Throughout history, many techniques have been used for organizing society. Experimentation with different styles primarily took place in the ancient Mediterranean world. Athenian democracy, Hebrew temple state, Hellenic city-states, Hellenistic kingdoms, the Roman Republic, and the Christian Roman Empire were all major forms of governance, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. To determine which of these forms was successful, it is impotent to look at each form's chronological development.

The Hebrew State began as a loose confederation of twelve tribes. A tribe's elders ruled it, and while there was intermarriage between tribes, there was no real political connection. They shared common religion, language and culture, however they did not owe allegiance to one ruler.

The roots of the Hebrew tribes lay in myth. Jacob, a patriarch of Judaism, is said to have had twelve sons, each of whom begot a tribe of people. Taking into account the legendary characteristics of each son, each tribe had specific traits. For example, the tribe of Levy were the priests of the Jews. They owned no land, and survived on the tithes of the people. The tribe of

Greece was a region that shared similarities with the Hebrews. While the Greeks shared a religion and a language, their tribes, called city-states were even more distinct than the Hebrews. Each city-state developed its own form of government that was specialized to its region and people.

Athens had two major ruling bodies: the Assembly, open to all adult male citizens, and the Council of Five Hundred, chosen randomly from the body of citizens. Daily governance was in the hands of the magistrates, another groups of adult male citizens, chosen randomly. The Assembly handled all major acts of state including war, treaties and dispersal of public funds. The Council dealt with ports, military installations and other state owned properties; the Council also set the agenda for the Assembly.

Rome's roots lay in revolution. At the close of the sixth century B.C.E., wealthy Romans, or patriarchs, expelled the Etruscan controlled king. At first, these patricians controlled Roman government under the guise of an Assembly, a Senate, and two consuls. "The Centuriate Assembly was a popular assembly but, because of voting procedures, was controlled by the nobility." (Perry, 119) The Assembly enacted all Roman laws. The Senate, a hereditary body, advised the Assembly, as well as apportioning public funds and dictating foreign policy.

After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided into three, and later four, successor dynasties. The most powerful of these was the Ptolemaic monarchy, based in Egypt. Ptolemaic Egypt was a merchant power, but due to internal revolts and would-be Seleucid conquerors, the Ptolemaic dynasty lost power by the second century B.C.E.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Origin Hebrew, Sparta Athens, Hebrews Greeks, Roman Empire, Monotheism Solomon, Roman Republic, Weaknesses Athens, Centuriate Assembly, Assembly Plebians, Five Hundred, roman republic, century bce, roman empire, hellenistic kingdoms, strengths weaknesses, ancient world, roman rule, adult male citizens, christian roman, government real, profound impact, roman empire roman, tribe levy priests, christian roman empire, empire roman empire,
Approximate Word count = 1938
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)