3.2 Ruling the city state

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

The Greeks

3.2 Ruling the city state

Learning objectives

-In this lesson you will learn: 

-how subjects were governed in a monarchy and in an aristocracy

-- characteristics of the government of a tyrant

--- how Athenian citizens governed themselves

rulers and subjects 

Greek city states were independent: when a state or person decides over itself. They were governed in various ways.

Up until the 8th century, most city states were monarchies: a state with one ruler.

During the 8th century, there was an uprising against rulership (government) by monarchs.

The nobles replaced the monarchy with an aristocracy: government of a group of prestigious people.

What kind of government is mentioned in the video?

What kind of government is mentioned in the video?

Rulers and subjects

The Greek city-states were independent, the Greeks governed themselves.

Most city-states were a monarchy until the 8th century BC : 

a state with a prince (king) with succession. 

The kings ruled alone (most subjects thought this was fine).

Rulers and subjects

Groups of landowners (wealthy subjects) with prestige took over power in the 8th century BC. 

These were nobles who disagreed with the monarchy.

Aristocracy: a government with a group of significant people.

What kind of government is shown in the drawing?

1. An aristocracy
2. A democracy
3. A monarchy
4. None of the above

Good and bad tyrants

Some city states were ruled by a tyrant: person who rules alone and who took power illegally. This is called tyranny.

There were both good and bad tyrants. And example of a good tyrant is Athenian Pisistratus.

Pisistratus was much beloved. He promoted trade and improved the justice system: deciding on how to apply laws.

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Democracy (507 BC) 

From 507 BC onwards, Athens came to be governed by a new polity: democracy.

All decisions regarding the city states were made public assemblies of Athenian citizens, who were the free men whose parents had been born in the city state.

Matters that concern governance are known as politics, a word that comes from polis (city state).

assignment

fill in the comparison schedule