Democracy in Practice: Athenian Institutions

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the key political institutions, figures, and concepts of governance in ancient Athens as described in the provided textbook pages.

Ecclesia (Assembly)

The basic institution of democracy in fifth-century Athens that passed laws and held ultimate power in state affairs, consisting of all citizens over the age of eighteen.

Pynx

A hill south-west of the agora where the Ecclesia gathered; it could hold about $6000$ people.

The Boule

The Council of $500$ consisting of fifty men from each of the ten tribes; it prepared the Ecclesia's agenda, administered city finances, and supervised officials.

Bouleuterion

The Council House situated in the agora where the Boule held its sessions and where the public could observe proceedings.

Strategoi

Politician generals whose elections were supervised by the Boule.

The Heliaea

Originally established by Solon as an appeals court to hear complaints against the decisions made by magistrates.

Klepsydra

A water clock that takes about six minutes to empty, used in legal proceedings to time the speeches of defendants and prosecutors.

Oligarchy

A system where political power is held by a small number of wealthy people.

Monarchy

A system where kings rule and political power is inherited.

Tyranny

A rule established by force rather than inheritance; the Greeks used the term neutrally as a tyrant could be considered good or bad.

Solon

An Athenian poet and politician appointed archon in $594$ BC who divided citizens into four classes based on wealth and established the Council of $400$.

Pentacosiomedimnos

A member of the highest of Solon's four classes whose net worth exceeded $500$ bushels; only these men could become archons.

Cleisthenes

An Athenian aristocrat who established a democratic constitution in $507$ BC and replaced the four wealth classes with ten tribes.

Ostrakon

A small piece of pottery used by citizens to inscribe the name of a person they wished to banish from the city for ten years.

Archon

A ruler of Athens; Solon was appointed to this position in $594$ BC to mediate a state of crisis.