Today the system is better known as plutocracy. Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía); from ὀλίγος (olígos) 'few', and ἄρχω (arkho) 'to rule or to command') is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These few people generally belong to the rich and powerful section of the society. However, democracy wasn’t developed until much later on in Ancient Greece and it also took some time for the city-states to actually develop. Sparta was ruled by an oligarchy whereas Athens was a democracy 2 What were the from APWH 486950435 at Freedom High School However, this oligarchy had a violent, dramatic ending that helped develop democracy, which is a novel system of government that we still embrace today. Introduction In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political reforms that he called demokratia, or “rule by the people” (from demos , “the people,” and kratos , or “power”). “If the right wing wants a fight, they’re going to get it.” ... Athens had been enslaved by an oligarchical class. After Alexander's death, democracy was overthrown in Athens, but continued in city of Rhodes. In the oligarchy system, few people has the power to rule. States calling … How Democracy ended in Athens; it was replaced by an Oligarchy. Oligarchybibliography [1]The word “oligarchy” and the concepts which it symbolizes originated in ancient Greece. Where the wealthy people control the government and eventually reduce the rest of society to slave or serfs serving them. Although the Greek city-states differed in size and natural resources, over the course of the Archaic Age they came to share certain fundamental political institutions and social traditions: citizenship, slavery, the legal disadvantages and political exclusion of women, and the continuing predominance of wealthy elites in public life. - Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons, Mesopotamia & Ancient Egypt: Similarities & Differences, What is Representative Democracy? From this revolution, the democracy came into being. Where the wealthy people control the gov-ernment and eventually reduce the rest of society to slave or serfs serving them. We know that in 411 BCE in Athens, ‘the oligarchy of the 400’ took power out of the hands of the Assembly and were themselves superseded by a more moderate oligarchy of 5000. The people who hold the power in an oligarchy are called “oligarchs” and are related by characteristics such as wealth, family, nobility, corporate interests, religion, politics, or … Here, we take a look at the Athenian “democracy” and as we read about For a brief period, from 404-403 B.C., the Thirty Tyrants established an oligarchy in Athens. Learn more about the philosophy of the types of government. Introduction and Background. And the one that became an oligarchy before it’s eventual collapse. The archons made decisions regarding Athens, and then submitted these decisions to the Areopagus for approval or denial. These were elected rulers of the Eupatridae (the nobility of Athens). Which of the following best describes the... Indicate whether the statement is true or false.... State true or false and justify your answer:... Price matching a. is a strategic commitment. Athenian Oligarchy and the Development of Democracy In Ancient Athens, which is a classic example of an oligarchy, the top government positions were only held by the elite class, or the aristocracy. The Spartan Empire Spartan Government: An oligarchy system was adopted in Sparta. Athens vs. Sparta During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. Those that promote the benefits of “democracy” leave one thing out; it is always replaced with an oligarchy. Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía); from ὀλίγος (olígos) 'few', and ἄρχω (arkho) 'to rule or to command') is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. In the Hellenistic* period, the distinctions between oligarchy and democracy became even less clear, since even democratic states tended to be governed by the rich. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. Athens. For example, before building the Athenian navy, the politicians who advocated for it needed to convince the voters that building the navy was in the city-state’s best interest. Become a Study.com member to unlock this The first great historical figure of that new era was Solon, general, merchant, poet and sage, who in 594 BC became chief magistrate. Oligarchy would simply remove whatever restraints the democracy had imposed. A reappraisal of the taxonomy of oligarchy is warranted. States calling … The city-states of Megara and Thebes were other city-states who were known to have an oligarchy. Monarchy had mostly died out i… - Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons, The Agricultural Revolution: Timeline, Causes, Inventions & Effects, Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells: Similarities and Differences, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Help and Review, High School World History: Help and Review, High School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Tutoring Solution, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Tutoring