Tyranny

social and economic crises in many city states created a major political change:

1. form of government called tyranny 2. ruler known as a tyrant3. tyrant was a man:

a. without any hereditary or official right to rule b. often came from the middle classc. seized control of his cityd. done with some violence e. support of local hoplites or hired mercenary

troopsf. promised peace and prosperityg. popular, charismatic leader - general

General causes for the rise of tyrants:

1. Dissatisfaction with rule of nobles (or aristocrats) because of

a. their control of political, military and economic life of the city-state

b. excessive taxation c. worsening economic conditions of the lower

classesd. general oppression of the poor by the nobles

2. Results of colonization

a. created a moneyed middle class (often a result of trade)

b. discontented with their inferior political positionc. no say in governmentd. had inferior social statuse. there was still the threat of slavery f. they had little or no say in commerce,

expenditure and polices

3. Trade

a. increased the availability of metal - increased supply decreased cost

b. more people could afford armor c. any citizen who could furnish his own armor

could become a knight, regardless of birth, and with this new status came more political power

d. this brought on the era of the hoplite

4. Change in warfare:

a. only nobles could afford the expensive armor and horses needed for warfare

b. the hoplite phalanx c. the panoply (set of weapons) of the hoplite

soldier was expensive to purchased. this new type of warfare gave the new

moneyed middle class a means of purchasing positions in the military.

5. money economy

a. sell off his surplus each year

b. gradually accumulate money

c. Theognis of Megara, a sixth-century poet, said, "that money mixes the classes"

6. Poorer classes

a. found their lot was made worseb. others in society benefited from the new

prosperity c. farmers were particularly affected

7. Farmers' resentment

a. tax burdens that were placed on them b. threat of slavery for failure to meet their taxes

increasedc. greater share in military burdens

there was widespread dissatisfaction with the rule of

the nobles

• support for anyone promising to overthrow the nobles

• promise to meet the needs of the middle and poorer classes

Divisions in Athens: geographic location in city-state

1. “Men of the Plain” • a group of nobles • unhappy from their financial loss when Solon

cancelled debts

2. “Men of the Coast” • had supported Solon• fairly moderate • contained a core of radical manual laborers

who were demanding re-dividing of the land

3. “Men of the Hills”

• were largely manual laborers who wanted land divided in their favor

• Pisistratus, became their leader

• Pisistratus wanted to establish himself as tyrant of Athens

Peisistratus seized power in an elaborate trick that Herodotus records:

1. In the year 561 B.C., Peisistratus appeared in the agora wounded (self-inflicted!)

2. claiming he was being chased by people opposed to him because of the assistance he had given the common people.

3. assembly granted him a bodyguard of 50 armed men

4. Peisistratus used these 50 armed men to seize the acropolis and proclaimed himself ruler

Results of tyranny under Pisistratus:

•power of the nobles was limited

•improvement in the condition of the merchant and artisan classes

•colonies were founded giving Athens control of the Hellespont

•improvement in the condition of the lower classes

•improvements and advances in Greek culture

•trade and manufacturing were encouraged

•alliances with other tyrants and kings began a period of peace

•public works projects benefited the people - roads were constructed, provided a reliable water supply, and the beautification of Athens

•began a judiciary, where traveling (or circuit) judges toured Attica for local cases

•Hippias and Hipparchus ruled as joint tyrants after their father’s death

•Hippias' rule became more harsh and he was expelled from Athens in 510 B.C.

Athenian tyrants:

•Pisistratus

•Hippias/Hipparchus

•Cleisthenes

•Isagoras

Definition

Etymology

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Monarchy

Oligarchy

Tyranny

How was this form of government practiced in ancient Greece?

Why did this form of government decline in ancient Greece?