. Late Bronze Age (the time of the Odyssey): Government consists of a few "great kings" (those of Egypt, the Hittite empire, and, the kings of Mycenae, among others) who control very large areas of territory, either directly or by alliance in loose confederations, at least some of which were explicitly spelled out in treaties. Raids and looting are fairly common, especially at the edges of these kingdoms, far away from the central authority.
Iron Age: Monarchy is still practiced in places, but it has been widely replaced by aristocratic or oligarchic societies based on family or clan groupings. The development of what would eventually be called the polis, or city-state, is well under way. Inter- "national" cooperation is beginning to be re-established after the isolation of the Dark Age.
Late twentieth century:.....
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