Four Reformers

Draco (621 B.C.)Draco (621 B.C.)Written code of lawsWritten code of laws

Solon (594 B.C.)Solon (594 B.C.)Eliminated debt slaveryEliminated debt slavery

PeisistratusPeisistratus (546 B.C.) (546 B.C.)Caters to peasantsCaters to peasants

Cleisthenes (508 B.C.)Cleisthenes (508 B.C.)Council of 500Council of 500

Athens famous for being primary basis of Western Civilization

• Its democracy wasn’t always constant

• Its form slightly different than what we’re familiar with.

• Athens originally a kingdom morphed into more of an aristocracy that became unstable, partially due to oral and arbitrary laws

• 621 BC, Draco appointed to codify the laws

• Unpopular move because the laws (both as they already existed and were codified by Draco, but also most especially as designed by Draco) were extremely harsh.

More on Draco…

• Death was the penalty for even minor crimes, like stealing vegetables.

• Draco claimed that this was an appropriate punishment and if something even worse were found, he would have applied to greater crimes.

• Different classes were also treated differently – debtors could be sold into slavery if in debt to a higher class.

• An upside is that murder was punished by the state instead of by blood-feud vendettas.

• It is from Draco that the term ‘draconian’ derives.

Solon

The Athenian lawmaker that first established the basis of civil democracy

• Draco’s constitution wasn’t working out too well and in 594 BC, Solon revised it (almost completely).

• Solon threw out all of Draco’s laws except those concerning homicide.

• He had to strike a balance between the concerns of the aristocracy and those of the poor.

• The poor were disgruntled at the possibility of they and their families being sold into slavery if they were in debt to an aristocrat.

• The aristocrats wanted to prevent a revolution and keep their wealth (and their skin).

Some reforms:

• Debt-slavery was abolished. Anybody who had been sold into slavery due to debt was liberated.

• All outstanding debts were abolished.

• Death penalty only for murder.

• Classes were based on income, not birth1. Pentakosiomedimnoi: Those whose land

produced 500 bushels per annum

2. Hippeis: Those who were worth 300 bushels

3. Zeugitai: Those who were worth 200 bushels

4. Thetes: Manual laborers.

• Move was important because it helped break the power of hereditary aristocracy

Some reforms cont.

• Introduced trial by jury

• Set up new system of government

• Included a third class in the Boule (council of 400 – 100 from each of the four tribes)

• After the new laws published and official, he left Athens for 10 years to avoid temptation to become a tyrant though he was effectively one in making the laws

• Went touring.

• Neither the poor nor the rich of Athens happy about new laws at first

• the aristocrats had debts to them abolished and the poor didn’t get more wealth, but they liked them over time.

Peisistratus (Hippocrates’s son)

• Mentee of SolonMentee of Solon• Became leader of Athens’ poor Became leader of Athens’ poor 565565BCBC

• Initial attempts at seizing control of Initial attempts at seizing control of Athens Athens failed failed

• Seized power in Seized power in 560BC560BC, ,

• Tyrant by Tyrant by 546BC.546BC.

• Made popular reforms.Made popular reforms.

• Reduced taxationReduced taxation

• Introduced festivalsIntroduced festivals

• Increased trade and commerceIncreased trade and commerce

• Produced coin moneyProduced coin money

• Beautified the cityBeautified the city

Peisistratus cont.

• Had official copies of the Iliad & Odyssey written.

• Helped the poor, gave them jobs through public works,

• Poor were satisfied & supported him.

• Preserved the democratic institutions, but loaded upper bodies with family & cronies.

• When he first took power in 560 BC, it was through cunning deception. Did it again later.

• Solon urged the Athenians to resist Peisistratus, but they were too cowardly and Peisistratus too powerful.

• Solon himself openly opposed Peisistratus.

Cleisthenes

Took power with Spartan help after Peisistratus’s son Hippias was exiled

• Reformed the government

• Previously, multiple tribes and conflict among the city folk, hill folk, and plain folk.

• Cleisthenes organized ten entirely new tribes each composed of people from the three regions and of different family tribes.

• Broke old tribal or class loyalties & reoriented people towards the state.

• Solon’s council of 400 became the Council of 500, 50 people from each new tribe.

Cleisthenes cont.

• Assembly became main governing body of Athens and dealt with day to day affairs.

• Anybody was eligible to serve for one year and it was expected that all male citizens would serve eventually.

• Also served as a supreme court / jury, except for murder cases and religious matters

• With the establishment of the assembly, Athens became a representative democracy.

• The citizens themselves ran it.

Four Reformers

promptsEach response must include: 6-8 complete sentencesSPECIFIC evidence from the ppt. to support.

1.Which reformer made the most significant changes in Athenian government/society, and why?

2.Defend or refute the following statement: The Four Reformers followed a natural socio- political, evolutionary path/progression toward changing the “Face of Athens.”