The Greek city-state or polis was the foundation of Ancient Greek political thought. A city-state was an independent, self-governing community consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.
Athens: The most prominent city-state in ancient Greece known for its democracy and cultural advancements.
Sparta: A militaristic city-state known for its strict society and emphasis on physical strength.
Polis: The Greek term for city-state, referring to the political and cultural center of ancient Greek life.
Oligarchy: A form of government in which power is held by a small group of people, often wealthy elites.
Tyranny: A form of government in which a single leader holds absolute power, often gained through a coup or revolution.
Democracy: A form of government in which power is held by the people, through either direct or representative methods.
Agora: The central gathering place within a polis, where citizens could engage in political and social activities.
Acropolis: The high point of a city, often home to temples or other monuments.
Hoplite: A well-armed and well-trained soldier in ancient Greece, often used in battle formations known as phalanxes.
Persian Wars: The series of conflicts between Greece and the Persian Empire, which ultimately led to Greek victory and the establishing of Athens as a dominant city-state.
Peloponnesian War: The conflict between Athens and Sparta, and their respective allies, which ultimately weakened the Greek city-states and left them vulnerable to outside conquest.
Philosophy: An important cultural aspect of ancient Greece, influencing political and social thought as well as individual conduct.
Socrates: An influential philosopher and teacher in Athens, who challenged conventional beliefs and encouraged critical thinking.
Plato: A student of Socrates who went on to become one of the most important philosophers in ancient Greece, writing extensively on politics, ethics, and metaphysics.
Aristotle: Another philosopher and student of Plato, who focused on empirical observations and logic rather than pure abstractions in his writing on politics and other subjects.
Monarchy: This was a form of government in which a king or queen ruled over the city-state. The power was usually hereditary, and the king or queen had absolute power over the citizens. Sparta was a city-state that maintained a dual monarchy.
Aristocracy: This was a form of government in which a small group of noble families ruled the city-state. The members of this group held power based on their wealth, social status, and family connections.
Oligarchy: This was a form of government in which a few wealthy individuals, usually members of a powerful business or merchant class, held power. These individuals often controlled the economy of the city-state and used their wealth and influence to maintain their power.
Democracy: This was a form of government in which all citizens had an equal say in the affairs of the city-state. Athens is one of the most well-known examples of a democratic city-state in ancient Greece.
Tyranny: This was a form of government in which a single ruler seized power and maintained it through force. This ruler was often seen as a hero who would protect the city-state from outside threats, but the citizens usually had little say in the affairs of the city-state.
Federalism: This was a form of government in which a group of city-states joined together to form a federation. Each city-state retained its own government and autonomy, but the federation provided a means for the city-states to work together on defense, trade, and other issues of common concern. The Achaean League in the Peloponnese is an example of a Greek federation.
Republic: This was a form of government in which the citizens elected representatives to govern on their behalf. Rome is a famous example of a republic, though this form of government was not common in ancient Greece.