And the earliest government which existed among the
Hellenes, after the overthrow of the kingly power, grew up out of
the warrior class, and was originally taken from the knights (for
strength and superiority in war at that time depended on cavalry;
indeed, without discipline, infantry are useless, and in ancient times
there was no military knowledge or tactics, and therefore the strength
of armies lay in their cavalry). But when cities increased and the
heavy armed grew in strength, more had a share in the government;
and this is the reason why the states which we call constitutional
governments have been hitherto called democracies. Ancient
constitutions, as might be expected, were oligarchical and royal;
their population being small they had no considerable middle class;
the people were weak in numbers and organization, and were therefore
more contented to be governed.
I have explained why there are various forms of government, and
why there are more than is generally supposed; for democracy, as
well as other constitutions, has more than one form: also what their
differences are, and whence they arise, and what is the best form of
government, speaking generally and to whom the various forms of
government are best suited; all this has now been explained.
XIV
Having thus gained an appropriate basis of discussion, we will
proceed to speak of the points which follow next in order.
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