In the ancient Greek we can find several forms of government. To each city-state we can have one of the forms or a mixture of several forms. These include: Monarchy, Aristocracy, Tyranny, Oligarchy and Democracy. Five forms of government that we will briefly define and try to compare and contrast to find the points of similarities and dissimilarities existing between them.
Monarchy
The monarchy is a form of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of one person, there is only one ruler who is a king. It takes power legally, its sovereignty is hereditary. He is empowered to remain in power for life. To get to the throne you have to get off the royal family. The word Monarchy is derived from the Greek word “monos” …show more content…
The members of this elite, may be nobles, notables or the rich people. The word Aristocracy comes from the Greek word “aristos” which means better, excellent and “kratos” which means power, authority.
Tyranny
Tyranny is the characteristic of a form of government that is generally not legal and can not claim any right. This form of government is dictatorial, dominated by a powerful dictator, a tyrant. A sovereign who took power without legal rights. The word Tyranny comes from the Greek word “tyrannos” which means usurpator with supreme power.
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of government where power is in the hands of some people, a group of individuals. Generally, the rich, the powerful, the noble, the military groups, who see only their own interests and not those of the masses. The word oligarchy comes from the Greek word “oligos” which means little and “arkhein” which means rule. …show more content…
The word democracy comes from the Greek word “demos” people and “kratos” power.
Similarities and differences
Tyranny is a form of government very similar to the Monarchy, because there is only one leader who makes the decisions. While Tyranny usually comes from the Oligarchy which is a form of government where Tyranny reigns.
The Aristocracy is closer to the Oligarchy also by the fact that in both a minority is in power although the Oligarchy does not presuppose that it is an elite, just as the aristocracy does not presuppose a minority well defined.
Only Democracy makes a total demarcation of the four forms of government by its definition and its application, where the power is in the hands of the people.