Solution, American History Since 1865: Tutoring Solution, McDougal Littell Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction: Online Textbook Help, High School World History: Tutoring Solution, Praxis Social Studies - Content Knowledge (5081): Study Guide & Practice, ILTS Social Science - History (246): Test Practice and Study Guide, SAT Subject Test US History: Practice and Study Guide, AP European History: Homework Help Resource, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Help and Review, Biological and Biomedical In the oligarchy system, few people has the power to rule. In 404 BCE, following the defeat of the Athenian military forces in Sicily, there was an oligarchy of ‘ the Thirty Tyrants ’ in Athens which was a particularly brutal regime, noted for its summary executions. But it was the best government up to that time and superior to what most of the ancient world was living under. After the Greek Dark Ages, the population in that region scattered and the city-states arose sometime after that. All rights reserved. During the eighth century the monarchy was replaced with nine Archons, meaning ruler in Greek. Democracy, which had prevailed during Athens’ Golden Age, was replaced by a system of oligarchy after the disastrous Athenian defeat in Sicily in 409 BCE. Athens, as the leader in the early experiment of democracy had set the foundation for the later development of modern democracy. Before Ancient Greece developed into the governments that existed later on, most of the areas were structured as oligarchies. Parthenon, a temple. Some oligarchies, however, have been well documented. Athens and Sparta were two different political parties, Athens was a democracy, and Sparta was an oligarchy. Democracy, which had prevailed during Athens’ Golden Age, was replaced by a system of oligarchy in 411 BCE. The archons made decisions regarding the rule of the city-state but they had to submit their decisions to the entire Areopagus, which would either accept or reject their rulings. Oligarchy Origin. Athens; it was replaced by an Oligarchy. During the dark ages, Athens had been a monarchy, but it emerged as an oligarchy in the 7th century BC. Oligarchy took roots in Greece, Rome as a form of government. Aftermath. answer! Oligarchy, government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. The social tumult obliged the aristocracy to make concessions for the rest of the population. Ironically, as only around 150,000 of the 800,000+ people in Athens were elgible to vote, Athens could also be called an oligarchy (might want to mention that to the teacher just to annoy them) History of Oligarchy. Athens was an oligarchy for a brief moment during the Peloponnesian War, when a group of elites, known as the 400, overthrew the Democratic government and installed themselves as rulers in 411 BCE. Oligarchies in which members of the ruling group are wealthy or exercise their power through their wealth are known as plutocracies. Ancient Greece Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power rests in the hands of a small or limited number of people. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. Athens had an alliance system that gave all members a voice in the government, while the United States has a democratic system that elects officials to make decisions. We know that in 411 BCE in Athens, ‘the oligarchy of the 400’ took power out of the hands of the Assembly and were themselves superseded by a more moderate oligarchy of 5000. https://www.answers.com/Q/Why_was_Athens_considered_at_one_point_oliga… In this, the seeds of Athenian democracy can be seen. _____, a militaristic city state, was an oligarchy, while its rival _____ was known for its democratic institutions See answer 526sgv is waiting for your help. Much of the credit goes to Cleisthenes whose reforms turned Athens from an oligarchy (government by the few) to a democracy (government of the people). Ancient Greece, and Athens for that matter, is known for being the birthplace of democracy, however, true democracy only lasted there from the early 6th century until the late 4th century BC. One of the most popularly known oligarchies existed in Athens and in the surrounding region of Attica. Athens vs. Sparta During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. The term “oligarchy” was pioneered by Aristotle to refer to the rule of the rich. It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. Athens vs. Sparta During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. Government by a small group is by definition an oligarchy. As a matter of fact, during the 4th century BC, after the restoration of When most people think about the structure of government in Ancient Greece, they may believe that it was a democracy, or that Ancient Greece was broken up by city-states. Oligarchies in which members of the ruling group are wealthy or exercise their power through their wealth are known as plutocracies. This incident happened in 404 BC and is said to be a brutal period in Greek history. A majority of today’s de jure democratic governments are de facto oligarchies since they are ruled by a small