KLEISTHENES' REFORMS 508/7 B.C.
I.
Background: Solon's Reforms 594-592 B.C.;
Peisistratid Tyranny 546-511 B.C.
II. Kleisthenes' Radical Democracy: to break old oligarchic power
A.Reforms:
1. created 10 new Tribes to supercede old 4 Tribes as political,
economic, military divisions.
2. Made deme main Political unit
a. Deme membership became hereditary (basis of citizenship
rolls)
b. Demotic added to citizens' names--attempt to make deme
name more imp.. than kinship (clan, tribe) ties.
3. All male citizens could vote--no property qualification.
4. 10 Tribes basis of military service-each tribe had 3 trittyes
(military sub-divisions) (supplanted phratry military sub-divisions)
5. 10 generals elected ( 1 elected from each tribe)
6. Composition of each tribe divided by geography,-to break up
political power blocs (now each tribe had 1/3 membership each from
coast, inland, city). The Lot used to assign 10 trittys from each of the 3
areas to each of the 10 Tribes
7. 30 Trittyes created from the Demes: 10 Trittyes from coasts, 10
Trittyes from Inland, 10 artificial Trittyes created in city.
8. Each of 10 Tribes assigned a hero (cult figure) by Delphic oracle
9. Demes replaced old phratries (brotherhoods-based on kinship)
as smallest political unit, but phratries kept religious/social importance
10. 4 old Tribes allowed to exist. but only as relig./social units.
11. New Council of 500 (Boulé) replaced old Solonian Council of
400—new Boule had 50 men from each of 10 now tribes, chosen by lot
from deme candidates as members of Boule Council.
12. Many public, gov't boards now had 10 members, one from each
Tribe
III-Social/ Cultural Changes:
A. Art/culture-Late Archaic Art & Architecture styles changing to
early Classical
B. Intellectual life: movement to Athens-poets, philosophers,
writers (e.g., Pindar, Herodotos)
C. Religion, Theater, Athletics: Peisistratid changes cont'd.
1. Panathenaic Games
2. Theater-534 B.C. (Dionysia celebrated at Athens)
3. Athena Polias - popularized as 'patron' goddess of Athens
4. Peisistratid "unification" policies cont'd: -expansion of
relig. festivals of Athens to nearby demes (Eleusis, Brauron, etc.)