Aristotle, Politics: Chapter 6, book 5.

“Heraclea”

        Part of the Sporades (islands); situated between Naxos and Ios. It is now called Raklia. It also housed temples to Tyche and Zeus Lophites.

“Here those who…till some share was finally given…”

        Here we can see the squabbles between the wealthy few leading to a change in government. For example, aristocracy to oligarchy.

“…oligarchy at Istros…becoming a democracy” 

        This is the same as above where the system of government changes.

“…the one at Heraclea…as many as 600 members”

        This is the same as above where the system of government changes. The oligarchy membership was increased (reducing the power of the oligarchy).

“Cnidos”

        Located in Turkey (Asia Minor). It contained a temple to Aphrodite.

“While this faction – fighting… leading to the fall of their enemies”

        Here we see that the instability of the oligarchy actually led to a complete change of government; becoming a democracy.

“Erythrae”

        Asia Minor – located opposite the island of Chios.

“Although they…altered the constitution.”

        Here is another example of regime change. Although a well executed oligarchy (could this be a aristocracy containing a virtuous few?), the people acted on injustice. The common people determined the character of government (Hansen, 1991: 68), and because they outnumbered the few oligarchs fairly easily (Ober, 1999: 310).

1305b22: “There are two kinds of demagogue…members of oligarchy themselves.”

        Demagogue – someone of power who panders to other people’s needs to make themselves popular and powerful when those peoples’ needs are not necessarily what’s needed (e.g. Hitler).

“Thirty at Athens”

        Thirty tyrants who held power in Athens 404 – 403BC (Aristotle, Politics, 6, v, (trans. Saunders, T.J and Sinclair, T.A., 1987: 315; Moore, 1975: 267), put in place after Sparta defeated Athens. Lasted for only a few months.

“Charicles”

        Ancient Athenian politician, son of Apollodorus. Notable for being one of the “Thirty Tyrants”.

“Four Hundred”

        Athenian Oligarchy of 411 (Aristotle, Politics, 6, v, (trans. Saunders, T.J and Sinclair, T.A., 1987: 315; Moore, 1975: 258; Moore, 1975: 267), Group under Melobius & Pythodorus claimed Athens could receive Persian support in war with spirits if it adopted an oligarchy. It lasted 4 months.

“Phrynichus” 

        Athenian general during Peloponnesian war. Leading role in oligarchy of the 400 in 411BC. Assassinated that year.

“Larissa” 

        Province of Thessaly in modern day Greece. Named after local fountain nymph. Very important site of trade with fertile surrounding land. Under rule of Aledae

“instead of being…whole of the people…”

        An example of demagogues who played upon fear of people and of those willing to take up arms (the ‘mob’).

“Abydos”

        Located in Asia Minor – found in Mysia region of the Hellespont. First mentioned in Iliad. Colonised by Milesians circa. 700BC, occupied by Persians in 514BC. Xerxes built famous bridge here in 480BC. Became member of Delian league, revolted in 411BC and allied to Sparta till 394BC.

“those who seek…aid of other people”

        Citizen body calls for support from other city states to restore order.

1305b39: “riotous living”

        Aristotle was very scornful of those ‘few’ who were not virtuous and lived in excess (the ‘nouveau riche’ especially) (Ober, 1999: 316).

“Hipparinus”

        Tyrant of Syracuse from 352 to 351 BC. Son of Dionysius the Elder.

“Dionysius”

        “The Elder” – Tyrant of Syracuse; conquered cities in Sicily and was regarded as the worst kind of despot/tyrant.

“Syracuse”

        Sicily – founded in 734BC by Corinthian/Tenean settlers

“Amphipolis”

        Present day Eastern Macedonia – founded in 437BC. Colonised twice by Athens after 10,000 colonists were massacred by Thracians.

“Cleotimus”

        Introduced settlers from Chalcis (Euboea) into Amphipolis.

“Aegina”

        Saronic Island – naval rival to Athens and major sea power in 6th – 5th century BC Greece.

“Chares”

        Chares of Athens – famous 4th century BC General.

“Apollonia”

        Modern day Bulgaria – settlement dates back to Bronze Age. Its name was changed to Apollonia after a temple to Apollo was built there.

