Title: 
Headings: 

Content: It was the harshness of a few tyrants that gave the word tyrannyits current meaning; rule by a cruel and unjust person. The common people and the hoplites, or citizen soldiers, supported the tyrants overthrowing the nobles. Tyrants became more popular by building new marketplaces, temples, and fortresses. Most people in the Greek city- states objected to rule by one person, however. They wanted a government in which all citizens had a say. Tyrants ruled many Greek city-states until about 500 B. C. Then most Greek city-states changed to either an 
oligarchyor a democracy. In an oligarchy, a few wealthy people hold power over the larger group of citizens. In a democracy, all citizens have a say in the government. Each polis chose its own type of government.