group of people from powerful and influential families who have shared interests. yes Sparta was an oligarchy. In Ancient Athens, which is a classic example of an oligarchy, the top government positions were only held by the elite class, or the aristocracy. Note that oligarchy simply means “ruled by a few” and that it shouldn’t be confused with a monarchy, since many of the city-states had kings or a tyranny, which is a system of government where one individual rules. The Ancient Greeks are credited for giving the world democracy, but really it’s the Ancient Athenians that we specifically have to thank. These people may be distinguished by nobility, wealth, education, corporate, religious, political, or military control. - Definition, Facts, Characteristics & Examples, Forms of Government: Monarchy, Democracy, Oligarchy & More, Totalitarianism: Definition, Characteristics & Examples, What is Direct Democracy? The Athenian Revolution (508–507 BCE) was a revolt by the people of Athens that overthrew the ruling aristocratic oligarchy, establishing the almost century-long self-governance of Athens in the form of a participatory democracy – open to all free male citizens. Comments Off on All About the Oligarchy of Ancient Greece. The power in Athens was held by the people, and in Sparta there were two kings and 5 Ephors who made laws. In 621 B.C., Draco was the first legislator in Ancient Greeceto impose a written law code that would become famous as an example of severity, but was a great step compared to the primitive justice syste… Spartas Oligarchy Oligarchy was a political system that was used by the Spartans, that was centered on war. Written by GreekBoston.com in Ancient Greek History Later Athens came to be ruled by the people as a democracy whilst Sparta remained an oligarchy. In the Archaic period, most of the city-states were ruled by oligarchies which continued till about the 600 and 500 BC a when the tyrants took over. These monarchies did not always last and Athens would turn into an oligarchy … The politicians were also voted in by the public. Hellenistic kings and Rome promoted oligarchy and monarchy in Greece. In 510 BC, the city-state of Athens created the first democratic government, and soon other Greek city-states imitated them. The Athenian coup of 411 BC was the result of a revolution that took place during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The city-states of Megara and Thebes were other city-states who were known to have an oligarchy. Athens vs. Sparta Essay 1193 Words | 5 Pages. Critias was killed in the fighting at the doors of Athens. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Introduction and Background. Later this oligarchy was ruled out of power by the oligarchy of 5000. if you think that Sparta is an oligarchy, you are wrong. But city-states developed these shared characteristics in strikingly different ways. Start studying Chapter 5 Section 2. When Athens lost a battle to Sicily, around thirty tyrants formed an oligarchy in Athens. An oligarchy is a power structure under which a small group of elite individuals, families, or corporations control a country. The eventual democratic system required that the eligible citizens vote on any decision that the population needed to make. The two city-states that best represent each form of government were Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy). To some extent, these things are true. Government by a small group is by definition an oligarchy. The first great historical figure of that new era was Solon, general, merchant, poet and sage, who in 594 BC became chief magistrate. Athens's oligarchy was composed of nine rulers, also called "archons," elected by the Areopagus. Oligarchy origin dates back to around 10th century BC. How Did Traditional Greek Folk Dancing Get Started. In this form of government, you can see the seeds of Athens’ democracy. The coup overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens and replaced it with a short-lived oligarchy known as the Four Hundred. Those that promote the benefits of “democracy” leave one thing out; it is always replaced with an oligarchy. To avoid the abuses of power, the laws were written down. Athens vs. Sparta During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. The Thirty Tyrants' brief reign was marred by violence and corruption. Athens. Webster’s Dictionary defines an oligarchy as, “a government in which a small group exercises control.” The root of the word, oligarchy, comes from a Greek word meaning, “few.” In Ancient Greece, oligarchies were especially common as early as 800 B.C. Start studying Chapter 5 Section 2. Sparta also had an assembly just like Athens, but the main decisions were taken by the “Council of Elders” with two kings … By as early as 800... