Athenian Democracy

1. Athenian Democracy Changes during the 5th Century BC

2. Stages • Solon c.600 - 561 BC • Tyranny of the Pisistradid Clan 561-510 BC • Cleisthenes’ reforms 510-462 BC • Radical democracy of Pericles 462-431 BC

3. Solon c. 600 - 561 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.

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

5. 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.

8. 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

9. Periclean Democracy • Period of 508 - 443 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.

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

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

14. Eccelsia The Pnyx… where the Assembly met

15. 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

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

17. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Ephialtes Attacks areopagus • Power of areopagus increased during persian wars • Ephialtes, leader of the people 468-67 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

23. 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