WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Before the first attempt at democratic government, Athens was ruled by a series of archons or chief magistrates, and the Areopagus, made up of ex-archons. The members of these institutions were generally aristocrats.

Detailed explanation-2: -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.

Detailed explanation-3: -Rule by a Few People In early Athens, kings ruled the city-state. Later, a group of rich landowners, or aristocrats (uh-R I S-tuhkrats), took power. A government in which only a few people have power is called an oligarchy (AH-luh-gar-kee). The aristocrats dominated Athenian society.

Detailed explanation-4: -A Greek Oligarchy is a system of government in which a select group of people, sometimes very small in number, ruled over a city or land. Oligarchies were likely the most common form of city-state government in Ancient Greece and often occurred as a way to restore order and peace after democracy had failed in a city.

Detailed explanation-5: -The word oligarchy comes from the Greek root words oligos (which means “few”) and arkhein (which means “rule”). Between about 800 B.C.E. and 650 B.C.E., most Greek city-states were ruled by a small group of men. These men were called oligarchs, and they often ruled like kings who shared power together.

Detailed explanation-6: -Monarchy-rule by an individual who had inherited his role. Oligarchy-rule by a select group of individuals. Tyranny-rule by an individual who had seized power by unconstitutional means.