Athenian Democracy

1098 Words5 Pages
Democracy was comprised of different influential leaders that enforced and created new policies, or developed them further, causing a major upheaval in ancient Athens. Major leaders from many diverse backgrounds grew in prominent power to forever change the influence of their people. Democracy in Athens’s didn’t consist of just an evolutionary or revolutionary transformation alone, but a combination of both. Significant leaders consisted of Solon the law giver, tyrant Peisistratus, democrat Cleisthenes, Athenian statesmen Pericles and Cimon. Prior to the build-up of democracy, Athenian government was ruled by an aristocratic council called the Areopagus. Before the rise of democratic influence, aristocrat Draco controlled the people of Athens.…show more content…
Born an aristocrat in early 558 BC, Solon grew into substantial power as an Athenian statesman and repelled the laws of Draco. Solon was appointed as ‘reconciler’ with full legislative powers, after the current authority admitted failure. He introduced new reforms that were unique to its time, which essentially gave, ‘power to the people.’ His reforms cancelled all debts of the poor and constructed a new assembly of 400 where all could vote on all state matters. Solons laws majorly enhanced the lives of the lower class, ‘I accorded straightforward justice to matters of debt and in the freedom of the person on the principle of habeas corpus’ essentially being unlawful imprisonment. In addition, he passed a law of amnesty; putting an end to past animosities and proclaiming a new start in politics consequently showing his motivation of a peaceful and equal Athens. Solon helped the people extensively, but was fundamentally aristocratic because he divided Athenians into four classes. Systems devised by Solon weren’t essentially democracy, but one that gave freedom and opportunity for greater political power involving all citizens. His rule was revolutionary because it enticed a majorly new political movement that would in the future forever change Athens by providing the foundation of…show more content…
He overthrew the dictatorial rule of Hippias and in the face of aristocratic opposition developed a new government that followed for centuries. Cleisthenes’s built his laws upon the policies laid by Solon and Pisistratus remedying the faults within them. In order to advance his constitution, he faced an alarming amount of external and internal conflicts with one majorly being Isagoras. Cleisthenes was exiled but soon returned after Isogoras and Cleomenes failed to capture the Acropolis due to Athenian people rising against Sparta therefor sparking a war. This caused some confusion in his motives as theories decide whether he believed all citizens should engage in the working of the government or whether he maintained power to weaken his opponents. After being recalled from exile he became ‘leader and champion of the people’ according to Aristotle. He was then allowed to carry out his reforms and build upon past constitutional policies from where they failed. His reforms consisted of the new tribal organisation, the use of lots and ostracism. Clisthenes new tribunal system broke up the power base of families into ten and mixed demes (political divisions) into random groups subsequently sharing equal power among ten tribes. This new deme system was significant, because people gained experience and opportunity participating
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