Page:History of Greece Vol III.djvu/9

 CONTENTS. VOL. in. PART II. CONTINUATION OF HISTORICAL GREECfc, CHAPTER IX. CORINTH, SIKYON, AND MEGARA. AGE OF THE GRECIAN DESPOT3. Early commerce anil enterprise of the Corinthians. Oligarchy of the Bacchiadae. Early condition of Megara, Early condition of Sikyon. Rise of the despots. Earliest changes of government in Greece. Peculiarity of Sparta. Discontinuance of kingship in Greece generally Comparison with the Middle Ages of Europe. Anti-monarchical sentiment of Greece Mr. Mitford. Causes which led to the growth of that sentiment. Change to oligarchical government. Such chango indicates an advance in the Greek mind. Dissatisfaction with the oli- garchies modes by which the despots acquired power. Examples. Tendency towards a better organized citizenship. Character and work- ing of the despots. The demagogue-despot of the earlier times compared with the demagogue of later times. Contrast between the despot and the early heroic king. Position of the despot. Good government impossible to him. Conflict between oligarchy and despotism preceded that between oligarchy and democracy. Early oligarchies included a multiplicity of different sections and associations. Government of the Geomori a close order of present or past proprietors. Classes of the people. Military force of the early oligarchies consisted of cavalry. Rise of the heavy-armed infantry and of the free military marine lioth unfavorable to oligarchy. Dorian states Dorian and non-Dorian inhabitants. Dynasty of despots at Sikyon the Ortha- {roridae. Violent proceedings of KIcisthenes. Classes of the Sikyonian population. Fall of the Orthagoridae state of Sikyon after it. The Sikyonian despots not put down by Sparta. Despots at Corinth Kyp- Relus. Periander. Great power of Corinth under Periander. Fall of the Kypselid dynasty. Megara Thcagones the despot. Disturbed government at Megara The poet Theognis. Analogy of Corinth. Bikyon, and Megara jxttics 1-47