A&E Television
History.com: How Mesopotamia Became the Cradle of Civilization
Environmental factors helped agriculture, architecture and eventually a social order emerge for the first time in ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia's name comes from the ancient Greek word for "the land between the rivers." That's a...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Greco Roman
Instead of rule by a single person, Athens and Rome developed governments with widespread participation by male elites, which lasted about 170 years in Athens and about 480 years in Rome. This article discusses the rise of the Greek and...
Other
Aristocrats and the Coming of Athenian Democracy
This resource presents a lengthy, detailed examination of the history of democracy and its beginnings in Athens.
World History Encyclopedia
World History Encyclopedia: Athenian Democracy
Explores a timeline of the history of government in Ancient Athens.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Emperor or President?
Lesson helps students trace attributes of the United States government to those of ancient Greek democracy.
California State University
California State University: The Ephors of Sparta
A list of citizens who served as Ephors in the government of ancient Sparta is provided in this chart. Contains the time they served as well.
California State University
John Paul Adams: Solon of Athens
This site from John Paul Adams collects the writings of a variety of ancient historians concerning Solon, one of the first democratic reformers of Athens. Also includes links to other sites with information about this leader.
The History Cat
The History Cat: Birth of Democracy
Features a look at democracy in ancient Greece. Discover how it worked and how Athenians prevented corruption.
Stephen Byrne
History for Kids: Greek Daily Life
History for Kids presents an overview written for elementary students of daily life of the ancient Greeks. Students learn about Greek government, agriculture and industry, houses and food. Teacher resources included.
PBS
Cleisthenes, the Athenian Reformer
The life of Cleisthenes, the Athenian statesman who helped reform and revitalize the political system of Athens is profiled in this article.
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Libya: History
Read about the history of Libya from its beginnings as a Phoenician outpost through its control by many governments, its eventual independence, and current government. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Greek Law
Learn everything you ever wanted to know regarding Greek law. Begin your reading by discovering how city-states were governed in the 4th and 5th centuries. Then learn about the codification of the law over time. Within the article you...
PBS
Pbs: How Pisistratus Took Power
Information about the rise to power of Pisistratus, an early Greek tyrant.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Athenian Court and American Court System
A curriculum unit that examines Solon's reforms to the laws of Athens, the American court system, and then has young scholars compare the two court systems.
PBS
Pbs: Pisistratus the Tyrant
This site provides a description of the positive gains made by Athens during the rule of Pisistratus, including the increase in production of olive and the first Panathenaic games.
BBC
Bbc: The Democratic Experiment
Compare and contrast the Athenian democracy to our current democracy. Study the background of democracy in Athens and the achievements gained under this form of government. Compare the scale, level of participation, and who could become...
Other
"A Well Trimmed Ship", the Republican Legacy of Polybius
A two-part paper, the first of which is a biography of Polybius, a Greek, who wrote a history of the Roman Republic. The second part discusses his work and his admiration of Roman virtues and the government of the Roman Republic.