Civilizations depend on authority. Someone or something must be in charge to make sure that complex societies function. Think, for example, of what would happen if there was no police force, or if no one coordinated some of the most basic needs of cities, the water supply or trash collection or the maintenance of roads. Without a system of authority, complex civilizations like those of Egypt, or Rome, not to mention our own, would soon collapse.

In a political context, authority means the ability to make and enforce laws, to force people to obey, to command, and to judge. These responsibilities are many, and they require different institutions to make them work. Collectively, these institutions are known as government. Many different kinds of government have evolved in human communities. We have already seen, for example, the imperial governments of Egyptian Pharaohs and Roman Emperors and discussed their responsibilities and powers. But power did not always rest in the hands of imperial rulers. Different political institutions developed, as did different political tools, to gain and maintain power.

This week, our theme of political authority will focus on forms of authority in ancient Greece. We will, however, briefly examine authority in Rome, India and China as well.

Click on your assignments below:

1. Reading assignments.

2. Interpretation of Images.

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