Final answer:
The ancient Greeks made critical changes to the concept of government by introducing systems which allowed broader political participation, such as democracy in Athens, where free adult males could vote on laws and leaders. The Greek Classical period was marked by distinctive city-state politics, ranging from oligarchies to democracies, each with lasting influence on Western political thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transformation of government by the ancient Greeks was groundbreaking. From monarchies and aristocracies that were originally common in the ancient Near East, Greece moved towards more consensual forms of government, particularly notable during the Classical period (500-323 BCE). The most famous form is democracy, or 'rule by the people,' a significant shift that allowed greater numbers of free adult males to participate in political decision-making, create laws, and impose taxes in their city-states, the polii. Different city-states practiced various governance systems from monarchies to oligarchies to democracies, each influencing political thought for centuries.
In the society of Archaic Greece, governance slowly shifted from the control of the elite landowners (aristoi) to a more inclusive system where commoners (kakoi) began demanding a say in politics. The need for troops in wars gave the wealthy commoners, who could afford iron weaponry, leverage to demand land and political voice. This sometimes led to a seizure of power by popular leaders known as tyrants. However, figures like Cleisthenes brought reforms to establish more democratic systems, reorganizing citizens into new tribes to increase unity and political participation.
Athens serves as an exemplar of direct democracy, where all male citizens had the right to participate in the Assembly, affecting laws, war declarations, and treaties. Despite its limitations, such as excluding women and non-citizens from political participation, Athenian democracy stood as a model of citizen involvement in governance, contrasting with other city-states like Sparta, which maintained an oligarchy. The political ideologies of ancient Greece continue to impact contemporary political thought, emphasizing the consolidation of power in virtuous leaders and the adoption of mixed governmental systems.