How did the government of oligarchy work in ancient Greece?

Answer 1

Oligarchy means 'rule of the few' (Monarchy = rule of one, Democracy = people power)

There were broad-based oligarchies where the propertied-class ruled, even though this was not a 'few'. There were also narrow-based oligarchies where only the richest held power.

Aristotle said that the best forms of government were monarchy, aristocracy (rule by the best people) and democracy. He went on to say that these became degraded over time monarchy -> tyranny (rule by a tyrant), aristocracy -> oligarchy, and democracy -> ochlocracy (mob rule).

Answer 2

Oligarchy means 'rule of the few' (Monarchy = rule of one, Democracy = people power)

There were broad-based oligarchies where the propertied-class ruled, even though this was not a 'few'. There were also narrow-based oligarchies where only the richest held power.

Aristotle said that the best forms of government were monarchy, aristocracy (rule by the best people) and democracy. He went on to say that these became degraded over time monarchy -> tyranny (rule by a tyrant), aristocracy -> oligarchy, and democracy -> ochlocracy (mob rule).

Answer 3

Power was concentrated in a governing council comprised of the rich and powerful. The council made laws, levied taxes, ran the army/navy. The general mass of the people might be consulted in times of crisis to get their support, but otherwise the council ruled.

There were also broad-based oligarchies where all the landowners - even small-farmers were included. This was often necessary, as to get those people to turn out in defence of the state - that is those who owned a suit of armour - it was necessary to have their cooperation, and that meant giving them a say in how things were run.

Oligarchy means 'rule by the few' but the 'few' could be quite broadly based. The wider step of including all adult males, regardless of property classification was democracy - 'people power'.

Answer 4

Oligarchy means 'rule by the few'. Aristocrats formed a governing council, which directed the city-state. It gave privileges status - political and economic - to the ruling oligarchs. It broke down eventually as the Greek city-states were habitually at war, and it became increasingly impracticable to coerce the lower classes, which formed the backbone of the army when it transited from chariots to armoured infantry, to fight unless they were given political and legal rights

Answer 5

The kind of government in Ancient Greece where the few chosen higher class ruled the society.