CHAPTER 8: ANCIENT GREECE
SECTION 2: GOVERNMENT IN ATHENS
ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE
Greece is the birthplace of democracy.
A democracy is a type of government in which people rule
themselves.
The word democracy comes from Greek words meaning “rule of the people”.
However, all Greek city-states didn’t start as democracies, nor did they all become
democratic.
In early Athens kings ruled the city-states. Later, a group of aristocrats took power.
Arisocrats are rich landowners.
This type of government was called an oligarchy. An oligarchy is a government in
which only a few people have power.
The Aristocrats dominated Athenian society. Common people had little to say in
the government.
ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE
In the 600s BC rebels tried to overthrow the government. They failed. As a
result, a man named Draco created a new set of laws for Athens. These laws
were harsh. He made minor crimes such as loitering punishable by death.
Of all the Greek leader, Draco probably would not have approved
of the type of democracy found in the United States.
The people felt Draco’s laws were too harsh. So, in the 590s BC a man named
Solon created a set of laws that were less harsh and gave more rights to
aristocrats. Under Solon’s constitution, all free men living in Athens became
citizens.
Citizens are people who had the right to participate in government.
ARISTOCRATS AND TYRANTS RULE
The Athenians still were not pleased with rule of the aristocrats. In 546 BC a
noble named Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy and became the ruler of Athens.
Peisistratus was called a tyrant.
A tyrant is a leader who held power through use of force.
Athenian tyrants were usually good leaders. They had strong armies and the
people supported them. After Peistratus’s death his son took over as tyrant.
However, the aristocrats were unhappy and took power from Peistratus’s son.
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
What were Greek tyrants like?
They were good leaders with strong armies and who had the support
of the people.
Why was Athens considered at one point an oligarchy?
Athens was once considered an oligarchy because it was once ruled by
a few nobles.
Why did many Athenians support the rule of tyrants?
Many Athenians supported the rule of tyrants because they improved
life in Athens and removed aristocrats from power.
ATHENS CREATES DEMOCRACY
Around 500 BC Cleisthenes gained power in Athens. He overthrew the aristocrats, and
wrote a new constitution and established a new form of government. Under Cleisthenes’
leadership, Athens developed the world’s first democracy. That’s why he is sometimes
called the father of democracy.
Under the first democracy in Athens:
All citizens had the right to participate in the assembly.
 Every citizen had the right to speak.
 They could serve on smaller councils.
Aristocrats no longer had more power than the citizens.
Voting took place on broken pieces of pottery in Athens.
Athens remained a democracy for about 170 years.
Democracy reached its height under a brilliant elected leader named
Pericles from about 460 BC until his death in 429 BC.
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
Who was the father of democracy?
Cleisthenes was the father or democracy.
Why were slaves sent to round up citizens?
Slaves were sent to round up citizens because more citizens to vote on
a law.
Why was a smaller council of officials necessary?
Sometimes a smaller council of officials was necessary because it was
easier to make decisions about which laws the assembly should vote
on.
ANCIENT DEMOCRACY DIFFERS FROM MODERN DEMOCRACY
Eventually, Athenian democracy came to an end. Athens was conquered by the
Macedonians from noth of Greece. The Macedonain king ruled his country like a
dictator, a ruler who held all power.
All citizens in Athens could participate directly in government. This is called a
direct democracy. Each person’s decision directly affects the outcome of a vote.
The democracy created by the founder of the United States is a representative
democracy, or republic.
A representative democracy is one where citizens elect officials to
make the laws.
MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
What is a direct democracy?
A democracy in which each person has a direct vote
How does a representative democracy work?
Citizens elect officials to represent them in the government and to
make laws
Why didn’t the United States establish a direct democracy?
There are too many people to make voting directly on every law
practical.