Transformation of government
- during seventh and sixth centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece
- rich people wielded much more influence
Aristocracy (nice work if you can get it)
- Aristocrats: members of he ruling class
- They attended symposiums
- meetings where the elite man enjoy wine and poetry
Politics
- no women (except the "entertainment")
- no middle class
- certainly no slaves
- sometimes, even certain aristocrats (who didn't have the right connection) were excluded
Tyrants seize control
- sometimes aristocrats would form alliances with hoplites (well-armed soldiers), and set up an alternative form of gov't called a tyranny.
- tyrant : someone who ruled outside the framework of the polis
- modern meaning of tyrant: an abusive or oppressive ruler.
- the Greek meaning of tyrant: someone who simply seized power (usually with hoplite help)
rules, codes and laws
- Draco (621 BCE)
- all Athenians (rich or poor) are equal under the law
- but death is the punishment for many crimes
- debt slavery is OK (work as a slave to repay debt)
- Solon's reforms (594 BCE)
- outlaws debt slavery
- all Athenian citizens can speak at the assembly
- any citizen can press charge against wrongdoers
Cleisthenes
- more reform (around 500 BCE)
- allow all citizens to submit laws for debt at assembly
- created the Council of Five Hundred (members chosen at random to council the assembly)
- but...only free adult male property owners born in Athens were considered citizens
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