The ancient Greeks recognized four forms of government: monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, and democracy. An oligarchy is a form of government ruled by a few powerful individuals or families (aristocrats). The development of Athenian democracy started as a monarchy, then became an oligarchy ruled by aristocrats like Draco who passed harsh laws. Eventually, the tyrant Cleisthenes reformed the government to be more democratic and include all citizens.
1. Warm-up (B1-B2)
• Garao: A public market and meeting place in
an ancient Greek city.
• Bleyssam: The main governing body of
Athenian democracy. Any male citizen could
participate.
• Caroyhlig: A form of government where only a
few people exercise power.
2. Political
• The ancient Greeks
recognized four different
types of government.
What forms of government did the
Greeks recognize?
•
•
•
•
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Tyranny
Democracy
3. Political
Monarchy (one ruler)
What is a monarchy?
• The form of government
with undivided rule by a
single person who gained
power by hereditary or
divine right.
4. Political
Oligarchy (power by a few)
What is an oligarchy?
What is an aristocrat?
• The form of government
ruled by a few powerful
individuals or families
(aristocrats).
5. Political
Tyranny (power by force)
What is a tyranny?
• The form of government
that takes power by force /
violence.
6. Political
Democracy (power by the people)
What is a democracy?
• The form of government where
the citizens govern themselves.
7. Political
Describe the development of
Athenian democracy.
What is Draco and example of?
Who was the father of
democracy in Athens?
Democratic development of Athens:
1. Kings (monarchy)
2. Aristocrats overthrow monarch
and run Athens (oligarchy)
3. Aristocrats, like Draco, pass harsh
laws that force people to
continue accepting their rule
(tyranny)
4. The tyrant Cleisthenes, reforms
the government and includes all
citizens in the government
(democracy)
8. Political
What is the assembly?
Where did the assembly
meet?
Who could participate in the
assembly?
Athenian Democracy:
• The assembly (Ekklesia) was the
main governmental body, making
many of the important decisions.
• The assembly would meet in the
agora; all citizens (men only) could
argue and vote in the assembly.
Male citizens who could vote, but
never showed up to the assembly
were called “idiotes.”
9. Political
What is a direct democracy?
What is indirect democracy?
What is an example of a
direct and indirect
democracy?
• Direct Democracy: a form of
democracy where all citizens
directly have a say in governmental
decisions. (Athenian democracy)
• Indirect Democracy: a form of
democracy where all citizens
indirectly have a say in
governmental decisions. Electing
someone to represent a group of
citizens (United States of America)
10. Choose 5 of the 11
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
What is an oligarchy?
What is an aristocrat?
Describe the development of Athenian democracy.
What is Draco an example of?
Who was the father of democracy in Athens?
What is the assembly?
Where did the assembly meet?
Who could participate in the assembly?
What is a direct democracy?
What is indirect democracy?
What is an example of a direct and indirect democracy?
