Ancient Greece continued...

Transformation of government

• During the seventh and sixth centuries BCE, aristrocrats ran the show in most of Greece
• Rich people held much more influence in society, and held much more governmental power, than the middle class or the poor

Aristocracy (nice work if you can get it)

• Aristocracy is rule by aristocrats
• they attended symposiums, meetings where the elite men would enjoy wine and poetry, performances by dancers and acrobats, and the company of hetaeras (courtesans) while discussing politics

an exclusive club

• no women (except the “entertanment”)
• no middle class
• certainly, no slaves
• sometimes, even certain aristocrats (who didn’t have the right connections or who fell out of favor) were excluded

Tyrants seize control

• sometimes aristocrats would form alliances with hoplites (well-armed soldiers), and set up an alternative form of gov’t called a tyranny
• tyrant: someone who rules outside the framework of the polis
• modern meaning of tyrant: an abusive or oppressive ruler
• the Greek meaning of tyrant: someone who simply seized power (usually with hoplite help)

clash of the tyrants

• Hippias was a tyrant who ruled from 527 to 510 BCE
• his brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh
• eventually he was expelled from Athens (this is called being ostracized)
• in revenge, he began working with the Persian king Darius I, helping them invade Marathon