Oligarchy

The Dark Ages.

1. After the fall of the Mycenaean and Minoan civilization, Greek culture went backwards for almost 300 years. • The art of writing was lost. • Cities were destroyed and plundered. • The native Ionians was enslaved by Dorians.

2. Eventually cities began to grow again. 3. These cities were walled for protection. 4. Each city state was independent of each other.

The city state, or polis, became the dominantgovernment structure of Greece.

1. The polis was small in size; Athens was the largest.

2. Population remained relatively low; 3. Each polis had:

• an acropolis, or high point, where the government and religious buildings were constructed.

• An agora, or market place, was the meeting-place for most of the people and was the economic center of the polis.

4. The surrounding farmland supported the large population inside the walled cities.

Nobles in Athens challenged the hereditary kings for power between 800 and 650 BC.

Nobles:

1. Power shift to nobles began = • wealthy nobles began to supply the military

2. Small farmers were forced to sell to wealthy nobles

Nobles in Athens challenged the hereditary kings for power between 800 and 650 BC.

Commoners:

1. Soon a merchant class developed to supply goods to a growing population

2. Debt slavery increased and these people challenged free laborers for jobs

3. The common population participated less in government and became more distrustful of wealthy leaders

The early oligarchy government:

1. The Areopagus, the Supreme Council of Elders, chosen from the noble families 

2. Archons leaders:• Archon Basileus (King and religious head)• Archon Polemarch (Chief of the Army)• Archon Eponymous (civil administrator) 3. Boule or Council of 400

4. Ecclesia or assembly of people, with no real power

Society divided into classes of people were based on land and on wealth:

1. the “men of 500 bushel” 500 measures of produce – wealthiest

2. the “knights”. provide their own equipment and a horse (valued between 300 and 500 measures)

3. the “small farmers” - farmers owning small amounts of land

4. the “manual workers” – landless, poor farm workers - poorest

general discontent among the common people:

1. taken advantage of by the nobles 2. high interest rates on loans

• payment of five-sixths of produce in rental• enslaved for debt or loss of land for failure to

pay debts• low prices for farm produce

3. excessive taxation

Draco

The law giver(About 621 BC)

Draco’s Reforms:• posted on wooden tablets = the first written

constitution of Athens

The constitution featured several major changes:1. all laws were written

• noble judges could no longer interpret laws as they pleased

2. appeal decisions to the Council of Elders for injustices

3. laws were very harsh: death penalty

4. UNFAIR = Advantage to the noble classes:

• Debt slavery- any debtor whose status was lower than that of his creditor was forced into slavery

• punishment was more lenient for those owing debt to a member of a lower class

• Started the lot-chosen Council of Four Hundred

Nobles take powerdominate commoners

Commoners become unhappy

Commoners near rebellion

Draco’s reforms

Commoners satisfied

Commoners begin to be

unhappy

Solon: 594 BC

• was Archon Eponymous (government administrator) in 594 B.C.

• attempted to solve economic and political problems with a series of reforms

• major innovations:1. economic2. political 

Economic reforms:

1. GOAL: close the gap between rich and poor:• debts of enslaved peasants were cancelled• enslavement for debt was made illegal• enslaved set free

2. Athens as self-supporting as possible3. overseas trade was encouraged

4. immigration to Athens of foreign artisans5. fathers were required to teach their sons a trade6. development of a system of currency, weights and

measures to assist trade

Political reforms: 

• powers of the Areopagus remained - guarding the laws

• Archons still came from the noble class• society was re-classified on an wealth-political

basis: 4 classes• top 3 classes could hold public office

• people’s courts established

• courts of appeal with a jury system

• jury-service open to the common people

• increased the number of courts

• new code of laws was more humane than those of Draco

Results:1. more people had a say in government2. citizen assembly given rights and powers3. the Council of 400 (boule) managed the citizens’

assembly and prepared its business

Nobles forced to share powerdominate commoners

Commoners become unhappy

Commoners near rebellion

Solon’s reforms

Commoners satisfied

Commoners begin to be

unhappy

Definition

Etymology

Visual

Monarchy

Oligarchy

How was this form of government practiced in ancient Greece?

Why did this form of government decline in ancient Greece?