Test 3 Flashcards
What is coined as the road to democracy?
The reforms of Solon
What was the social crisis before Solon?
Contrast between elite and the rest of the population
What was Solon’s constitution based on?
Wealth in the form of land ownership
How many classes were citizens divided into?
4
What did Solon want to avoid?
Concentration of land in the hands of few
What are the 3 distinctions of Solon’s reforms?
1) state is run by all citizens
2) status of citizen is not compatible with the loss of freedom
3) the law guides the actions of the state
Who was the key tyrant before democracy?
Peisistratos
What marked the end of the tyrants’ rule?
When Peisistratos passed the power to his sons Hippias and Hipparkhos
- Hippias was exiled
- Hipparkhos was murdered by two citizens
What were the reforms of Kleisthenes?
- citizenry organized into 10 new tribes (phylai)
- Boule of the 500 established
What is isonomia?
Equal right of all citizens to exercise their political rights
What is isegoria?
Equal right to speak
What is demokratia?
Power of the people without limitations
What are the 3 founding principles of Athenian democracy?
Isonomia, isegoria, demokratia
What were the two perceptions of democracy in Athenian society?
- power of the demos with no limitation
- rule of the poor (‘mob rule’ perception used mainly by critics)
What was the persian debate between?
Democracy vs. Oligarchy vs. Monarchy
Difference between Athenian democracy and modern democracy?
Direct participation of all citizens in important decisions
Characteristics of the Boule?
- 500 councillors chosen by lot
- At least 30 years old
- 50 from each of the 10 tribes
Responsibilities of the Boule?
- Prepared the agenda for assembly and drafted preliminary proposals
What was the role of the prutaneis?
- 50 councillors of each tribe
- standing committee for one tenth of the year
- lived in the Tholos
What was the role of the epistates?
- Chairman of the prutaneis
- Presided over the meetings of the assembly
What was the role of the proedroi?
- Committee of 10
- One committee for each tribe
- Presided over the meetings of the council and the assembly
What building of the agora were council meetings held?
- the Bouleuterion
What was the ekklesia?
- assembly for all Athenian adult males 18+
- only the ekklesia had decisional power
- agenda prepared by the boule for ekklesia meetings
What did the ekklesia discuss and vote on?
Psefismata - decrees, decisions of policy
Nomoi - general laws
What were the nomothetai?
Lawmakers
- body selected by lot
- had final decision on proposals discussed in ekklesia
What was the hill where the assembly met?
Pnyx hill
How many people were required for votes on especially important matters?
A quorum of 6000
How often were meetings?
Four meetings in each of the 10 months
What tool was used to herd people to the Pnyx for meetings?
Rope died red
How did they encourage poor participation?
Small daily salary for the loss of a days’ work
How was vote collected?
Show of hands
What two terms were used for those who could persuade the assembly?
- Prostates: champion of the people
- Demagogos: leader of the people
Who were the democratic officials of Solon’s constitution? How many were there?
The arkhontes (archons)
-9
What was a general called? How many from each tribe?
Strategos
- 1 from each tribe
What were the treasurers of the Delian League called?
Hellenotamiai