Greek Government

Today in class we went over more slides about Greek. We learned some important government terms. Polis is a fundamental political unit made up of a city and the surrounding countryside. Monarchy is rule by a single person, like a king. Aristocracy is rule by a small group of noble, very rich, land 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. Rich people wielded power back then and still wield power today. Aristocrats attended symposiums which were meeting where the elite men would enjoy wine and poetry, performances by dancers and acrobats, and the company of hetaeras (courtesans) while discussing politics. No women, middle class, or slaves were allowed in. Sometimes aristocrats that are kicked out form alliances with hoplites and set up another form of government called tyranny. We also learned about Draco, Solon's refuge, and Cleisthenes. That's all for today.