Two particularly interesting periods in Greek history were the Archaic (between 750 B.C. and 500 B.C.) and the Classical periods (between about 500 B.C. and 336 B.C.), which comprise most of the era termed ‘Ancient Greece’ in the time line of western history. These periods of Greek history are notable because of the achievements in art, architecture, literature, and the socio-political developments that made Greek civilization unique. Prior to and during the Archaic period, formerly isolated Greek tribes began solidifying into more organized centers of government and population, forming what would become city-states, or ‘polis’, with their own authority but with strategic alliances defined among them.

Early in their evolution the city-states were frequently ruled by hereditary monarchies, called basileus, which then ceded to the oligarchic form of government, which was most typically a leadership of the wealthiest citizens. In oligarchies, political power was given to a council and only a select number of participants were designated by the constitution. If this form of government was overthrown, it was usually replaced by a tyranny, a form of usurping government through which wealthy leaders seized power unconstitutionally, although often with popular support. By the 6th century B.C., democracy as a form of government increased in popularity, though it remained rule by the few-only the free, male citizens of a state could vote to the exclusion of women, foreigners, and slaves.

The 6th century B.C. also was a period during which the Greek city-states colonized surrounding areas to accommodate growing populations. The Greek city-states spread to Italian and Sicilian lands and the surrounding islands. Although the city-states maintained their own identities to some extent, they also formed commercial and political alliances and set up trading posts throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Two forms of government in ancient Greece had particular influence over the region, the Spartan and the Athenian types of rule.

After the power of Sparta was nearly extinguished by revolting Messeneans during the Messenean War, Sparta reformed its government implementing an authoritarian, military rule over its territory. Its strict militaristic government secured the rule of native Spartans while subjugating their conquests by a system of serfdom, where the subjects, called helots, would be essentially bound to a landowner’s property and forced to work the land in order to provide for themselves and their patrons. The military tradition of the Spartan, crucial to the strength of their government, was also remarkable. Spartans were very careful in creating a strong and able citizenry, which fueled the military. It was government policy to filter the weak elements from the society-a government body would be in charge of effectively deciding whether a child should live or die according to the physical strength it demonstrated at birth. Females were also affected by these policies and, though not raised to be part of the military, were raised to be physically fit, fairly independent members of society and strong representatives of their family units while their husbands and fathers were away on military duty.

Alternately, the Athenian rivals of Sparta practiced a different form of government dictated by different circumstances. The evolution of a democratic system in Athens was due to a generally more favorable political climate surrounding Athens. It was not a city, as was Sparta,
continually threatened in its survival as it was situated near protective hills and rested on a harbor which made it easier to defend and also opened it to exchange and positive communication with its neighbors. The evolution of democracy in Athens allowed that eventually a broad swathe of the male citizenry would convene in assemblies that would have a significant pull in government through voting rights. Every male citizen could be a juror, vote in the Assembly, and be elected to state office. Decisions made by the Assembly, were carried out by	Ancient Greece Store Aphrodite of Melos Statue Parthenon Horse The Hippocratic Oath Museum Quality Replica Vase of Achilles & Ajax Playing Game
magistrates and the council. While Sparta became a symbol for a simple, disciplined and traditional society, Athens became a center of cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic development.

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