Ways of running a society, from tribal councils to national conservatism, on one line of time. Stars above the line were set out by a founding thinker or leader. Stars below grew out of movements, events or custom. Hover a star to light up its whole family tree; tap it for its story, key people and moments, its critics, where it sits on the political compass, and sources.
Above: set out by a founding thinker or leaderBelow: grew out of movements, events or customInfluence today: worldwide · major · significant · minorNo longer practised as a systemGrew out of · drew on · reacted againstTurning point (hover for what happened)
System or idea
Began
How
Family
Today
Time is stretched toward the present so the crowded last two centuries have room. Forms of rule older than any record sit in the block on the left.Scroll sideways to see the whole timeline.
Sources & further reading
Each entry lists its own references and, where one is freely available, a link to its founding text; every link was checked to load on 1 October 2026. These general works and collections stand behind the whole chart: