Athens – From Aristocracy to Democracy

Athens – originally not as big/important as Sparta

What made the difference? Crazy system of government – DEMOCRACY•“Demo” (people) “kratis” (rule)•“Oligos” (few) “archia” (rule)•Other Greeks thought democracy was stupid/dangerous

Like other Greek city states, Athens began as an aristocracy

•Had many social problems (poverty) that forced change

•Four key people responsible for Athen’s transformation:•Draco (archon)•Solon (archon)•Pisitratus (Tyrant)•Cleisthenes (archon)

Archon = leader of aristocratic government (supreme judge)

621 BC – Athens facing severe troubles•Crime/feuds•Poverty•Hunger•Land issues/slavery

Draco elected as archon to fix things•Creates a strict code of law (“draconian”) to curb crimes•Death penalty for everything!•Extended vote to anyone with armour (no land requirement – big!)

Draco’s reforms helped, but did not address poverty/hunger/land issues

Revolution threatening – someone needs to help common people•594 BC - Solon elected as archon

Major changes!•Cancelled/reduced all debts•Eliminated slavery due to debt•Eliminated whole “helot” class – entire population became citizens (except women, foreigners and other slaves)

Government•Divided Athens into four social classes based on wealth•First three:•Large and small landowners•Already had vote

•Fourth (“thetes”):•Landless men, worked for hire•Solon extends vote, political rights to these people•Wealth does not impact political voice•Also, increased number of archons to nine,

to be elected by the Assembly•Gave the Assembly power over all areas of society•Created Court of Appeal – any citizen could be a member

Industry•Started enormous olive-oil industry to pay for food/grain•Created pottery industry as well – became dominant

Still Not Enough•Class divisions still dividing Athens•Could not afford to participate much in democracy – had to work!•Government still dominated by upper classes

During a war with a rival city state (Megara), a man named Pisistratus emerged as a hero.•Used trickery to make himselftyrant of Athens. The ideal tyrant:

•Took from the rich, gave to the poor•Encouraged arts, made Athens an economic and cultural power•Boosted olive industry even more, created navy to protect trade routes •Destroyed upper class dominance of society – the common people can compete

After Pisistratus died, Cleisthenes takes leadership of Athens•Finished what previous three had started – empowering common people•Re-designed electoral districts – no longer divided by wealth•Created “Council of Five Hundred”•500 people chosen by chance each year to help run government•Most people participated once in their lifetime•Leather merchant can become general!•Common people rule the country

•Ostracism developed to prevent future tyranny•If 6000 wrote a person’s name on broken pottery – “ostraka” he was banished for 10 years•Solved problems without violence

•Court of Appeal juries expanded – one case had 1501 jurors!•Protected against corruption

Democracy had finally become reality for the common people.

•Not everybody could vote•Women, children, “foreigners”, slaves not eligible

•Democracy is dangerous? •“Rule by the poor”, uneducated masses•Is this a good thing?•Feared, ridiculed, admired by world leaders for many centuries•See pages 132-133 – The “Old Oligarch”