Forms of Government in Ancient Greece

Ernle Bradford is an English historian specializing in the ancient Mediterranean world. The following is an excerpt from his book The Year of Thermopylae, published in 1980.

Multiple Choice

Who is the historian? And when was the account

written?

• Ernle Bradford, 1980 CE

• Herodotus, 450 - 420 BCE

• Rupert Matthews, 2006 CE

• Ctesias, 389 BCE

Multiple Choice

Based on this source, how many Persians do you think there were at the

Battle of Thermopylae?

• 10,000

• 350.000

• 200,000

• 800,000

Poll

Do you find this evidence reliable and

convincing?

• Yes

• No

Monarchy in Ancient Greece

A monarchy is a form of government in which the ruling power is in the hands of a single person. Most monarchies have been ruled by kings, usually with the help of a council of advisors. The word monarchy comes from the Greek terms, monos (meaning "single"} and arkhein (meaning "rule").

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a monarchy?

• ruling power is in the hands of a single person

• ruling power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control

• ruling power is in the hands of all the people

• ruling power is in the hands of a few leaders

Multiple Select

What is the etymology of the word monarchy (where does the term come from?)

• monos (meaning "single")

• arkhein (meaning "rule")

• oligos (meaning "few")

• tyrannos (meaning "usurper with supreme power")

Monarchy in Ancient Greece

The Mycenaeans, who ruled ancient Greece from 2000 to 1100 B.C.E., were warrior peoples who established monarchies to rule their kingdoms. The king of each city-state lived in a lavish fortress• palace in the capital city. Beyond the capital city was an outlying network of villages. The people of these villages paid taxes to the king, obeyed his laws, and depended on him for their defense. The king often relied on heavily armed soldiers to enforce his rule and to ensure that the people paid taxes and obeyed his laws. He usually retained his political power for life. His eldest son-the prince-succeeded him on the throne. When there was no direct male successor, the king's closest military advisors often battled among themselves to become the new monarch.

Multiple Select

How was this form of government practiced in Ancient Greece?

• Lived in a lavish fortress

• Selected based on merit

• Relied on a soldiers to enforce rule

• Kept power for life and passed to son

Monarchy in Ancient Greece

The Mycenaean monarchies survived until around the 1200s B.C.E. At that time, many of their eastern trade routes began to close because of fighting between kingdoms in Asia Minor. As a result, the Mycenaeans could no longer obtain raw metals, and their ability to make weapons and conquer other lands diminished. Eventually, the Mycenaeans began to fight among themselves for survival, and they slowly destroyed each other. Finally, a people from the northwest called the Dorians invaded Greece and destroyed what remained of the Mycenaean monarchies.

Monarchy as a form of government soon disappeared in Greece. It was replaced by a system in which a small number of individuals shared power and ruled as a group

Multiple Choice

Why did this form of government decline in Ancient Greece?

• Weakened by limited access to trade

• Evolved into a more representive form

• Weakened by the use of armies to intimidate political leaders

• Forced to resign and leave Greece

Oligarchy in Ancient Greece

An oligarchy is a form of government in which the ruling power is in the hands of a few leaders. The word oligarchy comes from the Greek terms oligos (meaning "few") and arkhein (meaning "rule").

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of an Oligarchy?

• ruling power is in the hands of a single person

• ruling power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control

• ruling power is in the hands of all the people

• ruling power is in the hands of a few leaders

Multiple Select

What is the etymology of the word oligarchy (where does the term come from?)

• monos (meaning "single")

• arkhein (meaning "rule")

• oligos (meaning "few")

• tyrannos (meaning "usurper with supreme power")

Oligarchy in Ancient Greece

Between 1100 and 800 B.C.E., small groups of people began to share the ruling power in several Greek city-states. Political power was often shared among aristocrats, who inherited wealth and power from their families, and a king. Over time, this ruling arrangement changed.

Oligarchies developed in which political power rested with a few selected wealthy individuals. Some of these members of the ruling circle were of aristocratic birth, while others were wealthy members of the middle class. Like monarchs, oligarchs usually had luxurious lives and enforced their rule with military support. Citizens in an oligarchy enjoyed certain protections, although they lacked full political rights, such as voting.

