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Greek HistoryAthenian Democracy: 600-300BC
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Greek History
• 1 The development of the early Athenian democracy 600-500 BC
• 2 The democratic institutions of Classical Athens 500-300 BC
• 3 The Athenian democracy in practice
Athenian Democracy: 600-300BC
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Greek HistoryAthens and the wider world
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Greek History
Attica:
• Huge – est. size: 2500 km2
Athens and Attica
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Greek History1. Development of Democracy
Three key figures:1.1 Solon of Athens – law giver – 593/2 BC
1.2 Peisistratos and sons – tyrants – c.561/0-514 BC
1.3 Kleisthenes – reformer – 507/6 BC
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Context for Solon’s reforms:• Political conflict between aristocrats and poor• Revolutionary demands for equal redistribution
of property
1.1 Solon the Lawgiver
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• Solon as social conservative:
• No redistribution of land
• Access to offices in state according to wealth classes:• Thetes – poor (bare minimum)• Zeugitai – relatively rich • Hippeis – rather rich• Pentakosiomedimnoi – disgustingly rich (highest offices)
1.1 Solon’s response
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• Solon as reformer:• Access to offices in state according to wealth
NOT birth• Abolition of feudal system and enslavement of
citizens for debt• Introduction of judicial appeal to masses
1.1 Solon’s response
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• Continued unrest after Solon’s laws• Athens split in 3 factions:
• pedieis (men of the plain)lead by Lykourgos
• paralioi (men of the coast)lead by Megakles
• hypakrioi (men from over the hills) lead by Peisistratos
1.2 After Solon
Pedieis
Hypakrioi
Paralioi
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• 561/0 BC Peisistratos first gains power• P. expelled from Athens by rivals• P. returns to power with help of Megakles• 556/5 BC P. falls out with Megakles and expelled
• 546/5 BC Peisistratos and his sons return with army and rule as tyrants until 511/0 BC
1.2 Peisistratos the Tyrant
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Greek History
What did Peisistratos do?
‘Most important of all the things mentioned was his democratic and humane manner. In other respects he was willing to administer everything according to the laws, not giving himself any advantage; and on one occasion, when he was summoned before the Areopagus on a homicide charge, he attended to make his defence – but the prosecutor took fright and defaulted.’
Athenaion Politeia 16.8 (=Ath. Pol.)
1.2 Peisistratos the Tyrant
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What did Peisistratos and his sons do?
1.2 Peisistratos the Tyrant
Athens, Temple of Zeus Olympios built by Peisistratids
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What did Peisistratos and his sons do?• Athenian Road system, centred on Attica• Road distances measured from altar of 12 gods,
dedicated by Peisistratos the younger• System of judges travelling to Attic countryside
1.2 Peisistratos the Tyrant
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Greek History
Conflicting accounts of liberation:• Tyrant slayers did it (Harmodius and Aristogeiton)
– The official story – FALSE
• The Spartans expelled the tyrants – TRUE
• Spartans expelled them because an Athenian family bribed the Delphic Oracle to tell them to do it
– Hmm…
1.3 Expulsion of the Tyrants
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• Aristocratic infighting (again): Kleisthenes v. Isagoras• 507 BC Kleisthenes turned to the demos (people)
promising political reform• The Spartans try to interfere (again); the Athenians rise
up and throw them out
1.3 After the Tyrants
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• New way of organizing Athens as a political community• 10 tribes consisting each of
»Three trittyes (thirds) which consist of• demes (local urban centres in
Attica)
• New council (boule) of 500• 50 councillors every year for each tribe
1.3 Kleisthenes’ Political Reforms
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Greek History1.3 Kleisthenes’ Political Reforms
Map showing the Political organization of Attica as a result of the Kleisthenic reforms.
from J . S. Traill (1986) Demes and Trittys. Princeton.
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Greek History
Some common themes:• Development of Athenian democracy complex• General trend towards greater participation for masses• Role of elite• Continuous change – later important innovations
include:– Ostracism– Jury pay– Pay for serving on boule– Pay for attending assembly
1.5 Themes
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What does democracy mean?
Democracy = demos (people) + kratos (power)
demos = the entire people (including the rich)
demos = the people (i.e. the masses) as opposed to the rich
2.1 Workings of Democracy at Athens
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Role of the ekklesia (popular assembly):• Discussed and made binding decisions on:
– spending– foreign relations– defence– conduct of magistrates
• Open to any male citizen over 20 years of age
• Met at least 40 times a year (every 9 days)• Required a quorum of at least 6,000
citizens• Paid (after 400 BC)
2.2 Ekklesia
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Role of the boule (council):• Discuss matters before the ekklesia and prepared agenda
for its meetings• 500 members, 50 from each tribe chosen by lot from male
citizens older than 30• Met every day and received embassies from foreign states• Had presidency (the prytaneis) which rotated round the 10
tribes every month• c. 30-40% of all Athenians would have served at least once
for a whole year• Paid
2.3 Boule
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Role of the dikasteria (law courts):• Judge cases• 6,000 male Athenian citizens over 30
appointed dikastai (jurors)• Met every day to judge cases• Juries for individual cases usually 201-
501 (could be up to 1,500!)• Juries assigned by complicated system
to avoid bribery• Paid (after c. 454 BC)
2.4 Law Courts
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Greek History2.5 Athenian Democracy: Overview
Athenian Demosc.60,000 adult male citizens
(c. 30,000 400-300 BC)
Excluded:WomenSlavesMetics
(100,000 ?)
Ekklesia (at least 6,000)Important decisions
Oversight
Attendance
Boule500 chosen
annually from demos by lot
Prepare agenda Law courts 6,000
chosen from demos
annually
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Greek History2.6 British ‘Democracy’: Overview
British Electorate46 million
Excluded:Metics
4 million
Parliament 650 MPs divided into parties
Election
LordsChosen by
parties
Law courts(some jury
courts)
Parties
Government:PM and Cabinet
Crown
Laws
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• Who did it exclude?• Who actively participated?• Who did speak?• Equality of participation – or equality of opportunity to
participate?• Who was listened to?• How easy was it to game the system?• How does it compare?
3.1 How Democratic?
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• What is the most democratic means of choosing a magistrate?
• The ballot box?
• A lottery?
3.2 How Democratic?
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The Elite in Democratic Athens:
• Competition (liturgies)
• Election (e.g. Strategoi)
• Elimination (ostracism)
3.3 Political Leadership
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• Adult male citizen population: 30,000 (Fourth Century BC)
• Total citizen population, including women and children:100,000
• Metic population:c.40,000?
• Number of slaves:Up to 150,000?
3.4 Political Participation
Citizen women and children Citizensmetics Slaves
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