Archaic Age

By the end of the 8th century BC, the Greeks adopted and modified the Phoenician alphabet. This made communication and writing easier. It is not by chance that Homer wrote the Illiad and the Odyssey at this time.

In this period, the Monarchy turned into an Oligarchy (oligos = few, archy = power, "the power of a few people"). The differences between the rich and poor were growing more and more. So, many people emigrated and founded colonies all over the Mediterranean Sea.

The figure of the tyrant was created with enough power to resolve social conflicts. Peisistratus was the most famous tyrant. People did not participate in the government of the city yet. (Click on the map to enlarge).