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 |
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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 |