What reforms did Cleisthenes introduce and what were his likely motives for them.
Cleisthenes, the son of Megakles, began work on the constitution of Attica (Athens). Unlike Solon, he left no writings to describe himself, so he remains a vague figure. Unlike Solon, Cleisthenes did not receive any clear directions on reform. His achievements were made through the assembly, the government body made up of all the citizens with the responsibility of passing laws. As the head of a rich and aristocratic clan, his main motives may have been to acquire political power for himself and his noble followers as well as a military purpose and democracy.
Cleisthenes' methods allied him firmly with the ordinary citizen and took Attica a long step further on the road to democracy.
Democracy was supposed to have begun in Attica after the last major faction fight of the 6th century B.C. This fight was between Isagoras and Cleisthenes. To ensure his position, Cleisthenes reformed the tribal system and introduced the council of five hundred. Again, he did not aim to introduce democracy; rather his aim was most likely to overcome his regional rival, Isagoras.
His reforms that were placed in were that the country was divided into 10 new tribes, also know as plylae, on a regional basis, with sections of the 3 classes in each. Each tribe with 3 trittyes (one from the city (asty), one from the coast (paralia), and one from inland (mesogaia)) was composed of new units called demes. In the countryside these were villages, while in Attica itself they were divisions of the city. (Source: Bradley, 1998)
Old clans and noble families now possessed far less political significance because they were now able to control only one-third of each tribe. Citizenship was now based on locality, with citizenship being granted to metics and other aliens resident in and around Attica.
The tribes were roughly equal in number. They usually contributed soldiers for the army. Usually each tribe contributed a regiment of hoplites and a squadron of military. This action served to reinforce tribal loyalty.
Commanding the army was the 10 strategoi, or referred to as generals. These 10 generals were, at first, under the control of the Polemarch but later were to become the chief magistrates.
The boule was also enlarged to five hundred, 50 from each tribe, divided into 10 committees of 50, called prytanies. Each committee was in charge of administration and government for a month, so that more people were now directly involved in government.
The origin of the Athenian democracy of the fifth and for centuries can be traced back to Solon. Solon was a poet and a wise statesmen but not a Democrat. His constitutional reform package laid the basis on which an aristocrat called Cleisthenes could pioneer democracy. Cleisthenes championed a radical political reform movement which in 508 -507 ushered in the Athenian democratic constitution. Under this political system Athens successfully resisted the Persian onslaughts that victory in turn encourage the poorest Athenian's to demand a greater say in the ruling of their city. In the late 460's a radicalization of power shifted the balance decisively to the poorest sections of society. This was the democratic Athens that laid the foundations of Western rational and critical thought.
Before Solon was name to reform the laws of the city, Athens was in great chaos. Solon had to tackle issues that were within the city itself. Because of the fact that only aristocrats and nobles were given the power to elect man, many of the “common people” were against that notion; as a result, quarrels between the common people and the aristocrats arose. Furthermore, due the the war that the Athenians just finished, and the accumulation of debts, the poorest of the poor had their lands seized and either sold themselves as slaves or their children and family members.
The tribe was divided into four social groups. At the top of the hierarchy were the relative...
The main architect of Athenian law was Solon. It is unknown when Solon was born. He died in 559 BC. (Plutarch). Solon allowed everyone to participate in court (Stockton 19). He created a code of laws based on justice, balance, and good order (Muller). Solon abolished the practice of debt bondage (Muller). Solon created the Council of 400 (Boule), and a court called the Heliaia. (Muller) Solon divided Athenians into classes in accordance with their income (Plutarch). The lowest class, the thetes, was ineligible for election to office (Plutarch). However, they could still come into the assembly and act as jurors (Plutarch). The other classes, from lowest to highest, were zeugits, hippies, and pentakosiomedimnoi (Muller).
It is surprising indeed that Even today, tyrannies and dictatorships exist in the world when more than two and a half thousand years ago the ancient Athenians had developed a functional and direct form of democracy. What contributed to this remarkable achievement and how it changed the socio-political. scene in Athens is what will be considered in this paper. The paper will have three sections, each detailing the various stages. of political development from the kings of Attica to the time of Pericles when, in its golden age, Athens was at the height of its. imperial power.
