Athens: 477-431

Athenian Democracy Institutions (5th Century)

  • Assembly

    • Met ~40 times/year

    • Any Athenian citizen could petition

    • Not all citizens attended regularly

    • Influenced by demagogues (emotionally charged speakers)

  • Council of 500

    • Chosen annually by lottery

    • Met ~300 days/year

    • Day-to-day governance

    • Oversight authority (government boards, naval inspections)

  • Nine Archons

    • Higher-level officials chosen by lottery

  • Council of Areopagus

    • Ex-archons serving for life

  • Executive Board

    • 10 generals elected annually (political/military roles)

  • Minor Officials

    • Chosen by lottery

    • Court system roles

Judicial System Reform

  • Ephiates' reforms: shifted jurisdiction from archons to citizen juror courts.

  • Jurors: male citizens, >30 years old, selected by lottery, paid for service

  • Juries numbered in the hundreds or thousands

  • No judges/lawyers; jurors voted by secret ballot after speeches

  • Majority vote decided outcomes; verdicts had no appeals

  • Potential issue: wrongful convictions due to majority voting (e.g., 251/501 jurors needed for conviction).

Pericles' Reforms

  • Pay for public offices (filled by lottery) and jury service to enable poor citizens to serve.

  • Citizenship restricted to those with Athenian-born parents.

Delian League and Athenian Imperialism

  • Alliance built on Athenian naval power.

  • Initially a democratic alliance, Athens gained control.

  • ~300 city-states paid dues based on size.

  • Members contributed ships or money to Athens.

  • Became a vehicle for Athenian imperialism; members not allowed to leave.

  • Naxos example: attempted to leave, blockaded by Athens.

Democracy and Imperialism Connection

  • Athenian naval expansion gave opportunities at home (rowers, shipbuilders).

  • League members treated unfairly.

  • Similar to 19th-century British imperialism; states reduced to colony status.

Overreach and Peace

  • Pericles realized Athens overreached with multiple military expeditions.

  • Negotiated a 30-year peace with Sparta (Peloponnesian League) that failed because Athens returned to imperialistic ways.

Corcyra Example

  • Island strategically important (Greece to Southern Italy/Sicily).

  • Originally a Corinthian colony, became part of Athens' Delian League.

  • Corinth expanded navy; Corcyra asked Athens for defense.

  • Athens sent ships, demonstrating naval power and access to strategic locations.