They were the first and the only people in that time to drive out the ruling classesδυνασταία was a small ruling class or narrow oligarchy, opposed to a πολιτεία or constitutional rule; cf. Thuc. 3.62, Thuc. 4.78. of their state and to establish a democracy, believing the liberty of all to be the strongest bond of agreement; by sharing with each other the hopes born of their perils they had freedom of soul in, their civic life,