3. Athenian Democracy Flashcards
What were the 3 largest poleis?
Athens, Attica and Sparta.
How large was the polis of Attica estimated to be?
2500 km2
What was found in Egypt in the 19th century?
A papyrus from the school of Aristotle telling us of the 6th century BC issues.
Date Solon of Athens’ reforms.
593-593 BC
What did Solon attempt to fix?
The policial conflicts between rich + poor.
Increasingly confident + vocal masses.
What did the poor demand during their revolution before Solon?
An equal redistribution of property.
What is the other Name for Solon of Athens and who gave it to him?
Solon the Lawgiver but the papyri of the school of Aristotle.
What did Solon not want to do?
Redistribute the land.
What did Solon do to help arrange the people?
Assigned offices of state according to the wealth classes.
What were the 4 wealth classes, in order of wealth?
Thetes, Zeugitai, Hippies + Pentakosiomedimnoi.
Which class was the poorest men?
Thetes.
What reformations did Solon carry out?
Office status depended on your physical wealth - not birth right.
Abolition of the feudal system + enslavement of citizens.
Creation of the Boule.
Introduction of judicial appeal to the masses.
Why were citizens often enslaved in Ancient Athens?
To repay Debts.
What was the judicial appeal to the masses?
If a citizen disagreed with a judges ruling they could appeal in front of a full court = unbiased judgement.
What happened after Solon?
Unrest continued.
Athens slipped into 3 separate factions.
What were the 3 factions created after Solon’s reforms and who led them?
Pedieis led by Lykourgos.
Paralioi led by Megakles.
Hypakrioi led by Peisistratos.
What was the other term for the pedieis?
men of the plain.
What was the other term for the Paralioi?
Men of the coast.
What was the other term for the Hypakrioi?
Men from over the hills
When did Peisistratos begin to gain power?
561/560 BC
What happens as Peisistratos begin to gain power?
They were expelled from Athens + is then returned to power with the help of Megakles.
What occurs between 556-565 BC?
Peisistratos falls out with Megakles and is expelled from the area.
When do the Tyrants return to power and when do they rule to?
546-545 BC to 511/510 BC
What does the Athenian Politeia say about Peisistratos?
That he was a very positive figure - democratic + humane manner. willing to do anything to keep the law.
What are the 3 accounts of the liberation from Peisistratos?
Official, incorrect - Harmodius + Aristrogeition, tyrant slayers, took them down.
True - Spartans.
Maybe - Spartans did it, as rich Athenian family bribed the Delphic Oracle compel them to do so.
What happened after the tyrants?
The rich began to fight again - Kleistenes vs. Isagoras.
What occurs in 507 BC?
The Kleistenes promise the people political reforms in return for support + the spartan try to interfere again.
What were the Kleistenes political reforms?
Split Athens into 10, consisting of 3 ‘trittyes’ consisting of ‘demes’.
A new Boule of 500 people
What are ‘demes’?
Local urban centres in Attica.
What did the new Boule from the Kleistenes political reforms consist of?
50 councillors on a year rotation for every tribe.
What are the 2 meanings of demos?
the entire people (ideally) + the masses, not including the rich or minority.
What was the Ekklesia?
Popular assembly.
What did the Ekklesia made decision on?
Spending, Defence, foreign relations + the conduct of magistrates.
Who could become part of the Ekklesia?
Any male over 20.
How often would the Ekklesia gather?
Every 9 days.
What did the Ekklesia require to take place?
A quorum of at least 6000.
When did Ekklesia become a paid profession?
c. 400 BC
What did the ‘Boule’ do?
Discussed matter before the Ekklesia and prepared agendas for its meetings.
Received embassies from foreign states.
How many member were there for the Boule?
- 50 from each tribe chosen by a lottery of male citizens older than 30.
When did the boule meet?
Every day.
What was the presidency inside the Boule?
A role of command which routed the 10 tribes every month.
How many Athenians actually took part in the Boule?
30-40% served for at least a year.
What was the Dikasteria?
Those who would judge cases of law breaking.
How many members were there of the Dikasteria?
6000 males over 30.
What did the Dikasteria do?
Met daily to judge cases.
How many Dikasteria had to present for an individual case?
201-501, but sometimes a lot more, depending of the seriousness.
How did the Athenians keep cases fair?
Assigned juries to avoid bribery.
