.

             During classical times issues regarding corruption centered on issues including "access, allocation and gift" (Peck, 4). Modern conceptions of corruption however may not necessarily be applied to early governments. This issue is one that historians have struggled with for some time. One may find various definitions of corruption in classical terms valid. Corruption with respect to classical corruption and patronage may encompass a wide range of definitions including bribery, extortion, particularly that of "purveyors", acceptance of gifts for consent to conceal criminal acts or behaviors, venal practices by sheriffs or other officers, sale of office and similar engagements by officers of the courts (Peck, 1993). Modern definitions of corrupt practices follow similar veins. Peck (1993) cites Nye who defines corruption as "behavior that deviates from the formal duties of a public role because of private-regarding or status gains" (7). He further suggests that corruption entails violation of the rules against certain activities that enable private regarding influence, or influence related to personal or close family affairs (Peck, 1993). Still others suggest that acts are corrupt when they violate the responsibility government agents have toward the public in general or toward maintaining the civil order of the land (Peck, 1993). Such actions as defined by Peck (1993) are incompatible with a government system whose purposes should be establishing and maintaining the law of the land. Classical definitions of corruption follow a similar vein, suggesting that corrupt practices involve enjoying private regarding or personal suits at the expense of the public or good of the community. .

             The transition from classical to contemporary corrupt practices occurs as a result of changing environmental conditions which may influence how and when corrupt practices are likely to arise. In classical society bribery and other forms of less offensive corruption were easily achieved in the context of the parliamentary court.