Athenian

Democracy

In your notes…

• How should we define 'citizenship'?

Rank the 5 activities that every citizen must do.

The Development of the Polis, c. 750 BCE

Athenian Aristocracy,

c. 600 BCE

• Economic basis = land

• Government = ~6 archons elected by

assembly of nobles each year

• Oligarchy and aristocracy

• Families were competitive

• Indebted families become tenants or even

go into debt slavery

• Fleeing tenants and threats of civil war

What would YOU do?

• You are all archons

• How would you solve this problem?

• Reminder: hoplites pay for their own military

equipment

Solon elected primary

archon, 594 BCE

• Noble birth; honest reputation

• Revolutionary concept of citizenship

• Cancelled all debt and banned debt

slavery

Solonic Constitution

Solon as Poet

To the people I have given such honor as is

sufficient,

neither taking away nor granting them more.

For those who had power and were great in riches,

I greatly cared that they should suffer nothing wrong.

Thus I stood, holding my strong shield over both,

and I did not allow either side to prevail against

justice.

Solon &

Croesus

The Tyrant Peisistratos, c. 560 BCE

• Smooth-talking,

wealthy aristocrat

• Solon’s disapproval of

assembly: “Every one

of you had an empty

mind!”

Harmodius & Aristogeiton

• Murder Peisistratos’ son: the

“Tyrannicides” artpiece in the

agora

Cleisthenes:

Father of Democracy?• Background

• Sparta’s aid overthrow Hippias

• Empowering the deme

Cleisthenes’ Constitution

Ballot System

The Pnyx Hill

The Waterclock

Ostracism

Brainstorm: Pros and Cons?