The document discusses different forms of government in Ancient Greece: oligarchy, where a small group rules; tyranny, where a single ruler has absolute power; and democracy, where people rule themselves. It provides examples of each type, such as oligarchies being ruled by aristocrats and tyrants gaining power through strong armies. Democracies evolved from direct systems where people voted on laws to representative systems. Citizenship rights also expanded over time. Governments sometimes transitioned between these forms due to power struggles.

1. Ancient Greek
Governments
Presented By:
Jerry Lee
Period B

2. The Different Types of
Governments
I. Oligarchy: A government in which only
a few people have the power
II. Tyranny: A government ruled by one
person with absolute power
III. Democracy: A type of government in
which people rule themselves

3. Oligarchy
 Ruled by aristocrats, who are rich landowners.
 Each aristocrat is trying to get more power than the
other aristocrats, but the other aristocrats keep them
from doing that.
 May be elected, born into position, or have a certain
amount of money or land to get into the oligarchy.
 Have meetings to appoint someone to do something or
when they have important questions.
 Most Greek city-states were under an oligarchy after the
Dark Ages.

4. Tyranny
 Ruled by a tyrant
 Tyrants were considered good leaders
back in Ancient Greece
 Tyrants kept the cities under control
because they had a strong army.
 Having a strong army helped tyrants stay
in power longer.
 Tyrants were supported by the people

5. Peisistratus
 One of the most
famous Ancient
Greek tyrant
 Overthrew oligarchy
in 546 BC
 Brought peace and
prosperity to Athens
 During his rule many
improvements were
made in Athens
 Unified Athens

6. Democracy
Before
 Direct Democracy: A
government that
allows the people to
vote to make their
own laws and rules.
Now
 Representative
Democracy: A
government which
lets the people vote
for representative.
The representatives
make the laws and
rules for the people
and themselves.

7. Citizenship
 Was first brought up in Athens under Solon’s
laws
 He gave more rights to nonaristocrats and made
all free men citizens.
 Citizens had the right to participate in
government.
 You were able to be a citizen if you were rich or
poor, as long as you were free, you could be a
citizen.

8. Translation from Tyranny to
Oligarchy
 In Ancient Greece, most of the city-states
started out from an oligarchy.
 One of the aristocrats would have more power
by gaining the poor people’s favor and led to
that one aristocrat becoming a tyrant.
 The other aristocrats would then become
jealous and knock the tyrant down of his power,
which made the government an oligarchy again.

9. Translation from Democracy to
Dictatorship
 The early form of democracy was started in
Athens.
 It was proven successful as other city-states
began to use democracy.
 Then when Greece was conquered by
Macedonian, it showed that democracy was very
limited.
 Then in the 320’s BC, Greece fell into
dictatorship.

10. Translation from Democracy to
Dictatorship
 The early form of democracy was started in
Athens.
 It was proven successful as other city-states
began to use democracy.
 Then when Greece was conquered by
Macedonian, it showed that democracy was very
limited.
 Then in the 320’s BC, Greece fell into
dictatorship.