Chapter 26
THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY
What is a City-State?
An early city that was like a
small, independent country with
its own laws and government.
MONARCHY
Ruled by a king: Some city-states
were ruled by a king. This type of
government is called a monarchy. The citystate of Corinth is an example; Corinth
was ruled by a king.
OLIGARCHY
•Ruled by a small group: Some city-states
were ruled by a small group of people. This
type of government is called an oligarchy. The
city-state of Sparta was ruled by a small
group of retired and highly respected
warriors.
Tyranny
•"one
who rules without law, looks to his own
advantage rather than that of his subjects, and
uses extreme and cruel tactics—against his own
people as well as others".
•“During the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, tyranny was
often looked upon as an intermediate stage between
narrow oligarchy and more democratic forms of polity.”
DEMOCRACY
•
•Ruled by many: One city-state, Athens,
experimented with democracy, or rule by many.
For a while, every citizen in Athens could vote
on laws and changes in the laws. This form of
government continued until Athens was
conquered by Sparta.
ISN pages 184-187
Answer Key
26.2
1.Shade in the timeline from 2000 to
800 B.C.E.
2. Under a monarchy, the power to make
political decisions is in the hands of one
person, usually called a monarch, or king.
26.2
#3. I ruled by making laws, acting as judge,
conducting religious ceremonies, and
leading the army. I punished people who
disobeyed the law or didn’t pay their taxes. I
had a council of aristocrats to advise me.
#4. I lost power because I depended heavily
on the aristocrats to help me during wartime.
The aristocrats grew stronger as a group,
demanded more of my power, and finally
overthrew me.
Section 26.3
1.Shade in the timeline from 800 to 650 B.C.E.
2. Under an oligarchy, the power to make
political decisions is in the hands of a few
people, called oligarchs.
3. We ruled by passing laws that protected and
increased our own wealth. We lived
comfortable lives, while the poor worked all day
in the fields.
26.3
4. We lost power because we ignored the
needs of the majority of the people. We
passed unpopular laws and used the army
to enforce them. The rich got richer and the
poor got poorer. Eventually, the poor turned
to leaders in the army. These new leaders
overthrew us.
26. 4
1. Shade in the timeline from 650 to 500 B.C.E.
2. Under a tyranny, the power to make political
decisions is in the hands of one person who is
NOT a lawful king, called a tyrant.
3. I ruled by force, though I was not always
unpopular. I promised people more rights
and made changes to help the poor.
26.4
4. I lost power because I sometimes ruled
harshly and ignored the needs of the people.
In Athens, the people forced me out of power.
26.5
1. Shade in the timeline from 500 to 400
B.C.E.
2. Under a democracy, the power to make
political decisions is in the hands of all people,
called citizens. (except women & slaves)
26.5
3. We ruled by having an assembly. Any free
man could speak at an assembly and vote on a
new law or a proposal to go to war. Free men
also ran the city’s day-to-day business.
4. Not all Greeks thought democracy was a good
idea because powerful speakers sometimes
persuaded ordinary citizens to vote unwisely.
Often, an assembly reversed important decisions
after just a few weeks. Most city-states returned to
earlier forms of government, such as tyrannies
(dictatorships) and oligarchies.