This chapter discusses the appearance and nature of democracies to be found outside Athens on the Greek mainland from 480 to 323 bc. Each state considered separately below either certainly or probably experienced at least one episode of democratic government during this time period. While it is always possible – indeed, it is likely – that further examples of demokratia cropped up on occasion in these or other communities of the mainland, the following represent the only cases for which we have compelling evidence.

With the exception of a few of the better-attested examples, treatments are brief. The primary purpose here is to come to an understanding of how democracies arose in these places and, at least generally, how they functioned. Usually more can be said about the former than the latter. This chapter engages in very little comparison or synthesis: the fourth and fifth chapters of the book, drawing on the previous sections including this one, will pursue these goals.