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Greek Tyranny Research Paper

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Though there were numerous factors involved in the fall of tyranny, the main cause for the Greek’s tyrannic end was the actions made by the Aristocrats. Tyrants desired to take away control from the Aristocrat’s and gain their power. They were able to come into a place of absolute rule by gaining favor from the Greeks. The majority of the Greeks were poor, so tyrants catered to the poverty-stricken in order to be supported (“What is Tyranny?”). Tyrants provided for their people by building structures like aqueducts that could be used to greatly benefit the poor by supplying a vital source needed for survival -clean water (“Tyranny”). Tyrants also offered cancellations of debts the poor owed along with redistributing land. Though these acts caused the tyrants to gain popularity from the poor, it had the …show more content…

Back in Ancient times, tyranny meant something completely different from today’s definition. Tyranny was defined as a man being granted absolute power to rule over everyone in the city’s jurisdiction (“Plato and Aristotle on Tyranny and the Rule of Law”). A similar monarchical structure as to that of a king or queen. Most of the time, tyrants were not hated by their people. In fact, they were often favored. Some tyrannical rulers were even said to be just. Pisistratus, one of the tyrannic Greek rulers, was said to be “Kindly and mild in everything and in particular he was merciful to offenders and moreover he advanced loans of money to the poor for their industries (Athenian Constitution 16;1-2 qtd. in “Tyranny”).” Tyrants, especially those of the earlier time, were what absolute rulers should be. They were kind, just, hospitable, and good-natured. They pursued peace and helped the poor (“Tyranny”). Most people living in Greece at this time were poor and would benefit greatly from being ruled by a tyrant. Tyrannical rule was something that would be favorable if one were poor, not

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