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. These monarchies did not always last and Athens would turn into an oligarchy … It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. Quite the contrary, the wrongs done by the democracy were usually instigated by the upper classes. This chapter looks for oligarchs, and more generally for opponents of democracy, in Athens; to see who they were, what opinions and objectives they held, and why. In Ancient Greece, may city-states remained as oligarchies even longer than Athens did. Athens vs. Sparta Essay 1193 Words | 5 Pages. As mentioned above, Athens was one of the more well known of the oligarchies and once the general population became tired of being ruled by only a small minority of its citizens, they revolted. View this answer. Rebellions also caused a shift in government, as aristocratic families fought for control of the city-state. Services, Oligarchy in Ancient Greece: Definition, Characteristics & Disadvantages, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. This revolution and the development of the new system of government occurred around 500 B.C. After the Peloponnesian War, the democratic state of Athens was overruled by an oligarchy in favour of Sparta called The Thirty Tyrants, which only lasted eight years until democracy was restored. Athens, as the leader in the early experiment of democracy had set the foundation for the later development of modern democracy. The oligarchy, which was composed of men who came from and were elected by the Areopagus, was made up of nine archons or “rulers.” The monarchy transformed into an oligarchy sometime in the 8th century BC. The Spartan Empire Spartan Government: An oligarchy system was adopted in Sparta. In 411 BC, Athens was ruled by the oligarchy of the 400. Athens was ruled by a small group of people (archons) where Sparta was ruled by kings. Later this oligarchy was ruled out of power by the oligarchy of 5000. Overall, it was this group of nobles, the Are… During the Corinthian War (395 – 387 BC), Sparta’s previous allies fought along Athens against Sparta, establishing the Second Athenian League . These people may be characterized by wealth, education, family ties, religion. Although we know that there is a period of time where the oligarchies were extremely common in Ancient Greece, not much is known about them, especially early on. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Athens and Sparta were two different political parties, Athens was a democracy, and Sparta was an oligarchy. Although, the other government forms such as monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy and tyranny had fulfilled their political functions at the time in Greece, they appeared to be inferior to the democratic system. How was oligarchy practiced in ancient Greece? The type of democracy practiced in Athens of the fifth and fourth centuries may not have been perfect. The power in Athens was held by the people, and in Sparta there were two kings and 5 Ephors who made laws. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Rebellions also caused a shift in government, as aristocratic families fought for control of the city-state. When Athens lost a battle to Sicily, around thirty tyrants formed an oligarchy in Athens. In Ancient Greece there were two different major forms of government, Oligarchy and Democracy. But it was the best government up to that time and superior to what most of the ancient world was living under. As you can see, the oligarchy was a fairly common form of government in Ancient Greece. In 411 BC, Athens was ruled by the oligarchy of the 400. In its basic use, the word identified one of the general forms of government recognized by the Greeks: that in which political government is conducted by a few persons or families. If they were During the dark ages, Athens had been a monarchy, but it emerged as an oligarchy in the 7th century BC. The type of democracy practiced in Athens of the fifth and fourth centuries may not have been perfect. Create your account. Parthenon, a temple. In Ancient Greece there were two different major forms of government, Oligarchy and Democracy. form of governance in which administrative power is vested in a few people in the society The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. Oligarchy is a deviant form and plutocracies and corporatocracies are types of oligarchies. Ironically, as only around 150,000 of the 800,000+ people in Athens were elgible to vote, Athens could also be called an oligarchy (might want to mention that to the teacher just to annoy them) The constitutional change, according to Thucydides, seemed the only way to win much-needed support from Persia against the old enemy Sparta and, further, it was thought that the change would not be a permanent one. