Ancient Greek history Athens

10/6

Early aristocratic Government

Ruled by nobility

System evolved into 3 archons

basileus> 3 archons (leaders)

archon basileus

handeled religios duties and traditional kingly rituals

polemarchos

served as a military commander

eponymous archon

the cheif magistrate who gave his name to the year

later, 6 new archons (thesmothetai) added

total of 9 archons who served one year terms

council of Areopagus

made up of former archons (lifetime)

Oikoi

households

How many phylai made up early Athens

The larger tribes of Athens. Early Athens was put into 4 phylai

who are the phratries

brotherhood within tribes- military origin

Clans/ Genes

group of aristocratic families

What is the conspiracy of cylon (-632)

attempted to become tyrant of Athens but failed

Aftermath of Conspiracy of cylon

he fled and his supporters died from the archon megacles

curse of genos

a clan or family must be ritually expelled

What is the law of dracos (620)

states acted as the arbiter over homocide cases, distinguishing between uninterntional vs intentional

What specific group of poor farmers faced the economic plight that led to solon’s commison

Sharecroppers or Heketemoroi

What did Athens import and export under Solons agricultural and trade reforms

Imported:Wheat

Exported: Olives/grapes/silver/marble

What is Seisachtheia and what three things did it achieve

Abolition of debt, land distribution, abolition of debt slavery

How did solon reform economic inequality regarding trade mechanics

he used standardized weights and measures and offered citizenship to exiled artisans

who are metics

non-citizen residents who came from the outside

When did solon introduce his laws/reforms

590’s

How did solon communicate the ideas and motivations behind his reforms

He wrote poems addressing social concerns and tensions (rich vs. poor)

What new system determined political participation under solons reforms

He introduced a tiering system based on farming wealth insteadof nobility

What were the four agricultural wealth classes established by solon

Pentakosiomedimnoi: 500-measuremean

Hippeis: horsemen

Zeugtai

Thetes

What is a taimas in Solons Gov’t

Tamias: Treasurer

Who were excluded in Solon’s Gov’t

Enslaved people, metics, and women

what major judicial right was granted to men of all classes

the right to be a juror

What political body was created to act as a counterweight to the aeropagus

The Council of the 400

When did Pisistratus lead his coup in Athens

550 BCE to seize power and control of Athens

Who did Pisistratus ally with to regain power after being driven out

megacles

How did Pisistratus defeat the Athenian army

He assembled a mercenary force

What year did Pisisatrus end his rule of Atheens end

527 BCE

What two major economic reforms did Pisistratus implement to help lower class citizens?

he provided land and loans to the poor

What major Athenien export experiences significant growth under Pisistratus

Pottery

What was the symbol of the coinage during Pisistratus rule

Owls

A public building/ infrastructure project credited to Pisistratus

Aquaducts

What major festivals and artistic forms did Pisistratus support to promote religion and arts?

Panathenaic festival, Dionysia festivals, tragedy (theater performances)

Who took over after Pisistratus

His two sons, Hippias and Hipparchus

What were Hippias and Hipparchus known for

They patronized poets

Who were the assassins that plotted against Hipparchus and Hippias

Lovers Harmodius and Astriogeiton, who killed Hipparchus in 514, but Hippias lives

How did Hippias rule after his brother’s assassination

He ruled autocratically (tyranny)

Who helped the Athenians push out Hippias in 510 BCE

The Spartans, led by Cleomenes

What did Athens have to do as a payment for Sparta’s help in ousting Hippias

Athens was forced to join the Peloponnesian League

who was Clesthenes

Son of Megacles, a statesman regarded as the founder of Athenian democracy, serving as chief archon (highest magistrate) of Athens (525–524). Cleisthenes successfully allied himself with the popular Assembly against the nobles (508) and imposed democratic reform.

Who did Cleisthenes defeat in a power struggle to come into power in Athens

Isagoras, who was actively backed by the Spartans (cleomenes- king of sparta)

Who is Isagoras

son of Tisander, was an Athenian aristocrat active during the late sixth century BC, known primarily for his role as a conservative oligarch opposing early democratic innovations in Athens.

How did Cleisthenes change the tribal structure of Athens to weaken traditonal family loyalties

He replaced the origibal 4 phylai with 10 new tribes to make the deme the new source of loyalty at the expense of family

How many members made up the new council (boule), and how were they chosen

500 members in total, they were chosen by equally dividing from each of the 10 tribes)

Why did Cleisthenes implement random selection and revolving leadership in the Council (Boule) of 500

To prevent political factions and discourage bribery

What were the three types of elected executives introduced under these reforms (10 per tribe)

Taxiarchos, hipparchcos, strategos

What was the name of the new meeting place established for the Athenian assmebly ( ecclesia)

Pnyx