During the seventh and sixth centuries, aristocrats ran the government in most of Greece
- Back then, as right now, rich people wielded much influence in society, and held much government power, than middle to poor classes.
- Aristocrats: members of the ruling class.
- Aristocrats attended symposiums--meetings where elite men enjoyed wine and poetry, performances by dancers and acrobats, and the company of hetaeras (courtesans) while discussing politics.
- Politics was an exclusive club.
- There were no women (except for the "entertainment"),
- Also no middle class,
- Nor slaves.
- Sometimes, certain aristocrats were excluded due to wrong connections or falling out of favor.
- If on the outside, sometimes aristocrats would form alliances with hoplites--well-armed soldiers--and set up alternative forms of government called tyranny.
- Tyrant: someone who rules outside the framework of the polis.
- The modern meaning of a tyrant is an abusive or oppressive ruler.
- The Greek meaning is someone who simply seized power (usually with hoplite help).
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