Chapter IX

CORINTH, SIKYON, AND MEGARA. — AGE OF THE GRECIAN DESPOTS.

Early commerce and enterprise of the Corinthians. — Oligarchy of
the Bacchiadæ. — Early condition of Megara. — Early condition of
Sikyôn. — 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 change indicates an advance in
the Greek mind. — Dissatisfaction with the oligarchies — modes
by which the despots acquired power. — Examples. — Tendency
towards a better organized citizenship. — Character and working
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 — both
unfavorable to oligarchy. — Dorian states — Dorian and non-Dorian
inhabitants. — Dynasty of despots at Sikyôn — the Orthagoridæ. —
Violent proceedings of Kleisthenês. — Classes of the Sikyonian
population. — Fall of the Orthagoridæ — state of Sikyôn after
it. — The Sikyonian despots not put down by Sparta. — Despots at
Corinth — Kypselus. — Periander. — Great power of Corinth under
Periander. — Fall of the Kypselid dynasty. — Megara — Theagenês
the despot. — Disturbed government at Megara — The poet Theognis.
— Analogy of Corinth, Sikyôn, and Megara. _pages_ 1-47