History- The Greek City-States

Greek City States
polis- city state
Polis or also known as today politics became the central focus of Greek life
Polis consists two part called acropolis and agora
acropolis is on the top of the hill that was fortified area used for building temples and buildings were built, here lived the landowners or known as aristocrats
agora is located below the acropolis and used for a place for common people, market, and farmings
Polis was a community of people consisted of citizens with political rights (adult males), citizens with no political rights (women and children), and noncitizens (slaves and resident aliens).
Military system was based on hoplites
hoplites- heavily armed infantry soldiers (foot soldiers)
hoplites used the rectangular formation known as phalanx that formed a wall of shields hardly for enemy to harm them

Greek Colonies
In 750 - 550 B.C. large numbers of Greek left their homeland to settle in another lands for good farmland and the growth of trade
They set up new colonies in Thrace and along the shores of the Black Sea like Byzantium
The expansion of trade and industry created many new wealthy groups of people in many Greek city-states, these new money wanted to gain political power but can't because of the old power ruling aristocrats

Tyranny in the City-States- Rise of Democracy
Greek tyrants were rulers who wanted power by forcing the aristocrats
Greek tyrants came not only the new money/power (rich) but the poor one who were in debt with the aristocrats, also the tired of aristocrats(old power/money) that hold all the power in city-states
The tyrants finally gained power but did not last long because Greek believe in rule by law so the tyrants are thrown away
Even thought tyrants did not last long but it play an important role in Greek history, the rule of tyrants had ended the rule of aristocrats in many city-states making many people can participated in government
This led to the development of democracy, which is government by the people or ruled of the many(votes)
Some city-states still using oligarchy (rule by the few)