Government of the Ancient Greek City-States

In some city-states, a single person, called a king ruled in a government called a .

Others adopted an a government ruled by a small group of noble, landowning families. As trade expanded, a new class of wealthy merchants and artisans emerged. When these groups became dissatisfied with aristocratic rule, they sometimes took power or shared it with the nobility. They formed an, powerful people. By about 600BC, however, a middle class had emerged. In some city states the middle class revolted and replaced the rulers in favor of dictators who became known as the .

Powerful individuals, usually nobles or other wealthy citizens, sometimes seized control of the government by appealing to the common people for support. These rulers were called tyrants. Unlike today, tyrants generally were not considered . They were looked upon as leaders who would work for the interests of the ordinary people.

Athens, in the late 500sBC the first democracy – or ‘ ’ – was created Athens, in the late 500sBC the first democracy – or ‘ ’ – was created. With no single ruler, a public assembly of male citizens met 40 times a year to vote on state decisions. Laws were carried out by a 500-strong council, chosen by lot to serve one year each.

took power. In 621 B.C., Draco developed a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians, rich and poor, were equal under the law. More far-reaching democratic reforms were introduced by . Stating that no citizen should own another citizen, Solon outlawed debt slavery.

introduced further reforms introduced further reforms. broke up the power of the nobility by organizing citizens into ten groups based on where they lived rather than on their wealth. He created the Council of Five Hundred. This body proposed laws and counseled the assembly. Council members were chosen by lot, or at random. However, citizenship was restricted to a relatively small number of Athenians. Only were considered citizens. Women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded from citizenship and had few rights.