United States Government and Citizenship Chapter 1: Ancient to 1604 Section 2: Greek Democracy By Dallin F. Hardy Ancient Greece Greek Kings 2000-1200 B.C. Monarchy Government Rule by one Polis 750 B.C. City-state Acropolis Center of Athenian Government Aristocracy of Ancient Greece Aristocracy Rule by Elite few based on Hereditary Ancient Greek Tyrants 700-500 B.C. Tyranny Rule by Absolute ruler Rules for himself Sparta Sparta 800-600 B.C. Lycurgus 800-730 B.C. Lawgiver of Sparta Military State Spartan Society Totalitarian Spartan Government Oligarchy Oligarchy Government Rule by a few Decline of Sparta Due to Lack of Individual freedom Athens Athens Cradle of Western Civilization Athenian Government 7th century B.C. Dominated by Aristocratic Rule Areopagus Governing council of Athens Solon Received Full power to enact reform “Laws of Solon” 594 B.C. First written form of Self-government Solon’s Reforms Established Checks and balances Cleisthenes 510 B.C. Established Democracy “Father of Athenian democracy” Democracy Direct rule of the people Greek Democracy 509-336 B.C. Athenian Assembly Had 6,000 Members Pericles 495-429 B.C. Athenian Ruler “Golden Age of Athens” 461 B.C. to 429 B.C. Athenian Democracy Ostracism One citizen Banned from Athens for 10 Years Socrates 470-399 B.C. Believed Principles of Right Justice Law Based upon Wisdom Universal reason Death of Socrates 399 B.C. Plato 428-348 B.C. Student of Socrates The Republic 380 B.C. The Statesman Laws “Mankind must have laws, and conform to them or their life would be as bad as that of the most savage beast.” Plato Aristotle 384-322 B.C. Ancient Greek Scholar Government Three forms Rule by one Rule by a few Rule by the many Politics “Where the laws are not supreme, there demagogues spring up…. This sort of democracy…grows into despotism; the flatterer is held in honor…; they exercise a despotic rule over the better citizens. The decrees of the demos [the people] correspond to the edicts of tyrants…. The demagogues make the decrees of the people override the laws….” Aristotle .