The Early Years of Greek Civilizations, Democracy in Athens

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Polis

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Greek city-state

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Citizen

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legal member of a country or city-state

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Acropolis

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Greek for "high city". The chief temples of the city were located here.

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Politics

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art and practice of government

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Aristocracy

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hereditary class of rulers, Greek for "rule by the best people"

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Oligarchy

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government in which a small group of people rule

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Phalanx

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Greek military formation of heavily armed foot soldiers who moved together as a unit

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Tyranny

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unjust use of power, or in ancient Greece a government run by a strong ruler

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Democracy

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form of government in which citizens hold political power

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Citizenship

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membership in a state or community which gives a person civil and political rights and obligations