Title: Government in Athens - Google Docs
Headings: 
Government in Athens
Main Ideas:
Key Vocabulary
1. What do you think of this new government?
Aristocrats and Tyrants Rule
Rule by a Few People
The Rise of the Tyrants
2. What was a tyrant in ancient Greece?
3. What were Greek tyrants like?
4. Why was Athens considered at one point an oligarchy?
5. Why did many Athenians support the rule of tyrants?
Athens Creates Democracy
Democracy under Cleisthenes
Changes in Athenian Democracy
6. How did people vote in ancient Athens?
7. How did voting take place in the assembly?
8. Why did the assembly meet outdoors?
9. Who was the father of democracy in Athens?
10. Why were slaves sent to round up citizens?
11. Why was a smaller council of officials necessary?
End of Democracy in Athens
13. How do you think Pericles felt Athenian government compared to other cities’ governments?
14. What does Pericles mean when he says that Athens serves as an example to its neighbors?
Ancient Democracy Differs from Modern Democracy
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
15. How are direct democracy and representative democracy different?
16. What is a direct democracy?
17. How does a representative democracy work?
18. Why didn’t the United States establish a direct democracy?
19. a. What are aristocrats?
b. How were oligarchy and tyranny different?
20. a. Describe the democracy created by Cleisthenes.
b. How did Pericles change Athenian democracy?
21. a. What type of democracy did Athens have?
b. In what situations would a representative democracy work better than a direct democracy?
22. Draw a chart like the one below. In each column, identify who had power in each type of government. Then write a sentence explaining what role common people had in each government.

Content: Peisistratus was called a tyrant, which meant a leader who held power through the use of force. Today the word tyrant means a ruler who is harsh, but the word had a different meaning in ancient Greece. Athenian tyrants were usually good leaders. Tyrants were able to stay in power because they had strong armies and because the people supported them. Peisistratus brought peace and prosperity to the city. He began new policies meant to unify the city. He created new festivals and built temples and monuments. During his rule, many improvements were made in Athens. After Peisistratus died, his son took over as tyrant. Many aristocrats, however, were unhappy because their power was gone.