Lecture 13 - Athens I - From the beginning to the tyrants

Question 1

Number of known settlements in Attica in 850 and 750 BCE

Answer 1

850 BCE - 15

750 BCE - 50

Question 2

Thucydides on Theseus’ synoicism of Attica with Athens

Answer 2

“Down to the time of Theseus the inhabitants of Attica had always lived in independent cities”. He also re-organised the country; he abolished the separate councils and governments of the samll cities and brought them together into Athens.
“Theseus compelled them to have only one centre for their political life”

Question 3

Earliest constitution of Athens - aspects

Answer 3

Magistrates chosen according to rank.
Significance of families such as Philaidai.
Originally held office for life.

Question 4

Draco’s laws of 621/10 BCE - Aristotle

Answer 4

“Laws of Draco are extant, but he legislated within an already existing constitution”.
The Areopagus’ power unabated “acted as a watchdog”.

Question 5

Socio-economic problems before Solon - Aristotle

Answer 5

“There was a long period of strife between the notables and the populace. For not only was their state oligarchic in all other respects, but the poor were also slaves of the rich”.

Question 6

Economic situation post-Draco - Aristotle

Answer 6

“The land continued to be owned by a handful of men”.

Question 7

Solon’s appointment

Answer 7

594/3 BCE

Question 8

Solon’s reforms relating to debts and land-holding

Answer 8

‘Shaking off of burdens’ (seisachtheia) - cancellation of debts and preventing loans on the security of the person. Or the reduction of interest rates.
‘Plucking up of the horoi - abolition of debts or the end of the ‘hektemoroi’. Also refuses calls to redistribute land.

Question 9

Solon’s reforms relating to the constitution

Answer 9

Four property groupings were made the basis of political privilege: Pentakosiomedimnoi (men who produced 50 medimnoi), Hippeis (less than 500 medimnoi), Zeugitai (at least 200 medimnoi), Thetes (lowest class). Magistrates drawn from top 3 economic classes, boule of 400 men.

Question 10

Solon’s judicial reforms

Answer 10

abolition of Draconian laws, introduction of Dikasterion (popular court of appeal), any citizen who wished was entitled to prosecute on behalf of anyone who was a victim of injustice.

Question 11

Aftermath of Solon?

Answer 11

590/89 - Damasias held office for 2 years, Pisistratus was said to have “had the reputation of an extreme democrat”

Question 12

Pisistratus, tyrant of Athens

Answer 12

Grants to the poor, establishes law-courts across Attica, ‘more like a constitutional ruler’.

Question 13

Aristotle’s view of Solon as the founder of Athenian democracy

Answer 13

“Some people think that Solon was an excellent law-giver, for he put an end to the oligarchy that was too elitist, and he stopped people being enslaved”.