Therefore, most citizens of an oligarchy had very little say in how the city- state was run.

Multiple Select

How was this form of government practiced in Ancient Greece?

• Shared among a few wealthy individuals

• Leaders were chosen by vote

• Citizens had very litte say

• Lived luxurious lives

Oligarchy in Ancient Greece

Over time, oligarchies began to disappear in Greece for various reasons In Corinth, for example, the people lived well, but the oligarchy ruled harshly and the citizens eventually overthrew it. In Athens, dissatisfaction with the oligarchy arose as the peasant population increased and food shortages became common. The power of oligarchies was also weakened when powerful and wealthy individuals assembled armies of hired, or mercenary, warriors, called hoplites, and used them to intimidate political leaders. By the 400s B.C.E., a stable oligarchy ruled only one city-state, Sparta.

Multiple Choice

Why did this form of government decline in Ancient Greece?

• Disappeared as the Dorians invaded

• Evolved into a more representive form

• Weakened by the use of armies to intimidate political leaders

• Forced to resign and leave Greece

Tyranny in Ancient Greece

A tyranny is a form of government in which the ruling power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control, often by illegal means. The word tyranny comes from the Greek word tyrannos, which means "usurper with supreme power." Over time, a person who ruled by tyranny, or a tyrant, became known for holding onto power by cruel and abusive means.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a Tyranny?

• ruling power is in the hands of a single person

• ruling power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control

• ruling power is in the hands of all the people

• ruling power is in the hands of a few leaders

Multiple Choice

What is the etymology of the word tryanny (where does the term come from?)

• demos (meaning "people")

• kratos (meaning "power")

• oligos (meaning "few")

• tyrannos (meaning "usurper with supreme power")

Tyranny in Ancient Greece

Tyrannies in Greece first arose during the mid 600s B.C.E. In many city-states, a growing wealthy middle class of merchants and manufacturers became angry with their rulers. This middle class demanded political and social privileges to accompany their newfound wealth, but the ruling oligarchies refused to grant them a say in the government. Various individuals-mostly former military leaders- responded to the demands of the middle class population and promised to make the changes they wanted. Backed by the middle class, these individuals seized power from the ruling groups. Once in power, these leaders--or tyrants--often reformed the laws, aided the poor, canceled debts, and gave citizens other than nobles a say in the government. As a reward, citizens often gave gifts to tyrants, who in tum became quite wealthy. Many tyrants ruled for short periods of time.

Multiple Select

How was this form of government practiced in Ancient Greece?

• Supported by the middle class

• Reformed the laws, aided the poor, canceled debts

• Citizens gave gifts

• Ruled for long periods of time

Tyranny in Ancient Greece

Many tyrants ruled for short periods of time. In some city-states, tyrants became harsh and greedy, and were simply overthrown by the people. The last important tyrant to rule mainland Greece was Hippias of the city-state of Athens. In 510 B.C.E. a combination of Spartan invaders and Athenians, who were opposed to his harsh rule, forced Hippias to resign and leave Greece. A new form of government--one in which an· citizens shared in the decision making--eventually replaced him.

Multiple Choice

Why did this form of government decline in Ancient Greece?

• Disappeared as the Dorians invaded

• Evolved into a more representive form

• Weakened by the use of armies to intimidate political leaders

• Forced to resign and leave Greece

Democracy in Ancient Greece

A democracy is a form of government in which the ruling power is in the hands of all the people. The word democracy comes from the Greek terms demos (meaning "people") and kratos (meaning "power").

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a Democracy?

• ruling power is in the hands of a single person

• ruling power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control

• ruling power is in the hands of all the people

• ruling power is in the hands of a few leaders

Multiple Select

What is the etymology of the word democracy (where does the term come from?)

