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This is a list of the Greek democracies for which there is some evidence in the Archaic period , following Eric Robinson's book The First Democracies (Stuttgart, 1997). Most of them probably pre-date the establishment of democracy in Athens by Cleisthenes in 508-507 BC.
Polis/ area
Date
Achaea
At some point between c. 650 and c. 500 BC
Chios
Probably a democracy sometime between c. 600-550 BC
Megara
Probably a democracy sometime in the 6th century BC
Chalkis
Possibly a short-lived democracy sometime in the 6th century BC
Mantinea
Possibly a democracy sometime in the 6th century BC
Cnidus
A democracy either in the 6th century or the 4th century BC
Heraclea Pontica
A democracy by c. 560 BC
Cyrene
A democracy from c. 550 BC
Naxos
A democracy from c. 550 to 490 BC
Ambracia
Probably a democracy by c. 550 BC
Argos
A democracy possibly from c. 550, and definitely from 494 BC
Elis
Possibly a democracy in the 6th century, and definitely in the 5th century BC
Samos
Possibly a democracy in the late 6th century BC
Kos
A democracy from the 490s BC
Akragas
Possibly a democracy before 488, and definitely one after 472 BC
References [ edit ]