Age of Tyrants 670-500 BC (jan 1, 670 BC – jan 1, 500 BC)

Description:

Tyrant
= single ruler from an elite family, who was able to keep aristocratic families in check.
=Fighter against Oligarchs

They confiscated land of the wealthy and redistributed it among the poor and/or limited aristocratic power via laws

They constructed temples, harbors and fortifications to provide work for the poor
They encouraged trade and religious cults and festivals

After 2-3 generations of tyrant rule, they were overthrown and oligarchy was restored, but not in the same way as before.

TYRANNY can be considered as a TRANSITIONAL STRUCTURE THAT LEAD TO DEMOCRACY

Famous tyrants: Cypselus of Corinth, Pisistratus of Athens

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