Chapter 26
The Rise of
Democracy
26.1: Introduction
• Different forms of government
o
o
o
o
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Tyranny
Democracy
• Greeks did not identify themselves with
a country, but with their city
o Each city has its own laws, army, money, and
government
• Cities  City-states
26.2: Monarchy: One Person
Inherits Power
• From about 2000 BCE to 800 BCE, most
Greek city-states were ruled by a
monarch.
o Ruling power in the hands of one person, usually
a king
• Greek settlements did not have queens
• At first, Greek kings were chosen by
the people
• When the king died, another was
picked
• Eventually, kings demanded that the
power go their children after their
death.
o Usually the eldest son
o Monarchy  rulers inherit power
• Powers of the king
o
o
o
o
o
Made laws
Acted as judges
Conducted religious ceremonies
Led the army during wars
Used armed soldiers to punish people
• Councils
o Made up of aristocrats
• The “best” men who were wealthy and owned
large pieces of land.
o At the beginning they had no power
• The king only needed them for their money to
buy horses and armor
• Aristocrats realized this and wanted to share
the king’s power.
o In some city-states, aristocrats insisted the king be
elected and could only rule for certain number of
years.
• By 800 BCE, in most city-states, the king
was overthrown, and the aristocrats
took power for themselves.
26.3: Oligarchy: A Few People
Share Power
• By 800 BCE, most Greek city-states
were ruled by a small group of wealthy
men.
o
o
o
o
Called oligarchs  mean few
Ruling power is in the hands of the few
Most were aristocrats
Few were wealthy merchants
• Oligarch’s Life
o Comfortable
o Spent their time hunting and taking part in
chariot races
o Had parties where slaves and hired professionals
entertained guests
• Poor Lives
o Worked all day in the fields
o Needs were ignored
• Oligarch’s Rule
o Passed laws the poor did not like
o Used the army to obey them
o Many of their laws protected them and
increased their wealth
o Rich got richer and poor got poorer
26.4: Tyranny: One Person
Takes Power by Force
• By mid 600s BCE, people turned to
men who promised to change the
government.
o Tyrants  ruling power is in the hands of one
person who is not a lawful king
• Tyranny
o Different than a monarchy in two ways
• Tyrant cannot claim legal right to rule
• Tyrant’s son doesn’t usually inherit power
o Took and kept control by force
o Most Greek tyrants were military leaders who
gained support by promising more rights.
o Made changes that helped the poor
• Canceled debts of poor farmers
o Some were hostile to aristocrats and took away
their land
• Hippias
o Last tyrant of the city-state of Athens
o Ruled well until his brother, Hipparchus, is
murdered
o Was forced to leave when his rule became
unbearable
26.5: Democracy: All
Citizens Share Power
• Around 500 BCE, the people of Athens
tried governing themselves.
o Developed democracy  all citizens share in the
ruling power
• Democracy
o Ancient Greek democracy is different than
modern democracy.
• Two Types
• Direct democracy  Greece
• Representative democracy  United States
o Direct democracy
• Every citizen can vote on every issue
o Representative democracy
• People vote for representatives who decide
issues
• Direct Democracy
o The city had an assembly (law making group)
o Any free man could speak in the Assembly or
vote on a new law or proposal
o Free men ran the day-to-day business
• People against democracy
o Felt that it wasn’t a good type of government
o Powerful speaker persuaded people to vote
unwisely
o The assembly reversed decisions only after a few
weeks
• Result
o Many city-states returned to earlier forms of
government
• Dictatorship (tyranny)
• Oligarchy