Greece

Polis is a fundamental political unit. A political term for town. Monarchy is rule by a single person. Aristocracy is rule by a small group of noble, very rich, property owning families. Oligarchy is wealthy groups, dissatisfied with aristocratic rule who seized power. A tyrant is a powerful individual who seized control by appealing to the common people for support. During the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece. Aristocrats are members of the ruling class. They attended symposiums, meetings where men decisions and chill with women. Aristocrats formed alliances with hoplites (well armed soldiers) and set up a government called tyranny. A tyrant is someone who rules outside the framework of the polis. Draco 621 BCE said all Athenians were equal, death is a punishment for crime, debt slavery is ok. Solons thought the opposite. Cleisthenes allowed citizens to submit laws for debate. Created the Council of 500. Only free male property owning born in Athens were considered citizens. Clash of the Tyrants. Hippies was a tyrant who ruled from 527-510 BCE. His brother was murdered and his rule was harsh. He was expelled from Athens. He worked with Persian king Darius 1, helping them invade Marathon. Isagoras and Cleisthenes engaged in a power struggle. Isagorous had support from aristocrats, even from Sparta. Cleisthenes had support from most of the Athenians. Isagorous won and became the tyrant. Athenians revolted against Isagorous. They trapped him and he fled. 508 BCE was the first time common citizens revolted their leader.