Solon and Clesithenes

Solon and Cleisthenes

Solon's reforms

​Archon: ~594 BC

• liberated peasants from debt-slavery; abolished the whole system

• slaves in other city-states: freed ans brought back by the state

• freed peasants ->citizens

• new assembly (ekklesia)

• no farmland given -> day labourers, craftsmen

Multiple Choice

How could people end up as debt-slaves?

• They did not pay taxes.

• The head of the house could sell his family.

• If the person in debt could not pay, his family members were sold as debt-slaves.

• The ruler of Athens could sell anyone as a debt-slave.

Solon's new social system

​Tymocracy

• political rank based on income, not lineage

• wealthy members of the demos included

• social mobility possible

• basis: medimnos (bushel; a unit of volume used to measure grain)

• poor: below 200 bushels -> ekklesia

Multiple Choice

Who were eligible as archons?

• only those having more than 500 bushels

• those having between 300 and 500 bushels

• only those having unnder 200 bushels

• everybody

Tyranny in Athens

Peisistratos

• struggle for power among aristocratic families

• rise of Peisistratos

• single-man rule (tyranny)

• supported by common people (religious festivals, sport events, theatre performances)

• building projects (e.g. waterpipe system) -> work for people -> rising living standards

Multiple Choice

Who did not like Peisistratos?

• demos

• aristocrats

• his sons

• everyone hated him

Cleisthenes

​Archon: 508 BC

• Pesistratos sons: hated

• Cleisthenes: driving Hipparchos away with Spartan help

• people: belong to districts (phylae)

• voting: all citizens

• some offices only for the rich

• districts: basis for the army; commander: strategos (always elected)

• ostracism: procedure to prevent tyranny

Multiple Choice

Was it beneficial to break up the traditional ties?

• Yes

• No