Title: Ancient Greek Tyrants, What is meant by Demokratia
Headings: Ancient Greece Tyrants
Ancient Greece Tyrants
Ancient Greek Tyrants
Tyrannos
Democracy Definition Greek
What is meant by Demokratia
Oligarchy in ancient Greece
Tyranny Government

Content: The Greek tyrants stayed in power by using mercenary soldiers from outside of their respective city-state. In Corinth, growing wealth from colonial enterprises, and the wider horizons brought about by the export of wine and oil, coupled with the new experiences of the Eastern Mediterranean brought back by returning mercenary hoplites employed overseas allowed Cypselus, the first tyrant of Corinth in the 7th century BC, to overthrow the aristocratic power of the dominant yet unpopular Bacchiadae, who were killed, executed, driven out and exiled in 657 BC. Corinth prospered economically under his rule and Cypselus managed to rule without a bodyguard but when he managed to bequeath his position to his son, Periander, whose position was less secure, required a bodyguard of mercenary soldiers personally loyal to himself. Nevertheless, under Cypselus and Periander, Corinth not only extended but also tightened its control over her colonial enterprises, resulting in the flourishing exports of Corinthian pottery. However, tyrants rarely succeeded in establishing an untroubled line of succession. Periander’s successor was less fortunate and was expelled, Corinth was ruled by a dull oligarchy, and was concealed by the rising powers of Athens and Sparta. In Athens, the inhabitants first gave the title of a tyrant to Peisistratus, a relative of Solon, the Athenian lawgiver, who succeeded in 546 BC, after 2 failed attempts, to install himself as a tyrant. Supported by the prosperity of the peasantry and landowning interests of the plain by virtue of thriving from the rise of olive exports, and his clients from Marathon, he managed to achieve sovereign power. Through an ambitious program of public works like for instance, by fostering the state sect of Athena, by encouraging the creation of festivals and supporting the Panathenaean games, in which prizes were jars of olive oil, and in his support of the Dionysia which eventually led to the development of Athenian drama, Pisistratus managed to maintain his personal popularity. Democracy Definition Greek
He was succeeded by his sons, and with the subsequent growth of Athenian democracy, the title “tyrant” took on its usual negative connotations.