Alexander the Great

Following the period of time in Athens during the 5th Century B.C when it was ruled by a radical, extreme democracy, the Athenian people voted to choose thirty men to rule as an oligarchy. The Athenians wanted to be governed by the ancient laws enacted by Solon and Cleisthenes, so these men were chosen by the people to frame the ancient laws into a constitution under which to conduct the government. However, the Thirty …

…men hope to achieve in Athens? They hoped to achieve stature and power through ways not for the greater good of the people they were supposed to serve. Throughout history, rulers have tried to do this, and we have labeled them as Tyrants, and these thirty men are no different. Their nickname of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens is well deserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.