The Creeks were agricultural, but war like. The number of Creeks at one time was 30,000. The villages were separated into two red and white. Red towns had warriors who launched raids far and wide for purposes of honor and revenge. Red Creeks usually held war dances often to protect them selves in battle. Within the white towns lived most of the peace makers who kept track of alliances and gave sanctuary to refugees or poor people. White Creeks held ceremonies such as the signing of treaties or alliances.
One reason for the lack of communication and cooperation between different groups of Native Americans was the instituted political system. The Indian political system was broken up into three main levels. These “three levels of social connections” (5) were clans, villages and tribes. Clans were led by their eldest members, villages were ran by sachems who referred to the counsel of elders and communal approval and tribes were headed by one or more sachems who were advised by clan and village members in order to act according to community compromise. In the Native American political system men and women were both permitted to serve as sachems and provide political guidance on important communal issues. Although this system tended to promote unity within individual ...
During the age of Pericles, the ideal form of government was believed to be a government formed by all of the citizens regardless of wealth or social standing. This was known as democracy, literally meaning “ government of the people” [Document 3.] This government favored the many instead of the few. Athens was a direct democracy, meaning every citizen participated in debates. Western civilization used this philosophy of government by many, and created an indirect democracy where citizens elect officials to make and enforce laws.
n between 1825 and 1850, 25 tribes of Indians were removed or forced to move by settlers, and cavalry
The restoration of Athenian democracy around the fifth century BC in the city-states referred to as the polis evidence the value of political autonomy. An Athenian democracy that was entitled to the city f Athens as well as surrounding regions likes Attica was the foremost autonomy across the universe. It inspired other cities in Greece to foster democracies (Ober & Weingast, 2017). A significant number of Greek cities followed Athenian theory. However, none of the cities were documented like Athens. Athenian autonomy was a structure of direct democracy. Athens residents were permitted to directly select their legislations well as executive bills through direct votes. Nonetheless, all Athens residents were not allowed to participate in the voting exercise. Voting qualifications included being an adult and a male citizen of
The march towards developing a democratic society is often obstructed with societal unrest due to the influence of the status quo on the instruments of power. Before the rule of Solon, Athens underwent this same rule, as there was much discontent among the social classes in Athens. The society suffered financial disparity that often was the trigger for the war among the rich and poor in the society. This was a major factor that forced Solon into power to institute policies that would see a reformed Athens. By so doing, the society was looking for an avenue that would guarantee democracy and a society that is fair for everyone. The city-state of Athens was the epicenter of the revolution for the Athenian democracy during the fifth century BC. In the Athenian democracy, the electorate voted for the legislation of bills instead of a direct democracy where the electorates are tasked with electing representatives who later developed the bill. Among the first people who made significant contributions to the development of the Athenian democracy were Solon (594 BC), Cleisthenes (508/7 BC), Pericles (495 – 429 BC) and Ephialtes (462 BC). Pericles was the longest serving democratic leader who contributed much development in democracy in the city. This paper will give an account of the age of the Pericles.
Herodotus believed that freedom from tyranny, democracy, had a positive effect on Greek cultural identity because tyranny’s are inevitably and fundamentally weak. Tyranny weakens the city state by corruption in high offices with in the city state and suppressed new ideas and growth with in the city state. Herodotus’ opposition to tyranny is deduced from the fact that no Greek state lasted long in tyranny. As for democracy having a positive effect on Greek cultural identity, Herodotus praises the democratic system, because he sees equality as a good thing each man is able to achieve for himself while strengthening the city state. If the people are prospering and achieving then the city state prospers and grows. Democracy allowed for people to have a voice and effect change. Through democracy Greeks were able to control their own destiny, and their own success.
Around 508 BC, Athens, a Greek city-state, created a democratic constitution. ‘Democracy’ in Greek was
Sparta contained a four branch government system that was considered one of the most unique in all of Greece. Unlike the democracy of Athens, Sparta had a diarchy which consisted of two kings. These figures held little influence over the state and served more as a symbol of royal heritage. The second branch was the Gerousia council which acted as an advising body and held influence over court decisions. This council was comprised of the two kings and of twenty-eight elected elders who served a life term. The minimum age of an elder on the committee was sixty. The Ephors, the third b...
The Greeks system of democracy was an entirely new concept when it was created, and one that has had lasting affects as it continues to influence present day politics around the globe. Modern day democracies may very well not exist if it wasn’t for the success the Athenians had with democracy. Today we look back at these ancient civilizations and we try to better our current society by learning from their mistakes and building on their success.