Democracy and the Athenians Solon's Reforms

In what year was Solon appointed archon in Athens and given license to rewrite the constitution?

594/3 BC

What does eunomia mean?

good order - it was the 'middle way' (T. Mitchell) that Solon sought when trying to mediate between the rich and the poor

What were Solon's legal reforms?

Introduction of the Heliaia law court.

Right of appeal when prosecuted

Public lawsuits

New laws in many areas, updated and built on legal code of Draco

Laws were inscribed on kyrbeis (rotating panels) displayed in the agora

What was the significance of the kyrbeis?

As they were displayed publicly, everyone could read, understand their rights, aristocrats couldn't abuse/make up laws

What changed with the introduction of public lawsuits?

any citizen could prosecute an offence on someone else's behalf (not just family) - encouraged comradery and looking after other citizens' rights

What changed with the introduction of the right to appeal?

citizens could appeal to jury of citizens when prosecuted - lower classes couldn't be unfairly sued by aristocrats

Heliaia created better justice system in Athens

all classes eligible for jury - allowed everyone participation in law enforcement

What were Solon's political reforms?

Rearranged class system

Class based on wealth rather than birth

Created Council of 400

Created Assembly

What was the Assembly and what was its significance?

Gathering where all citizens could attend, voice opinions, and vote on motions presented by council

It was consulted on most important matters of state - allowed all citizens chance to influence national policy

What were the limitations of the assembly under Solon?

Law making power remained with aristocrats in the archons and Council of the Areopagus

Controlled by aristocrats as council of 400 most likely made up of richer classes

What was Solon's Council of 400 and why did he introduce it (if he did)?

Made up of representatives from upper classes, 100 nominated from each of 4 tribes

Plutarch says it prepared agenda for Assembly, limited the Assembly's power, acted as rival power to Council of Areopagus

What were the names of the original classes and what did Solon change them to?

from eupatridai and hektomoroi to pentakosiomedimnoi, hippeis, zeugitai and thetes

Why were Solon's changes to the class system helpful?

It meant people could move up in class if they worked hard

created a meritocracy

Why did Solon's class system changes not solve the problems in Athens?

The poorest were still at the bottom so their economic position hardly changed

What were Solon's economic reforms?

Seisachtheia - 'shaking off of burdens'

Outlawed debt slavery of Athenian citizens

Only olive oil could be exported

Invited craftsmen to settle in Athens

Standardised all measurements to medimnoi (c. 55 litres)

Why was the introduction of standardised measurements beneficial?

It made trade easier with other city states

Avoided people cheating others

Why did Solon ban the export of any goods except olive oil?

Avoided food shortages and famine - eupatridai were likely selling excess grain abroad and leaving hektemoroi with nothing

Gave Athens a specialty in trade

What were the advantages of the seisachtheia?

all debts were cancelled - poor were no longer crushed under huge debts

removed boundary markers on land marking you as belonging to aristocrat - so abolished (Athenian) slave farms

Why was outlawing slavery of Athenian citizens beneficial?

All Athenians who had been sold into slavery were freed and reclaimed from being sold abroad - gave those trapped by debt another chance

restored their dignity with their rights of citizenship

Avoided a relapse into the former debt they had been in

Why did Solon encourage craftsmen to live in Athens?

Diversified Athens' workforce

Athenian commoners could learn different trades - gave people opportunities to become businessmen not just farmers and reliant on the land/likely to fall into debt

Increased inventory for Athens' export and thus enriched the economy

What were the disadvantages of the Seisachtheia?

There wasn't enough support put in place to help people get out of debt so poor still went back into debt

The rich suffered significant financial damage which angered them

'When people have the right to vote in courts they control the consitution'

- Aristotle, regarding the Heliaia

The best governed city is 'The city where those who have not been wronged show themselves just as ready to punish the offender as those who have.'

- Solon, Plutarch's Life of Solon, 18.5

How could you argue Solon is the father of democracy?

Created foundations for democracy through meritocracy - later reforms relied on Solon's fundamental developments

Legal system - introduced isonomia (everyone equal under the law) created comradery, inspired citizens to take interests in each others' rights through heliaia and right to appeal

Legislation and displayed laws on kyrbeis - more equal as poor people could understand laws and rights, aristocrats couldn't exploit them; reforms in many areas encouraged Athens to thrive; encouraged people to be politically active

Emphasised importance of law and order which were essential to the function of democracy

Reduced power of aristocrats by giving commoners right to appeal to Areopagus' decisions

Improved Athens economically, socially and legally, saving it from total collapse - later reforms could only be implemented as a result of this

Seisachtheia encouraged stability and hope for future

Changed class system = commoners had chance at getting involved in politics

Acted as mediator between aristocracy and commoners, maintaining peace

Created forum for discussion through assembly which introduced hints of isegoria (equal right to free speech)

How could you argue Solon is not the father of democracy?

Meritocracy didn't give much power to commoners - Areopagus still elected fellow aristocrats as archons

Didn't prevent return to tyranny (Pisistratids) - weak and unstable system

Most people unable to read/live far from agora so still don't understand laws

Divide between aristocracy and commoners remained - commoners too scared to challenge aristocrats in court

Solon's reforms focused more on wellbeing of citizens than political equality

Seisactheia resembled debt cancellations of other tyrants of the time - possibly more tyrannical in his regime (Kelcy Sagstetter)

What was the annual income (medimnoi) for the pentakosiomedimnoi?

500+

Which new class received 200-300 medimnoi per year?

zeugitai

Which new class received 300-500 medimnoi annually?

hippeis

What as the annual income (medimnoi) for the thetes?

200 or less

What year was Solon elected archon?

594/3 BC

Summarise Solon's legal reforms and their significance

Introduction of law courts - Heliaia.

Right of appeal - citizens could appeal to jury of citizens (all classes eligible for jury)

Public lawsuits - any citizen could prosecute an offence on someone else's behalf (not just family) - encouraged comradery and looking after other citizens' rights

New laws in many areas, updated and built on legal code of Draco

Laws were inscribed on kyrbeis (rotating panels) displayed in the agora - everyone could read, understand their rights, aristocrats couldn't abuse/make up law

Summarise Solon's economic reforms and their significance

Seisachtheia - 'shaking off of burdens' - all debts were cancelled - removed boundary markers on land marking you as belonging to aristocrat - abolished (Athenian) slave farms

Outlawed debt slavery of Athenian citizens - they couldn't be made slaves anymore

Only olive oil could be exported - no food shortages

Made it easier for commoners to learn different trades

Standardised all measurements to medimnoi (c. 55 litres) - made trade easier with other city states

Summarise Solon's political reforms and their significance

Rearranged class system from eupatridai and hektomoroi to pentakosiomedimnoi, hippeis, zeugitai and thetes

Class based on wealth rather than birth - this meant people could move up in class, created meritocracy

Created Council of 400 - representatives from upper classes, 100 from each of 4 tribes (Plutarch says meant to limit Assembly's power)

Created Assembly where all citizens could attend, voice opinions, vote on motion presented by council - was consulted on most important matters of state