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Oligarchy
- Oligarchies, meaning "rule by the few," arose in Greece after the emergence of the polis.
- A council of nobles replaced the sole chieftain, dividing the king's powers among multiple offices.
Council's Power
- The council held more power than magistrates in the early polis.
- Magistrates, with limited terms, often wouldn't oppose the council, hoping to join it later.
Greek Wealth Gap
- Unlike the Near East, the wealth gap in archaic Greece was initially small.
- This allowed the slightly wealthier nobles to gain support from the poorer class, leading to the Polis' development.