• demos (meaning "people")

• kratos (meaning "power")

• oligos (meaning "few")

• tyrannos (meaning "usurper with supreme power")

Democracy in Ancient Greece

Democracy developed in ancient Greece around 500 B.C.E. in the city-state of Athens, where many people began to oppose the rule of the tyrants. The main governing body of the Athenian democracy was the Citizens Assembly. The Assembly was open to all 30,000 to 40,000 adult male citizens, but usually only 5,000 people attended. Both rich and poor citizens attended the Assembly. This body met about 40 times a year to direct foreign policy, revise laws, and approve or condemn the conduct of public officials. Assembly members reached all their decisions through public debate and vote. A smaller, important executive body, the Council of 500, was responsible for the day-to-day running of the state. This body, whose members were chosen annually in a lottery-proposed new laws and enforced the Assembly's decisions, or decrees. The Council also administered the state's finances, received foreign ambassadors, and oversaw the maintenance of the Athenian fleet.

Multiple Select

How was this form of government practiced in Ancient Greece?

• Main governing body was the Citizens' Assembly

• Only the wealthy participated

• Reached all their decisions through public debate and vote

• Council of 500 choosen annually by lottery

Multiple Choice

Why did this form of government decline in Ancient Greece?

• Disappeared as the Dorians invaded

• Evolved into a more representative form

• Weakened by the use of armies to intimidate political leaders

• Forced to resign and leave Greece

Reviewing the Golden Age of Athens

Multiple Choice

Student of Socrates. Used reason to create a perfect society. Wrote “The Republic”. Set up a school called the Academy (lasted 900 years!)

• Plato

• Socrates

• Artistotle

Multiple Choice

Philosopher, Socratic Method is questioning to seek the truth using reason. “know yourself”

• Plato

• Socrates

• Artistotle

Multiple Choice

Student of Plato. Set of a school called the Lyceum. Did not trust democracy. Used reasoning.

• Plato

• Socrates

• Artistotle

Multiple Choice

Inventor, Created the lever and pulley for moving large and heavy objects

(physics)

• Archimedes

• Hippocrates

• Euclid

• Pythagoras

Multiple Choice

Wrote “The Elements”, the basis for modern geometry

• Archimedes

• Hippocrates

• Euclid

• Pythagoras

Multiple Choice

Studied medicine and cures. Hippocratic Oath is the rule of ethics for doctors. Father of Medicine

• Archimedes

• Hippocrates

• Euclid

• Pythagoras

Multiple Choice

Investigated the relationship between the sides of a right triangle.

• Archimedes

• Hippocrates

• Euclid

• Pythagoras

Multiple Choice

Wrote tragedies about conflicts between morals and laws. “Antigone”

• Aeschylus

• Homer

• Sophocles

Multiple Choice

Blind poet who wrote epics to show Greek values of courage and honor. “Odyssey” and “Illiad”

• Aeschylus

• Homer

• Sophocles

Multiple Choice

Wrote tragedies about human suffering. “The Oresteia” about the Trojan War.

• Aeschylus

• Homer

• Sophocles

Multiple Choice

Led Athens during the golden age. Rebuilt the Acropolis. Encourages participation in democracy by all adult males.

• Herodotus

• Pericles

• Thucydides

• Phidias

Multiple Choice

Sculptor in Athens. Created the statue of Athena in the Parthenon. Also created a life-like statue of Zeus

• Herodotus

• Pericles

• Thucydides

• Phidias

Multiple Choice

Father of History. Wrote about the Persian Wars. Stressed the importance of research.

• Herodotus

• Pericles

• Thucydides

• Phidias

Multiple Choice

A historian who wrote about the Peloponnesian War

• Herodotus

• Pericles

• Thucydides

• Phidias

Categorize

Options (8)

Daily Life-Relaxed, focused on culture

Education-Arts, literature, and philosophy

Women-Seen in a limited role

Government-Democracy

Daily Life-Strict, focused on physical training

Women-seen as equals to other citizens

Education-Military training

Government-Oligarchy

Read each description and match them with the correct city-state.

Athens

Sparta

Poll

Which achievements from Athens Golden Age do you think had the biggest influence on the world today?

• architecture/ sculpture

• science/ medicine / mathematics

• recording history

• philosophy

• drama/theatre/ poetry