Greece - 4 Types of Government

Greek city-states & Government!

Greek city-states

• City-state = POLIS

• Acropolis - highest point of the city-state, includes a fort, temple, etc

• Agora - Contains marketplace and outdoor meeting places for people

Multiple Select

An example of a modern-day agora would be:

• Food Lion

• Atwater Park

• Hopewell Library

• All of these could be agoras

MONARCHY

• Early on, most city-states were ruled by a monarchy.

• In a monarchy, the ruling power is the hands of one person, usually a king.

• Power is inherited - kingship goes from father to son and so on (ex. dynasties).

Multiple Select

Review: Click on any early civilization whose rulers could be considered monarchs.

• Egypt

• China

• Sumer

• Babylon

What kings did:

• Kings made laws & acted as judges

• They led the army during wars

• They used soldiers to punish people who disobeyed

How kings/monarchs lost power:

• Aristocrats (rich people) who had originally helped the king, demanded more power.

• Aristocrats overthrew kings so that they could rule instead.

Multiple Select

Click on ALL the true statements.

• Monarchy = rule by a small group

• Monarchs inherited their power (father to son).

• Monarchs made laws and led the army.

• Monarchs were overthrown by tyrants.

OLIGARCHY/

ARISTOCRACY:

• After overthrowing kings, small groups of aristocrats/the rich ruled.

• Oligarchy means rule by a "few"

Multiple Choice

A similar term to oligarchy would be...

• aristocracy

• monarchy

• tyranny

• democracy

What oligarchs did:

• Spent their time hunting, attending chariot races, parties, etc. while most people worked hard to make the city-state profitable.

• They ignored the needs of the people and helped their friends make more money, so that "the rich got richer and the poor got poorer".

• They passed laws forcing people into slavery if they couldn't pay their debts.

How oligarchs lost power:

• The poor turned to leaders who help them.

• With the help of the army, leaders rose up and overthrew the oligarchs.

• 
  

TYRANNY:

• Leaders rose up and promised to help the people - the army also followed them.

• These leaders took power BY FORCE.

• Each time a tyrant died, a new tyrant had to take power by force.

What tyrants did:

• Tyrants made changes that helped the poor - like cancelling debts or taking land from the rich to give to the poor.

• Some tyrants were really harsh, like Draco - who made the punishment for every crime...death.

How tyrants lost power:

• They became too harsh.

• They were overthrown by the people.

Multiple Choice

The rule of a ______is hereditary, while the rule of _______ is based on taking power by force.

• king/tyrant

• oligarch/king

• tyrant/king

• oligarch/tyrant

DEMOCRACY:

• Democracy means "rule by the people".

• In a democracy, citizens hold the power.

• In ancient Greece, citizens were free adult men only.

Multiple Choice

Who would be considered a citizen in Sparta?

• A trader from Athens

• A Spartan warrior

• A Helot (slave)

• a Spartan child

What the people did:

• All citizens could vote on each issue (slow & difficult process)

• Formed an Assembly to propose laws

• Ran the day-to-day business of the government

• Powerful speakers persuaded people to vote unwisely

• Decisions were constantly voted on and then overturned

How democracy lost power:

• Because of problems with persuasive speakers, votes being contantly overturned, etc. people were frustrated.

• Many city-states went back to tyrants or oligarchies to have more stable government.

Multiple Choice

Problems with democracy included:

• Persuasive speakers

• Overturning previous decisions

• Only free adult men were citizens

• All of the above