Comparison by historical period and historical region

DEFINITIONS

1. 
   Paleolithic Government
   

1. 
   Stateless societies
   
2. 
   Tribal governments by strongest, best hunter, best provider, elder
   
3. 
   Women often could sit in councils, offer advice, lead
   

2. 
   Neolithic Government and Nomadic Councils
   

1. 
   Tribal councils dominate by males, largest land owner, owner of most animals in herding societies
   
2. 
   City-State: One city controls the agricultural land around it
   
3. 
   Nomadic societies often had two classes: aristocratic, commoners with rulers from a royal clan
   

3. 
   Ancient and Classical Government
   

1. 
   General Types of Government
   

1. 
   Monarchy: Rule by King, either elected or inherited
   
2. 
   Aristocracy: Rule by nobles born to position
   
3. 
   Oligarchy: Rule by a few, often the wealthy, sometimes merchants
   
4. 
   Democracy: Direct rule by popular vote; if rule by elected representatives is called a republic
   
5. 
   Theocracy: Rule by a god-king of some type such as the pharaoh; Theocratic rule is usually through a priestly class
   
6. 
   Gerontocracy: Rule by the elderly, common to East Asia
   

2. 
   Empires
   

1. 
   Tribute Empire: A large conquest state which allows local rule, autonomy if taxes, tribute paid
   
2. 
   Dynastic Rule: A form of monarchy where the ruler is chosen from a common family
   
3. 
   Centralized rule: the head of state makes all decisions and rules through bureaucracy, aristocracy
   

3. 
   Caste Government
   

1. 
   Birth castes determine social leadership
   
2. 
   Most associated with South Asia but also common in Andean Americas, Mayan city-states
   

4. 
   Bureaucracy
   

1. 
   Rule by specialists trained, educated to rule
   
2. 
   Bureaucrats can also be military aristocracy, priestly caste
   

4. 
   Post-Classical Government
   

1. 
   Feudalism
   

1. 
   Decentralized rule based on warrior aristocracy, local justice, local control of land
   
2. 
   Centralized Feudalism was practiced in Japan by Shoguns, military dictators
   

2. 
   Divine Right Monarchy, Divine Right Absolutism
   

1. 
   Caliphates, Papal States, Christian Kingdoms of East, West Europe: God-inspired, ordained government
   
2. 
   Privy Councils, curia, wazirs, sultans often exercised real power in name
   

3. 
   Warrior States
   

1. 
   Power exercised through a warrior elite
   
2. 
   Tends towards feudalism
   

5. 
   Early Modern Government
   

1. 
   New Style Monarchs
   

1. 
   Often depend on non-traditional class for support, ie middle class in Europe
   
2. 
   Exercise control through military, bureaucracy; struggle with traditional elites
   
3. 
   Gunpowder States – empires established, ruled through firearms, military technology
   
4. 
   Royal absolutism, divine right monarchies are a type
   

2. 
   Nation-State, nationalism
   

1. 
   Developed in France; a state where one ethnic group dominates the state structure
   
2. 
   Ideology of loyalty to a state, ethnic group rather than loyalty to a ruler, religion
   
3. 
   Comes to include all classes irrespective of birth
   

3. 
   Multi-national state
   

1. 
   A state with many ethnic groups, religious groups; nationalism a strong threat to these states
   
2. 
   Millet government system in Turkey allowed local religious self-rule
   

4. 
   Modern Empires
   

1. 
   Settler – mother country attempts to recreate mother culture abroad by sending settlers
   
2. 
   Colonialism – control of other states for purposes of economic exploitation
   
3. 
   Direct Rule: Distant colonies ruled directly from mother country, capital; often mercantilistic
   
4. 
   Indirect Rule: Colony controlled by another power, which permits limited local rule through traditional elites
   

5. 
   Constitutional Monarchy
   

1. 
   Parliaments or Elective legislative bodies limit royal power
   
2. 
   Constitutions limit royal power
   

6. 
   Party Politics
   

1. 
   Established political parties represent particular interests, groups
   
2. 
   Compete for power in political arena
   

7. 
   Federalism, Con-federalism
   

1. 
   Local territorial units exist with protected rights
   
2. 
   Decentralized rule as a check on national power
   

6. 
   Modern and Contemporary Government
   

1. 
   Modern Democratic State
   

1. 
   Full suffrage: all male, female citizens vote for representatives
   
2. 
   Socialist, welfare state: government is responsible for social well-being of all citizens; public utilities
   
3. 
   Checks and Balances: idea that legislative, executive, judicial branches are independent, check each other
   

2. 
   Authoritarian State
   

1. 
   Military rule
   
2. 
   One man or one party dictatorial rule
   

3. 
   Totalitarian State: Elite, secretive mass parties rule through terror, use of modern technology, glorification of leader cult
   

1. 
   Fascist, Nazi: State with absolute control of all aspects of society, based on ethnicity, glorification of nation
   
2. 
   Communist: State with absolute control of all aspects of society, based on concerns of workers, peasants