Government
Democracy was an invention of the ancient Greeks living in small polis or city-state of Athens. Sparta, another Greek polis, adopted a very different form of government involving kings. Rule by the best, or aristocrats, was common.
Points to Know About Ancient Greek Government
You may have heard that ancient Greece invented democracy, but democracy was only one type of government employed by the Greeks, and when it first came out, most Greeks thought it a bad idea.
You may have heard that ancient Greece invented democracy, but democracy was only one type of government employed by the Greeks, and when it first came out, most Greeks thought it a bad idea.
Spartan Government
Aristotle describes the mixed government of ancient Sparta.
Aristotle describes the mixed government of ancient Sparta.
Tyrant
A tyrant in Greece might have popular support.
A tyrant in Greece might have popular support.
Ostracism
Part of Athenian democracy was the institution of ostracism whereby the people could temporarily get rid of someone they feared.
Part of Athenian democracy was the institution of ostracism whereby the people could temporarily get rid of someone they feared.
Lycurgus of Sparta
Legendary or not, Lycurgus is the name of the person associated with the creation of the laws of Sparta. Lycurgus may have received the law code from the Delphic Oracle.
Legendary or not, Lycurgus is the name of the person associated with the creation of the laws of Sparta. Lycurgus may have received the law code from the Delphic Oracle.
Hegemony
A hegemon is a leader and hegemony refers to leadership by one city over another.
A hegemon is a leader and hegemony refers to leadership by one city over another.