Ancient Greek constitutions - kingship, oligarchy, and democracy

Ancient Greek constitutions - kingship, oligarchy, and democracy

Content

1.       What were the main types of political constitution found in the Greek world?

2.       How did ancient writers view the different constitutions?

Politeia

·         Politeia – the constitution of a Greek city state

·         Aristotle –

o   A polis required three things: a population; a territory; and a constitution

o   Since population and territory can change over time, politeia is the most important aspect of the polis

·         The idea of politeia meant more than just ‘constitution’ to Greeks – it incorporated the idea of community and how the government works within the communities

Why study Greek constitutions?

·         Crucial to understanding of Peloponnesian War and other events that occurred in Greece during 5^th and 4^th centuries

·         Defining the polis by its constitution was a central element of Greek thought

·         Type of constitution crucial in how each city state defined and restricted citizen population, i.e. those with political rights

Aristotle, Politics 1279a-b

·         There are three basic types of constitution –

o   Kingship – monarchy aimed at the common interest

o   Aristocracy – rule of the few in common interest

o   Polity – political control exercised by mass of the populace, in the common interest

·         There are three corresponding deviations –

o   Tyranny – monarchy for the benefit of the monarch

o   Oligarchy – rule of the few for the benefit of themselves

o   Democracy – rule of the many for the benefit of the men without means

§  (Did this model influence Polybius’ concept of ochlocracy?)

…