City-states in ancient Greece
They were called "Polis", every Polis produced enough to feed their population. They had their own institutions, laws, currency and army. The belief was that each Polis was protected by their own God, who should they owe respect and sacrifice.
They were ruled by an elite group whose authority was indisputable.
Examples of the two most important city-states that practiced oligarchy in ancient Greece
- Athenas: the government was form by the wealthiest. They were the owners of the land and they had the means to buy weapons to defend the Polis. They formed children in a fisical and intelectual ways. The society in Athena was divided into the
- citizens: divided between the rich and the poor
- metecos: foreing people who where not consider citizens, but they could pay taxes and be part of the army.
- slaves: men and women submitted to a master.
Athenian politics evolved to democracy
- Sparta: it was the rival city of Athenas. It was always ready to go to war. The military education started since childhood. They were forced to take a military politic in the face of constant need to dominate peoples submitted as a result of its territorial expansion.
The obsession with militarization was such, that newborn babies were checked to fulfill with physical patterns of a warrior, if they were not, they were slaughtered.
It was a government by the nobles.
Spartan society was divided into
- Ilotas: slaves without political rights, workers of the land
- Periecos: free farmers, but they must be part of the army if they are needed.
- Espartiatas: nobles, those who took part in politics
