Ancient Greece: A Great Place To Live

The Greek society was a direct democracy with people voting on the issues themselves instead of representatives voting on their behalf. Any male citizen over the age of eighteen was allowed to vote. Like the Romans, the Greek government was divided into separate parts. The Greek government consisted of an assembly, council, and courts, with each requiring a different number of voters present. The people all gather and vote on issues by hand, and this is the simplest form of majority rules. The role of the people is extremely important in how the society and state is governed and run. This early form a democracy was detailed by Pericles funeral oration during the Peloponnesian War. Pericles was an eminent Athenian politician who states in regards to the government of Athens, “Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy (Pericles, “Funeral Oration”, pp. 2)”. Here, Pericles states that the people have all the power and their opinion is highly valued. Likewise, the Romans valued the people’s opinions so highly that they entrusted with them rewards and punishments, vital aspects that held the society together. Pericles also states, “…nor again does poverty bar the way, if a man is able to serve the state, here is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition (Pericles, “Funeral Oration”, pp. 2)”. Here is the essence of democracy, every man no

The most distinctive feature of Greek political culture lay in the extent of popular participation in political life that occurred within the city-states. This participation was based on the unique ideas of “citizenship,” of free people running the affairs of state, and of equality for all citizens before the law. Political participation in Greek city-states was much wider than in Persia, but it varied considerably between city-states and over time. Early in Greek history, only the wealthy and wellborn had the rights of full citizenship, but middle- and lower-class men gradually obtained these rights in some city-states.

During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority and best met the needs of Ancient Greece. These factors empowered Sparta and led to the development of an authoritative and potent state. Other contrasting issues included women’s rights, social classes, and value of human life.

When people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. “In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.” (“Greek Mythology.”) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are known today. However, to the Greeks, they were not just characters, these were their gods and goddesses who gave them meaning and understanding of the world around them. Worshiping the gods and goddesses helped them with their religious rituals and the temperament of the weather. A famous wine-jar that was made during this time period was “Achilles killing the Amazon Queen Penthesilea, 540-530 BCE, black-figured amphora”. (Khan Academy) The civilization that they lived in grew around their worship and achievements.

There are different forms of government adopted by the ancient civilization of Greece. They were monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. However, among those mentioned--only four of them actually written in the history, where the ancient inhabitants of Greece had used and applied. However, the primary purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast these different forms of government.

Introduction This assignment describes the character of the four ancient governments in order to compare and contrast the five government forms in the Ancient Greek city-states. They are monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy.

Ancient Greece was home to two of the most influential cities of their time, Athens and Sparta. Athens was known for its thinkers, art, and architecture while Sparta was the “warrior’s society”. While both cities ended tragically they were successful for an extended amount of time. This could be contributed to their forms of government. In Athens, the power was in the hands of the people in what is now known as a democracy.

The major ancient Greek city-states -Athens and Sparta, depict different forms of government which are; monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Aristocracy and democracy were found in Athens whereas monarchy and oligarchy were more established in Sparta. Both cities, in a way, they demonstrated a tyranny form of government. However, in reality, these forms of governments were controversial and one could debate their existence in each city-state.

There were many types of governments in ancient Greece, but Athens’s government was the most unique in that time period. Most governments

Societies and politics were different in many aspects but also similar in Greece two most powerful city states Sparta and Athens. This paper will answer the following questions: How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community? Who held public office? What rules governed the selection of public office holders? How were the two city-states similar in their governmental structures? How did they differ?

Introduction In this assignment I will explain the character of the four ancient Greek governments in order to compare and contrast the four government forms in the Ancient Greek city-states. They are monarchy, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Monarchy According to Blackwell, C. (2003), monarchy comes from the Greek terms monos and archaic.

Ancient Greece is a time of beauty and a great change in society; one that will live on to this day. The days of the gods and goddesses that ruled over what the people did on a daily basis. Ancient Greece often plays a part of how most societies are brought up today. It influences the architecture we build today, such as momentums, statues, and other buildings. Their literature is still being passed down generations to generations as the years go on.

One of the most famous contributions from ancient Greece is democracy. We still even use that form of government today. ( outside information). Pericles invented that type of government so that everyone can serve, no matter what social class you are in (document

The Greeks wore light, loose clothes as the weather was hot for most of the year. Long pieces of colourful fabric were used to make the Greek clothes.

Ancient Greece was somewhat like the United States today as it was comprised of many various cities. Some of these cities were much more important than others; also like the United States. Washington, D.C. is the single most important city within our country whereas Athens was, and still is, the most important city in Greece. As we may have a few similar things in common, ancient Greek life was also very different than the average day American’s.