“Pharsalus”

        Thessaly, central Greece – Battled against Athens in Persian wars and scene of major battles to come.

“Sometimes… they steal the public funds…”

        Aristotle tells us about how easily corruptible men are and how ‘fundamentally wicked’ they are (E. Wood and N. Wood, 1978: 215).

1306a12: “Oligarchies may also…the highest offices.”

        What Aristotle means here is how the most important governors within the oligarchy become aloof and create and oligarchy within an oligarchy (E. Wood and N. Wood, 1978: 240).

“Elis”

        Eastern Peloponnesian city state. Held the first Olympic festival in 8th century BC.

1306a19: “…members of an oligarchy…army of mercenaries.”

        The actions of the ‘Thirty at Athens” and the “Four Hundred were similar to this in seeking foreign support to uphold their regime.

“If a single…becomes a Tyrant…”

        In effect, the person who has control of the army has the power – thus becoming a Tyrant.

“Timophanes”

        Corinthian General – Assassinated by his brother Timoleon circa 365BC (Aristotle, Politics, 6, v, (trans. Saunders, T.J and Sinclair, T.A., 1987: 316).

“Corinth”

        Major city state located on the Isthmus between Athens and the Peloponnese peninsula – Major trade centre.

“governmental clique”

        The Tyrant surrounds himself with his own advisors.

“Sometimes the fear…share in constitution”

        Aristotle may have thought of an oligarchy as a perverted form of aristocracy, but surely according to his writing, it was better then tyranny, another perverted form (Ober, 1999: 310 – 311)?

“Aleuad clan”

        The clan that ruled in Larissa.

“Simos”

        The ruler at Larissa; he belonged to the Aleuad clan.

“Iphiades”

        Iphiades was the ruler at Abydos.

1306a31: “matters of marriages…produce fractional conflict…”

        Marriages could not only provoke factional conflict, but also prevent it, i.e. marrying off an enemy to bring him closer/appease him.

“Eretria”

        City state on the west coast of Euboea. Allies of Athens.

“Thebes”

        Major Greek city state in Boeotia.

1306b3: “It has also…methods they used”

        It could have been possible that Oligarchs were ashamed of the oppressive nature of the regimes they resided over. If they had changed it for the better, this would have been something that Aristotle would have admired – an altruistic aim and a true example of his aristocratic ideal (E. Wood and N. Wood, 1978: 223).

1306b6: “constitutional governments [polites]”

        The ideal regime as opposed to the corrupt form – democracy (Ober, 1999: 311).

“…property qualification…other offices.”

        This shows that an oligarchy worked on the basis that the richest (those who owned the largest properties) held the offices (Taylor, 1995: 247 in Barnes, 1995).

“…and to the middle class…”

        This is not often referred to by Ancient authors. Aristotle only mentions it because he ‘sees’ it as the good between two extremes (rich and poor) (Hansen, 1991: 115).

“fortune”

        Fortune - probably a bountiful harvest, war spoils or tributes etc.

1306b16: “Democracies and oligarchies…which are sovereign…”

        Maybe these forms of government are turning toward tyranny or monarchy?

Bibliography:

Ancient Authors:

1. Aristotle. Politics, translated by E. Barker and R. F. Stalley (Oxford World’s Classics). Oxford/ New York: Oxford University Press. 1998.

2. Aristotle. Politics, translated by T. J. Saunders and T.A. Sinclair (Penguin Classics). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. 1987.

Modern Authors:

1. Hansen, M. H. (translated by Crook, J.A.) 1991. The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes. Oxford UK and Cambridge USA: Blackwell.

2. Moore, J.M. 1975. Aristotle and Xenophon on Democracy and Oligarchy. London: Chatto & Windus.

3. Ober, J. 1999. Political Dissent in Democratic Athens: Intellectual Critics of Popular Rule. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

4. Taylor, C. C. W. 1995. Politics. In J. Barnes (eds), The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle, 8. Cambridge USA: Cambridge University Press.

5. Wood, E. M. and Wood, N. 1978. Class Ideology and Ancient Political Theory: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Social Context. Oxford: Blackwell.

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