How did Greek Tyrannies influence Ancient Greece?
First, early Greek Tyrannies frequently ended factional strife, brought order to the city-state, and unified a polis that before was often a loose collection of villages. To do this they strengthened the role of government. It’s most lasting effect was increasing the power of the state. Second, Greek Tyrannies apparently were both cause and effect of increasing prosperity, the development of trade and manufacturing, and a growing urbanization. Early tyrannies did frequently and perhaps inadvertently, bring order to the economic system and thereby help those classes devoted to commerce, manufacturing and finance. And, with state loans to small farmers, and perhaps occasionally with some redistribution of land, the early tyrannies frequently promoted a new prosperity among agricultural classes. Third, with a new independence for those in agricultural and trade, and with the emerging end to debt bondage, tyrannies often brought Greece to the edge of democracy, although it is one of histor
