Athenian Democracy Changes during the 5th Century BC

Stages  Solon c BC  Tyranny of the Pisistradid Clan BC  Cleisthenes’ reforms BC  Radical democracy of Pericles BC  Solon c BC  Tyranny of the Pisistradid Clan BC  Cleisthenes’ reforms BC  Radical democracy of Pericles BC

Solon c BC  Debt bondage and loss of holdings to creditors led to political unrest.  The rich non-aristocrats wanted power.  Solon was elected archon in 594 to reform the laws.  Debt bondage and loss of holdings to creditors led to political unrest.  The rich non-aristocrats wanted power.  Solon was elected archon in 594 to reform the laws.

Pisitratid Tyranny  Benevolent despots took contol after compromise of Solon failed.

Cleisthenes’ Reforms  Factional struggle between Isagoras and Cleisthenes following the end of the tyranny.  Cleisthenes allied himself with the people by promising them citizenship.  Cleisthenes reformed social organization and put an end to the aristocratic rule.  Factional struggle between Isagoras and Cleisthenes following the end of the tyranny.  Cleisthenes allied himself with the people by promising them citizenship.  Cleisthenes reformed social organization and put an end to the aristocratic rule.

Cleisthenes’ Reforms  Cleisthenes ’ created 10 new tribal divisions to replace the previous four  Citizens were redistributed based upon where they lived and not upon family connections or wealth  This change broke up the power base of the old aristocratic families  But his reforms did not break up the old social classes and elgibility rules for high office such as the archonship or Areopagus  Cleisthenes ’ created 10 new tribal divisions to replace the previous four  Citizens were redistributed based upon where they lived and not upon family connections or wealth  This change broke up the power base of the old aristocratic families  But his reforms did not break up the old social classes and elgibility rules for high office such as the archonship or Areopagus

Periclean Democracy  Period of BC saw the democratisation of the Athenian government  Pericles' mentor, Ephialtes, put an end to the Areopagus as a political force.  In 443 BC Pericles was elected general and re-elected every year until his death in 429 BC.  He introduced pay for public office (jury duty).  Freedom at home and domination abroad.  Period of BC saw the democratisation of the Athenian government  Pericles' mentor, Ephialtes, put an end to the Areopagus as a political force.  In 443 BC Pericles was elected general and re-elected every year until his death in 429 BC.  He introduced pay for public office (jury duty).  Freedom at home and domination abroad.

Sections  Ecclesia - the Assembly  Boule - the council of 500  Areopagus  Heliaea  The Strategoi  The archons  Other Magistrates  Ecclesia - the Assembly  Boule - the council of 500  Areopagus  Heliaea  The Strategoi  The archons  Other Magistrates

Eccelsia  Assembly  Passed legislation  Elected magistrates  Final court of appeal  Empowered strategoi  Right to punish officials  Court cases where public interest was threatened  Assembly  Passed legislation  Elected magistrates  Final court of appeal  Empowered strategoi  Right to punish officials  Court cases where public interest was threatened

Eccelsia The Pnyx… where the Assembly met

Boule  Council of 500  Preapred bills for presentation to the assembly  Supervised election of strategoi  Managed public boards  Tried magistartes accused of mismanagement  Heard some criminal trials and cases involving the public interest  Council of 500  Preapred bills for presentation to the assembly  Supervised election of strategoi  Managed public boards  Tried magistartes accused of mismanagement  Heard some criminal trials and cases involving the public interest

Areopagus  Court for homicide cases and arson cases  Could call magistrates to account for failure to perform, illegal and irregular acts  Court for homicide cases and arson cases  Could call magistrates to account for failure to perform, illegal and irregular acts

Heliaea  Juries heard civil cases  No lawyers or cross examination allowed  Each plaintiff spoke separately  Timed  Jurors voted with a special brass ballot  Tried officials who could not give a good account of their work  Heard cases about religious impiety  Juries heard civil cases  No lawyers or cross examination allowed  Each plaintiff spoke separately  Timed  Jurors voted with a special brass ballot  Tried officials who could not give a good account of their work  Heard cases about religious impiety

Ten Strategoi  Ten generals  Commanded naval and military expeditions  Preliminary negotiations with foreign states  Convened the ecclesia  Responsible to the ecclesia  Could only act unders its instructions  Ten generals  Commanded naval and military expeditions  Preliminary negotiations with foreign states  Convened the ecclesia  Responsible to the ecclesia  Could only act unders its instructions

Archons  Administrative role only  Polemarch: military archon  Eponymous archon: president of the state  Archon basileus: Religion  Plus six thesmotheta that worked in the jury courts  Administrative role only  Polemarch: military archon  Eponymous archon: president of the state  Archon basileus: Religion  Plus six thesmotheta that worked in the jury courts

Radcicalisation of the democracy  Aristogoras allows more people to become archons by allowing the hippeis to join  Members were chosen by lot  Power of ecclesia increased  The strategos became the key position  Census included all property ownership not just land  Aristogoras allows more people to become archons by allowing the hippeis to join  Members were chosen by lot  Power of ecclesia increased  The strategos became the key position  Census included all property ownership not just land

Ephialtes Attacks areopagus  Power of areopagus increased during persian wars  Ephialtes, leader of the people BC attacked its powers  Tried corrupt members  Removed its powers to  Punish magistrates  Supervise administrators  Observe that laws were obeyed  Right to investigate private citizens  Power of areopagus increased during persian wars  Ephialtes, leader of the people BC attacked its powers  Tried corrupt members  Removed its powers to  Punish magistrates  Supervise administrators  Observe that laws were obeyed  Right to investigate private citizens

Pericles’ reforms  Payment of jurors to attend court  Chosen by lot (random)  Law courts were now democratic  All 6000 could be jurors  Juries could no longer be dominated by a faction  Members of archonship from top three classes chosen by lot  Middle class now more involved  Archons and Boule members paid  Payment of jurors to attend court  Chosen by lot (random)  Law courts were now democratic  All 6000 could be jurors  Juries could no longer be dominated by a faction  Members of archonship from top three classes chosen by lot  Middle class now more involved  Archons and Boule members paid