Four Reformers

1. Four Reformers • Draco (621 B.C.)Written code of laws • Solon (594 B.C.)Eliminated debt slavery • Peisistratus (546 B.C.)Caters to peasants • Cleisthenes (508 B.C.)Council of 500

2. Athens famous for being primary basis of Western Civilization • Its democracy wasn’t always constant • Its form slightly different than what we’re familiar with. • Athens originally a kingdom morphed into more of an aristocracy that became unstable, partially due to oral and arbitrary laws • 621 BC, Draco appointed to codify the laws • Unpopular move because the laws (both as they already existed and were codified by Draco, but also most especially as designed by Draco) were extremely harsh.

3. More on Draco… • Death was the penalty for even minor crimes, like stealing vegetables. • Draco claimed that this was an appropriate punishment and if something even worse were found, he would have applied to greater crimes. • Different classes were also treated differently – debtors could be sold into slavery if in debt to a higher class. • An upside is that murder was punished by the state instead of by blood-feud vendettas. • It is from Draco that the term ‘draconian’ derives.

4. Solon • The Athenian lawmaker that first established the basis of civil democracy • Draco’s constitution wasn’t working out too well and in 594 BC, Solon revised it (almost completely). • Solon threw out all of Draco’s laws except those concerning homicide. • He had to strike a balance between the concerns of the aristocracy and those of the poor. • The poor were disgruntled at the possibility of they and their families being sold into slavery if they were in debt to an aristocrat. • The aristocrats wanted to prevent a revolution and keep their wealth (and their skin).

5. Some reforms: • Debt-slavery was abolished. Anybody who had been sold into slavery due to debt was liberated. • All outstanding debts were abolished. • Death penalty only for murder. • Classes were based on income, not birth • Pentakosiomedimnoi: Those whose land produced 500 bushels per annum • Hippeis: Those who were worth 300 bushels • Zeugitai: Those who were worth 200 bushels • Thetes: Manual laborers. • Move was important because it helped break the power of hereditary aristocracy

6. Some reforms cont. • Introduced trial by jury • Set up new system of government • Included a third class in the Boule (council of 400 – 100 from each of the four tribes) • After the new laws published and official, he left Athens for 10 years to avoid temptation to become a tyrant though he was effectively one in making the laws • Went touring. • Neither the poor nor the rich of Athens happy about new laws at first • the aristocrats had debts to them abolished and the poor didn’t get more wealth, but they liked them over time.

7. Peisistratus(Hippocrates’s son) • Mentee of Solon • Became leader of Athens’ poor 565BC • Initial attempts at seizing control of Athens failed • Seized power in 560BC, • Tyrant by 546BC. • Made popular reforms. • Reduced taxation • Introduced festivals • Increased trade and commerce • Produced coin money • Beautified the city

8. Peisistratus cont. • Had official copies of the Iliad & Odyssey written. • Helped the poor, gave them jobs through public works, • Poor were satisfied & supported him. • Preserved the democratic institutions, but loaded upper bodies with family & cronies. • When he first took power in 560 BC, it was through cunning deception. Did it again later. • Solon urged the Athenians to resist Peisistratus, but they were too cowardly and Peisistratus too powerful. • Solon himself openly opposed Peisistratus.

9. Cleisthenes • Took power with Spartan help after Peisistratus’s son Hippias was exiled • Reformed the government • Previously, multiple tribes and conflict among the city folk, hill folk, and plain folk. • Cleisthenes organized ten entirely new tribes each composed of people from the three regions and of different family tribes. • Broke old tribal or class loyalties & reoriented people towards the state. • Solon’s council of 400 became the Council of 500, 50 people from each new tribe.

10. Cleisthenes cont. • Assembly became main governing body of Athens and dealt with day to day affairs. • Anybody was eligible to serve for one year and it was expected that all male citizens would serve eventually. • Also served as a supreme court / jury, except for murder cases and religious matters • With the establishment of the assembly, Athens became a representative democracy. • The citizens themselves ran it.

11. Four Reformers prompts • Each response must include: 6-8 complete sentences SPECIFIC evidence from the ppt. to support. • Which reformer made the most significant changes in Athenian government/society, and why? • Defend or refute the following statement: The Four Reformers followed a natural socio- political, evolutionary path/progression toward changing the “Face of Athens.”