Athenian Democracy Definitions

Archons

• Office-holders, 9 men and a secretary chosen annually by the ekklesia. Eupatridae pre-Solon, Pentacosiomedimni Solon and top two social classes Kleisthenes, one of the 10 gave his name to the yeaar

Areopagus

• The hill of Ares. A council made of ex-archons which met there.

• Ultimate authority law wise until Solon. • Would supervise the archons pre-Solon but

didn't have this role after him.

Basileus Archon

• Religious archon, took care of religious law and cases of homicide.

Boule

• A council, made of originally 400 members (100 from each of the 4 tribes) until Kleisthenes, where it turned to 500 members (50 from each of the 10 tribes).

• Chosen by lot, unpaid office, prepared measures before they were put to the ekklesia.

Deme

• Local communities in Athens. Replaced kinship units and became Kleisthenes' basic reform.

• Maintained register of citizens over 18 years old. Not geographically or birth based.

Demiourgoi

• Craftsmen class pre-Solon. Could vote but not hold archonship. Could become very wealthy.

Ecclesia

• Assembly of male citizens summoned as of right.

• Meetings usually summoned by the boule, held on the pynx.

• Each citizen could vote and speak, show of hands.

Eponymous Archon

• Head archon, gave his name to the year.

Eupatridae

• Nobles, top class pre-Solon and very much the minority.

• Owned all the land and held all the political power.

Georgoi

• Small land farmers who found themselves in debt to larger land owners (eupatridae).

• Pre-Solon only.

Hippeis

• Solon's second census class. 300 measures of corn.

• Could afford to provide their own horse and armour.

• Could hold public offices except that of archon.

Pentacosionmedimni

• Solon's top census class. • 500 measures of corn. • Had to supply the cost of liturgies.• Could hold position of archon and other

offices.

Phylae

• The tribes. 4 blood based ones before Kleisthenes, 10 random ones after.

Polemarch

• One of the archons appointed annually. • Originally military leader until 5th Century

BCE.

Prytaneis

• Kleisthenes' time, each group of 50 from each tribe would act as president for 1/10th of the year.

• Had to organise ekklesia and boule meetings. • Each day one of the prytaneis was chosen to

be chairman and to hold the key of Athens per lot.

Seisactheia

• "Shaking off of burdens," was the first act of Solon's reforms, cancelling debts and preventing debts ensured by personal freedom.

Thetes

• Lowest class of people. • Pre-Solon hired help. • After Solon lowest class, anything less than

200 measures of corn.• Could attend ekklesia and became jurors in

helaea.

Zeugites

• Pre-Solon, citizens of moderate means (farmers).

• Solon's third census class of 200 measures of corn.

• Kleisthenes could be archons.

Timocracy

• Social class system based on wealth opposed to being based on birth

Oligarchy

• Ruling by the powerful few (aristocrats).

Eumonia

• Solon's aim, a reign of good order for all, not just one particular class.

Hektemoroi

• Indentured Serfs who gave 1/6th of their crop to who they were indebted to.

• Solon eradicated this class.

Heliaea

• The Ekklesia when in judicial function to act as a court.

• Checked on powers of the Council of the Areopagus for appeals.

Men of the Plain

• Lead by Lycurgus, wealthy farmers. Wanted oligarchy.

Men of the Coast

• Lead by Megacles, middle classes. Didn't like power of the archons.

Men of the Hill

• Lead by Peisistratus, poor farmers and urban dwellers. Wanted land and jobs.

• 594 BCE• Year of Solon.

• 546 BCE• Peisistratus takes power.

• 508 BCE• Kleisthenes becomes leader of Athens.

Oikos

• Family group, immediate family and smallest tribe unit pre-Kleisthenes.

Genos

• Extended family, claimed decent from common ancestor.

Ostracism

• The process of temporarily exiling a person in Athens to decapitate powerful factions and to prevent tyranny.

• A quorum was needed to be reached for the ostracism to occur. Names were written on ostarkon.