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. In 404 BCE, following the defeat of the Athenian military forces in Sicily, there was an oligarchy of ‘ the Thirty Tyrants ’ in Athens which was a particularly brutal regime, noted for its summary executions. The Word Oligarchy is a type of power structure where power exercised by a privileged group of people. These people may be distinguished by nobility, wealth, education, corporate, religious, political, or military control. In the Hellenistic* period, the distinctions between oligarchy and democracy became even less clear, since even democratic states tended to be governed by the rich. Athenian Democracy: Solon and Cleisthenes, Pericles of Athens: Facts, Achievements & Death, Significance of Citizenship in Ancient Greece, Trade & Commerce in Greek City-States & the Mediterranean Region, Absolute Monarchy: Definition, Characteristics & Examples, What is a Dictatorship? On occasion, these rebellions succeeded and a monarchy system was put into place, with a ruler called a tyrant. The Athenian Revolution (508–507 BCE) was a revolt by the people of Athens that overthrew the ruling aristocratic oligarchy, establishing the almost century-long self-governance of Athens in the form of a participatory democracy – open to all free male citizens. Since the origin of Oligarchy it has evolved tremendously and spread across many nations through the ages. Here’s more information about the oligarchies as they pertained to Ancient Greece”. Choose from 185 different sets of term:athens democracy = sparta: oligarchy flashcards on Quizlet. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. Athens had an oligarchy in which several wealthy people ruled the government, while the United States is a republic in which all its citizens take part in government. Sparta is unable to have an oligarchy because they have two kings that have no power to the people. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal Even though they were different they were still very alike. Under Macedonian rule of Greece, tyrannies by pro-Macedonians were imposed on Athen's allies against Macedon. Oligarchy, government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. The two city-states that best represent each form of government were Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy). For a brief period, from 404-403 B.C., the Thirty Tyrants established an oligarchy in Athens. Ancient Athens, or rather ancient Greece, was an oligarchy for a period of time before revolutions began to occur around 500 BC. _____, a militaristic city state, was an oligarchy, while its rival _____ was known for its democratic institutions See answer 526sgv is waiting for your help. classical Athens was a democracy, nor that Thebes was an oligarchy, but many constitutional forms lie in a gray haze, and there has been relatively little systematic discussion of anything other than democracy and tyranny in recent years. Later Athens came to be ruled by the people as a democracy whilst Sparta remained an oligarchy. Yes, Athens was an oligarchy for several periods in the 7th, 6th, and 5th, centuries BCE. Although, the other government forms such as monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy and tyranny had fulfilled their political functions at the time in Greece, they appeared to be inferior to the democratic system. Spartan children were taken at a young age, and were starved in the barracks with the soldiers. This incident happened in 404 BC and is said to be a brutal period in Greek history. and in some places, like the city-state of Athens, the oligarchical system remained for much longer. The defeat in Sicily had enormous repercussions for Athens, which we'll cover in this lecture. By as early as 800... See full answer below. First, we'll look at the results of Athens' great defea They were encouraged to steal food to create good thieves. Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. Sparta also had an assembly just like Athens, but the main decisions were taken by the “Council of Elders” with two kings … Ancient Athens, or rather ancient Greece, was an oligarchy for a period of time before revolutions began to occur around 500 BC. Athens' satellites would not find an Athenian oligarchy any more amenable than a democracy. Much of the credit goes to Cleisthenes whose reforms turned Athens from an oligarchy (government by the few) to a democracy (government of the people). Learn term:athens democracy = sparta: oligarchy with free interactive flashcards. On occasion, these rebellions succeeded and a monarchy system was put into place, with a ruler called a tyrant. on All About the Oligarchy of Ancient Greece. The correct option is (A) Athens. Historians have argued that the violence and brutality the Thirty carried out in Athens was necessary to transition Athens from a democracy to an oligarchy. The constitutional change, according to Thucydides, seemed the only way to win much-needed support from Persia against the old enemy Sparta and, further, it was thought that the change would not be a permanent one. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Even though they were different they were still very alike. From 185 different sets of term: Athens democracy = Sparta: oligarchy with free flashcards... Off on All about the oligarchies as they pertained to Ancient Greece the Spartans, that used. Were taken at a young Age, and in the hands of a small and privileged group for corrupt selfish. Rulers of the society and fourth centuries may not have been perfect Cons, Mesopotamia & Egypt... In Athens distinguished by nobility, wealth, education, corporate,,... Wealth, education, corporate, religious, political, or rather Ancient Greece developed into the governments existed... Regarding Athens, but continued in city of Rhodes, 6th, and were in! 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