Athenian Democracy Overview

Definition of Athenian Democracy

• Known as dēmokratia (power/rule of the people).
• Evolved from earlier governance forms and was marked by significant reforms.

Early Athens and the Rise of Democracy

• Timeframe: Circa 900 BCE.
• Society Structure: There was a synoecism (uniting of local demes) with aristocrats in power.
• Political Control: Governed by the Eupatridai ('those born of good fathers') who elected archons (9 leaders).
• Assembly: An assembly (ecclēsia) existed but convened only at the discretion of the aristocrats.
• Political Unrest: Over time, a rise in political discontent known as stasis occurred.

The Reforms of Solon (594 BCE)

• Role of Solon: Appointed archon to alleviate socio-economic issues.
• Economic Reforms:
  • Introduced seisachtheia: "shaking off of burdens" cancelling debts and abolishing debt slavery.
  • Citizenship linked to freedom.
• Classification System for Citizens:
  • Introduced income-based divisions:
  • Pentacosiomedimnoi: Wealthiest.
  • Hippeis: Knights.
  • Zeugitai: Small landowners.
  • Thetes: Laborers.
  • Non-Citizens: Included women, young males, slaves, and resident foreigners (metoikoi).
• Judicial Reforms:
  • Established Heliaia, a 'people's court' to challenge the Areopagus council.
  • Enabled any citizen to bring cases, promoting isonomia ('equality before the law').
• Assembly Empowerment: The ecclēsia could now meet whenever necessary.

The Reforms of Cleisthenes (508/7 BCE)

• Historical Context: Established after the expulsion of tyrant Isagoras.
• Tribal System: Created 10 tribes with members from various demes, disrupting traditional aristocracy control.
• Military Leadership: Elected one general (stratēgos) per tribe, which became a prestigious role.

The Boulē and Ecclēsia

• Council Creation: New boulē with 500 members (50 from each tribe), chosen by lot.
• Monthly Meetings: Group of 50 (prytaneis) meets monthly with a daily rotating chair.
• Agenda Setting: Boulē sets the agenda, which is then voted on by the ecclēsia via show of hands (needed a quorum of 6000 citizens).
• Legitimacy: Cleisthenes’ reforms gained approval from the ecclēsia, not through imposition.

Key Aspects of Athenian Democracy

• Citizen Participation: Active involvement of citizens (free males born of Athenian parents after 451 BCE) in governance through the ecclēsia and heliaia.
• Rule of Law and Equality: Centrality of isonomia in Athenian justice.
• Deliberation and Debate: The ecclēsia acted as a major forum for public discourse.
• Accountability: Magistrates held accountable through the heliaia.
• Democratic Values:
  • Exemplified in Pericles’ funeral oration recorded by Thucydides.
  • Values of freedom, equality, respect for law, and full citizen participation emphasized.*

Limitations of Athenian Democracy

• Excluded women, slaves, and resident foreigners (metoikoi) from political engagement.
• Despite its limitations, Athenian democracy marked a significant advancement in self-governance history.