Ancient Greece Political System
Ancient Greece had a variety of government systems. Ancient Greece was a collection of independent states and each state had its own form of government. Some of the common systems of Greek government were:
- Democracy: Democracy is derived from the Greek language the word demos means the entire citizen population. This form of government was prevalent in Greek city states like Athens, Argos, Rhodes and Syracuse. But democracy prevalent in Athens is the most famous and it has shaped the present day democracy. In Athens, a gathering of citizens who were allowed to vote would assemble on Pnyx Hill. What needs to be noted is that the gathering only included males above 18 years of age.
- Monarchy: Monarchy and tyranny were difficult to separate in the city states of Greece. But the most famous monarchies were prevalent in Sparta, Macedonia and Epeiros. In Sparta, two kings ruled and held great power during the time of war. But during times of peace, there was an assembly of city elders known as the ephors who would keep the dual kingship in check. In Macedonia and Epeiros, the monarch had absolute power and was assisted by a puppet assembly that had little legal powers.
- Oligarchy: Oligarchies are supposed to be the most common form of government in Greece, especially after the breakdown of democracy in a city state. An oligarchy is a system of government in which a small select group of people rule over a city or state. After the breakdown of democracy in Athens, there was an oligarchy of 400 citizens that ruled over it.
- Tyranny: Tyrants were the most feared rulers in Greece and tyranny was the most fearful rule in Greece. In the system of tyranny, the ruler looks after his own interests and not the interests of the people. Tyrants ruled without any assistance and usurped the power by killing their predecessor. Sicily is most famous for the rule of tyranny that lasted for several generations.
Greek Civilization – When did it Begin and End?
Ancient Greece is often hailed as the cradle of Western civilization. Flourishing from 1200 BCE to 323 BCE, Ancient Greece was divided into several city states with their own set of political and cultural values. The Greek Civilization has left a lasting and permanent mark on the world through its contributions in philosophy, mythology, literature, art and culture and politics. Some examples of the contributions of Ancient Greece to the world include the birth of democracy in Athens, Homer’s famous poems ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’, philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and mathematicians like Pythagoras and Euclid and their famous theorems.