Ancient GreeksAncient GreeksAncient GreeksAncient GreeksAthenian DemocracyAthenian DemocracyAthenian DemocracyAthenian Democracy

SolonSolonSolonSolonarchon 594/3 B.C. archon 594/3 B.C.

• seisachtheiaseisachtheia—“shaking-off of burdens”—“shaking-off of burdens”Liberated the Liberated the hektēmoroihektēmoroi—“sixth-parters”—“sixth-parters”Toppled the Toppled the horoihoroi—“boundary stones”—of —“boundary stones”—of AttikaAttikaGranted citizenship to immigrant craftsmenGranted citizenship to immigrant craftsmenBanned export of agricultural products other Banned export of agricultural products other than olive oilthan olive oil

• Compiled a new code of laws that superseded Compiled a new code of laws that superseded Draco’s code of 621 B.C.Draco’s code of 621 B.C.

• Created a process for public appeals of Created a process for public appeals of magistrates’ verdicts in the magistrates’ verdicts in the ēliaiaēliaia

Solon’s organization of Solon’s organization of Athenian citizenryAthenian citizenry

Solon’s organization of Solon’s organization of Athenian citizenryAthenian citizenry

Four census classes based on wealth:Four census classes based on wealth:

– pentakosiomedimnoipentakosiomedimnoi—“five-hundred-—“five-hundred-

measures-men”measures-men”

– hippeishippeis—“horesmen”—“horesmen”

– zeugitaizeugitai—“yokemen”—“yokemen”

thetes—“poor”thetes—“poor”

Boulē—Council of 400Boulē—Council of 400

Areopagos CouncilAreopagos Council

Athenian lawAthenian lawAthenian lawAthenian lawArchaeological Archaeological evidence from the evidence from the Agora Museum in Agora Museum in AthensAthens

– klepsydraklepsydra—“water —“water clock”clock”

bronze juror ballotsbronze juror ballots

– pinakiapinakia—“identification —“identification tablets”tablets”

– kleoterionkleoterion—“allotment —“allotment machine”machine”

The consequences of The consequences of Solon’s reformsSolon’s reforms

The consequences of The consequences of Solon’s reformsSolon’s reforms

• Solon and Croesus (Herodotus 1.30-33)

• Pisistratos—tyrant of Athens

• Hippias and Hipparkhos

• The Tyrannicides, Harmodios and Aristogeiton

CleisthenesCleisthenesCleisthenesCleisthenesTakes power from Takes power from political rival Isagoras in political rival Isagoras in 508 B.C.508 B.C.

Dēmokratia—“power of Dēmokratia—“power of the people”the people”

• demesdemes—villages or city —villages or city neighborhoodsneighborhoods

• phylaiphylai—“tribes”: —“tribes”: increased from four to increased from four to tenten

• trittyestrittyes—“thirds”: coast, —“thirds”: coast, inland, and cityinland, and city

Council of 500Council of 500

Athenian AssemblyAthenian AssemblyAthenian AssemblyAthenian AssemblyEkklēsia—Athenian Ekklēsia—Athenian Assembly where all Assembly where all citizens (excluding citizens (excluding women, children, women, children, and slaves) were and slaves) were free to discuss the free to discuss the issues, vote, and issues, vote, and put decisions into put decisions into action.action.

Pnyx (hill where Pnyx (hill where legislature metlegislature met

Bema—“speaker’s Bema—“speaker’s platform”platform”

DemocracyDemocracyDemocracyDemocracyPericles’ Funeral Oration Pericles’ Funeral Oration

((epitaphios logosepitaphios logos)—)—

Thucydides 2.34-46Thucydides 2.34-46

• Male citizens - Male citizens -

11%11%

• Women & Children - Women & Children -

24%24%

• Metics - 10%

• Slaves - 54%

ComparisonComparisonComparisonComparison

ANCIENT ATHENS MODERN USA

PARTICIPATION REPRESENTATION

LOTTERY ELECTION

SOVEREIGN DEMOS SEPARATION OF POWERS

LAW: PRAGMATIC LAW: TRANSCENDENTAL

Sources for Athenian History Sources for Athenian History and Democracyand Democracy

Sources for Athenian History Sources for Athenian History and Democracyand Democracy

Anderson, Greg. Anderson, Greg. The Athenian The Athenian Experiment: Building an Imagined Experiment: Building an Imagined Political Community in Ancient Attica, Political Community in Ancient Attica, 508-490 B.C508-490 B.C. (Ann Arbor, 2003).. (Ann Arbor, 2003).Camp, John, and Elizabeth Fisher. Camp, John, and Elizabeth Fisher. The The World of the Ancient GreeksWorld of the Ancient Greeks (London, (London, 2002).2002).Forrest, W. G. Forrest, W. G. The Emergence of The Emergence of Greek DemocracyGreek Democracy (London, 1966). (London, 1966).Pomeroy, Sarah, Stanley Burstein, Pomeroy, Sarah, Stanley Burstein, Walter Donlan, and Jennifer Roberts. Walter Donlan, and Jennifer Roberts. Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural HistoryCultural History (New York, 1998). (New York, 1998).