Development of Greek Politics from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Period

Trace the development of Greek politics from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. Use specific examples and any sources that might be relevant.

Student’s Last Name 1
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Subject
DDMMYY
Development of Greek Politics from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Period
Modern day politics owes its birth to Greek structure with its new form of a political
organization called the ‘polis’. The development of Politics in Greece is a notable field of
study (Freeman).
Beginning with the Bronze age, around 3000 BC, with the possession of wealth and power
through bronze tools and weapons, the leaders with such possessions became hereditary
chiefs, who were ruling for life. Later on, with the advent of the Dark Age, the Greek Polis
emerged which has been the greatest contribution of that Age towards mankind. The
evolution from the Dark Ages to the Archaic ages marks the advent of ‘Colonisation’
(Lenardon and Alsop 307). From ca 775 to 650, due to overpopulation many of the rulers
exercised aristocracy, monarchy and some also tyranny (Donnellan 109-148).
The later Dark Ages marked the development of councils that were shared with the
police governments. The strict class hierarchy and hereditary rule of the Mycenean
civilization revolutionized into new socio-political institutions that were responsible for the
rise of democracy in 5th c. BCE Athens. With an increased interest in new formulations of
Mediterranean connectivities and networks, the nature of Greek ‘ colonization’ continued to
the Archaic Age. During this Age, new moral and political concepts emerged which
challenged the aristocracies (Brunt 149-153). However, as the Hellenistic Age approached,
support for the institution of the city-state as well as synoecism, or gathering of smaller
communities in a new polis, increased.
Although there were times of democracy, the kings as well the Roman rulers after them,
encouraged autocratic or oligarchic government throughout.

Student’s Last Name 2
References
Brunt, P. A. "Greek Politics - Eric A. Havelock: The Liberal Temper In Greek Politics. Pp.
443. London: Cape, 1957. Cloth, 35S. Net.." The Classical Review 9.2 (1959): 149-153.
Print.
Donnelan, Lieve. "Greek Colonization And Mediterranean Networks: Patterns Of Mobility
And Interaction At Pithekoussai." Journal of Greek archaeology 1 (2016): 109-148.
Web. 25 June 2019.
Freeman, Charles. The Greek Achievement. New York: Viking, 1999. Print.
Lenardon, Robert J., and Joseph Alsop. "From The Silent Earth: A Report On The Greek
Bronze Age." Classical World 57.7 (1964): 307. Print.