Forms of Government in Ancient Greek City States
Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, and Tyranny Compared
Ancient Greek systems of government took many forms during the Archaic period, 750-500 BCE. Because the Greek city-states were self-governing entities and not bound together by any type of central control or an empire, as in other ancient civilizations, various different governing formats developed independently and allowed for experimentation and change. Some scholars maintain that the variance of governing systems may have eventually led to Greek domination by outside forces, beginning with Philip of Macedonia’s conquests following the Peloponnesian War.
Types of Ancient Greek Government
The rise of tyrannies may have begun in Argos. The negative connotation associated with the tyrranos (tyrant) was not initially apparent. Tyrants may have evolved out of an earlier form of one-man rule known as the basileus, which also bore religious connotations. Pheidon of Argos transitioned from this position to that of tyrant in order to thwart attempts by the aristocrats in forming an oligarchy. [1] Athens, associated with democracy, attempted rule by tyranny in 632, the most notorious known as Draco.
Democracy refers to the power (kratos) of the people (demos). In Athens, however, only 10% of the people were considered citizens and able to participate fully in the political structure. Participation was based on land ownership (property) which opened up the democratic form to charges of elitism. As a result of Solon’s reforms, the Ekklesia or Assembly was open to all adult male citizens. Athenian democracy, unlike today, was direct democracy.
Some city-states favored monarchy. Sparta actually had two kings that acted as a check against each other (perhaps like the system of Consuls in the Roman Senate). Sparta also featured a people’s Assembly, the Appella or Demos, which met once a month. Participation was limited to male citizens thirty years of age and older. The Appella voiced, quite literally, the judgment of the people. In today’s court systems, the Appeals Courts, at least in name, may be traced to this term.
Oligarchies represented another form of government. In these city-states, governance rested with an elite group of men, an aristocratic committee of wealthy community leaders that facilitated daily government. The term refers to rule by the “few” (oligoi). Their members considered themselves the “best men,” a term from which “aristocrat” is derived. Government functions were divided, in terms of individual responsibilities.
Many city-states also had chief administrators. In Athens, these were known as archons, while in Sparta an Ephor was part of a five-man committee with extensive executive responsibilities. These top magistrates might be compared to modern “city managers.” In many cases, historical time was measured by the term of the Archon, as in, for example, "...during the archonate of Diphilos..."
Complex Nature of Greek City-State Government
Although the general definitions appear simplistic, Greek government, because it varied and changed between the city-states, was exceedingly complex. Athens, for example, went through various incarnations of government and only reached the height of direct democracy under Pericles. The attempt to perfect government was best expressed by Aristotle, who compiled and analyzed many of the city-state constitutions in order to develop one most representative of political ideals dear to the citizens.
Modern governmental structures and institutions may be the product of many influences over time. Yet the contributions of early Greek governmental systems stand out as the first expressions of participation in political systems by ordinary people, albeit male citizens. To this we owe a debt.
Sources:
Sarah B. Pomeroy, Stanley M. Burstein, and others, Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999). p.89.
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