Solon's Reforms and the Peisistratid Tyranny in Ancient Athens

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on Solon's economic, legal, and social class reforms in Athens and the subsequent Peisistratid tyranny.

Shaking Off of Burdens

Solon's reform (Seisachtheia) that abolished existing debts, freed debt slaves, stopped debtor exiles, and made it illegal to take the security of a person for loans.

Agricultural Export Restrictions

Solon's economic policy that banned the export of all Athenian agricultural products except for olive oil.

Trade Instruction Law

Solon's law obligating fathers to teach their sons a trade, paired with measures to encourage the immigration of skilled foreign artisans.

Pentakosiomedimnoi

The highest Athenian wealth class under Solon, consisting of men whose land produced at least $500$ bushels (medimnoi) annually, qualifying them to hold public office.

Hippeis

The cavalry class in Solon's wealth hierarchy, producing $300$ bushels annually, who were eligible to hold public office.

Zeugitai

The class of smallholders or yokemen producing $200$ bushels annually under Solon's system, eligible to hold public office.

Thetes

The lowest socio-economic class producing less than $200$ bushels annually; as manual laborers, they could not hold public office but participated in the assembly and served on popular courts.

Axones

Wooden stands or pivoting blocks on which Solon's new written laws were displayed publicly for all citizens.

Heliaia

The popular court system in Athens composed of all adult male citizens, including the thetes, where decisions made by magistrates could be appealed.

Council of 400

A council established by Solon consisting of $100$ members chosen from each of the $4$ traditional Athenian tribes.

Ten-Year Reform Oath

The agreement Solon secured from citizens promising to leave his reforms unchanged for $10$ years while he departed Athens.

Pottery Export Boom (c. $600\text{--}580\text{ BC}$)

The rapid expansion of Athenian pottery exports following Solon's reforms, which supplanted most regional commercial competitors.

Peisistratids ($546\text{--}510\text{ BC}$)

The tyrannical regime of Peisistratos and his sons who seized power in Athens following ongoing elite clan competition.

Five Percent Agricultural Tax

A $5\%$ tax instituted under the Peisistratid tyranny to assist Athenian farmers, concurrent with the establishment of local courts and roads in Attica.