Democracy
Cleisthenes:
• past 60 when he began work
on the constitution of Athens
• achievements were made
through the citizens’ assembly
• methods allied him with the
ordinary citizen
• took Athens a step further to
democracy
Cleisthenes:
1. reformed the tribal system
2. introduced the Council of 500
Cleisthenes:
1. reformed the tribal system
2. introduced the Council of 500
Cleisthenes:
divided the 140-200 demes (natural sub-divisions of
Attica) into three regions: city, coast, and inland
the regions were divided into ten tribes called
trittyes.
The ten new tribes were named after local
heroes: Erechthesis, Aegeis, Pandianis, Leontis,
Acamantis, Oeneis, Cecropis, Hippothontis, Aeantis,
and Antiochis.
Results:
1. Old clans and noble families controlled less
political power because they were now able to
control only one-third of each tribe.
2. Citizenship was based on locality
3. Citizenship granted to foreign tradesmen and
other aliens in and around Athens.
4. The army:
• tribes were roughly equal in number
• tribes contributed a regiment of hoplites and a
squadron of cavalry
• commanding the army were the 10 strategoi (or
generals
Cleisthenes:
1. reformed the tribal system
2. introduced the Council of 500
Cleisthenes:
1. reformed the tribal system
2. introduced the Council of 500
Council of 500:
• each member randomly chosen from those
citizens who were at least thirty years old
• approved by the outgoing council
The Council of 500:
1. replaced the Council of 400
2. was enlarged to five hundred, 50 from each tribe
3. divided into 10 committees of 50
4. each committee was in charge of administration
and government for a month
5. more people were now directly involved in
government
Duties of the Council of 500:
Responsible for the day to day running of the
city-state
1. most important government and judicial group of
Athens
2. kept a check on the actions of public officials
3. controlled the finances of the city-state
4. prepared business for the assembly
5. in charge of foreign policy
6. important role in making all laws
7. could meet as a court to try a case to impeach a
public official
The areopagus:
•
no changes
1. was still to have powers of censorship
2. dealt with homicide cases.
The assembly:
•meet regularly
•decided matters that affected the daily lives of
citizens
•consisted of all citizens over 20 years of age
•was to be the final authority
•passed laws and decrees
•voted on war/peace and taxes
The people's courts:
•increased in number
•juries selected by lot
•used for appeals and for civil cases
Ostracism:
•a meeting of the assembly once a year
•voters named a person to be sent into exile
•the names of persons proposed for exile were
scratched onto pieces of broken pottery (ostraka)
•6,000 votes were needed
•the exile was to be for 10 years
•no loss of citizenship or property and the family of
the ostracized person was still permitted to remain in
Athens
•intended as a safeguard against tyranny
Results of Cleisthenes' Reforms:
1. broke down old allegiances and jealousies
2. number of citizens now involved in government
was considerable
3. regardless of birth or wealth, political rights were
guaranteed in the election of public officials.
Results of Cleisthenes' Reforms:
4. created a number of popular courts that
functioned alongside the heliaea.
5. still large landowners, but the country was one of
free peasant farmers and independent city
workers.
6. ostracism weakened the areopagus
7. ostracism important in keeping internal order by
eliminating perceived "troublemakers“
Results of Cleisthenes' Reforms:
8. Archons were still elected from the two top
classes
9. areopagus (composed of ex-archons) still
retained considerable power
10. non-payment of officials still meant that poorer
citizens could not take public office.
The Development of Democracy in Ancient Greece
Definition
Etymology
Visual
Monarchy
How was this form of
government practiced
in ancient Greece?
Why did this form of
government decline in
ancient Greece?
Oligarchy
Tyranny
Democracy