein rule

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Oligarchy

• How was it practiced in ancient Greece?
• Political decisions were made by aristocrats and
  selected members of the middle class.
• Ordinary citizens had little to no say in how the
  polis was run

• How did this form of government decline?
• Some oligarchs ruled harshly
• Rebellion against the aristocracy due to food
  shortages and other problems

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Tyranny

• Definition
• TYRANNY- Form of government in which the ruling
  power is in the hands of a person who overthrew
  the government.
• Etymology
• Tyrannos Usurper with supreme power
• Usurper someone who seizes power

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Tyranny

• How was it practiced in ancient Greece?
• With support of the common people, tyrants seized
  power to reform laws, aid the poor, and cancel
  debts
• Usually a populist
• People vs. the elite
• platform.

• How did this form of government decline?
• Some tyrants became greedy with their power,
  turned back their reforms and were overthrown

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Democracy

• Definition
• DEMOCRACY- Form of government in which the people
  have the ruling power.
• Etymology
• Demos people
• Arkhein rule

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Democracy

• How was it practiced in ancient Greece?
• Citizens were members of an Assembly with voted
  on laws proposed by a Council of 500 randomly
  selected citizens.

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Sparta

• Predominately an oligarchy, but with a mixed with
  elements of monarchy and democracy

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Sparta

• Oligarchy
• Ephors ? five individuals elected annually by the
  popular assembly
• Duties
• In charge of civil trials
• Levied taxes
• Formed foreign policy
• Regulated the calendar
• In charge of military training
• Accompanied kings on battlefield
• Had the ability to charge and prosecute the king

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Athens

• The Council
• 500 randomly selected citizens
• Proposed laws
• Made decrees
• The Assembly
• Made up of ALL citizens
• Debated and passed the laws proposed by the
  Council
• Direct democracy

• A true democracy?
• No!
• Citizens
• Male
• Born to Athenian parents
• Had to complete military training
• Originally there was a property requirement
• Lack of free speech
• Could face expulsion if you comments upset
  members of the Council

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