Forms Of Government In Ancient Greek City-States

Comparing and Contrasting Forms of Government in Ancient Greek City-States
One of the more fascinating aspects of Ancient Greek city-states were the various forms of government which spanned throughout its period. There was democracy, monarchies, a dose of tyranny, and oligarchies. Many of these forms of government varied throughout specific territories. At times, these forms of government will resemble each other with respect to certain features incorporated. In certain aspects however, they will be noticeably different as well. Analyzing these forms of government, many of which were attributed to Ancient Greece, plays a critical juncture in understanding their importance in 21st century life. Throughout this essay I will discuss, compare,

and contrast these various forms of rule and government.
One of the more popular Athenian forms of government was rooted in democracy. Unlike the other forms of government, participation from Athenians within the city-states was critical in maintaining a functional democracy. Ancient Greece, during a certain period, incorporated the most direct form of democracy, rather than a representative democracy. Even the poor population had a say in public life and functions. (Cartledge, 2011) Democracy, of course, contrasted with the subsequent form of rule that would take rise after the Peloponnesian war, which were dominated by the oligarchs.
The oligarchs, backed by Sparta, possessed a significant level of power and influenced daily life for Athenians. Oligarchs differed from the other forms of government in that power was consolidated among the few richest citizens. A relative comparison with the Oligarchs were the Aristocrats. Like the Oligarchs, the Aristocrats were rather wealthy and shared a common disdain towards democracy. One of the more obvious reasons were because of the impact “Commoners” or the poor had in public life. (Cartledge, 2011) Nevertheless, the oligarchs campaign was short lived. Following a level of brutality inflicted by the oligarchs towards the general population, democracy was eventually reinstated. (Planeaux, 2015)
Another type of government which took life in Athens-Greece was in the form of a Monarchy. Power, or rule, was often inherited. A perfect example would be in conjunction with Alexander the Greats ascension to the throne following the death of his father, King Philip II of Macedon. (Wasson, 2014) Monarchies, when left unchecked, can create tyrants, a form of rule that leaves a single individual to have virtually unlimited power. Upon Alexander the Greats ascension, tyranny, by no means was a foreign concept to city-states within Athens Greece. Monarchies differ from Oligarchies because power is essentially inherited. And for obvious reasons, the level of consolidation with power among monarchs is a sharp contrast in comparison to a democratic form of government that relies on the mass.
These various examples of rule, power, and conflict offers a glimpse of Ancient Greece and the importance of Government-types. The Greek city-states were filled with many forms of government throughout its rich history. Many of which influenced modern-day government and political structures. Oftentimes they were similar and considerably different from one another. But its eventual impact in modern-society can be felt and experienced in many parts of the world.