Download Democratic developments in Athens – packages

Democratic developments in Athens – packages of information
1. Cleisthenes’ reforms:
 The political system in Athens underwent radical change at the end of the 6 th century, as
a result of reforms introduced by the statesman Cleisthenes. These reforms broke the
power of the aristocratic elite and distributed political power across all classes in
society.
 The two groups which benefitted the most from these reforms were the strategoi
(generals) and the thetes (the lower classes). Their power grew hand in hand, as it was
the thetes who rowed the ships of the Athenian navy and who elected its commanders.
 In this era of radical democracy and war with Persia, the strategoi became the dominant
political and military figures in Athens. Men like Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon and
Pericles came to rule the Athenian empire – but only with the support of the thetes.
2. The Athenian system of government in the early 5th century:
 The main institution of political power in Athens was the Ekklesia (assembly). Any male
citizens over 18 could participate in the Ekklesia, which met 40 times a year. It
proposed, debated and passed laws, and also elected all government officials.
 The Boule was a council of 500 members, chosen (i.e. randomly) from the citizenry. It
controlled the city’s finances, and prepared motions to be voted on by the Ekklesia.
 The nine archons were responsible for the day-to-day running of the city. They were
elected for one year by the Ekklesia, but could only be from the richest classes in
society.
 The Areopagus was made up of all the ex-archons. It ensured that all actions were legal
under the constitution.
 The ten strategoi (generals), were responsible for the army and navy. They were elected
by the Ekklesia, but could hold office any number of times.
 Finally, members of the Dikasteria (the courts) were selected by lot from citizens over
30 years of age.
 Another important feature of the Athenian political system in the 5 th century was
ostracism – the exiling of citizens by popular vote. We don’t know when or why it was
introduced, but it was used by Themistocles in the 480s to eliminate his rivals.
(Historians think it might have been introduced as a way of preventing the return of
tyrants.) Ostracism was used sporadically through the 5th century. Aristides,
Themistocles and Cimon were all ostracised.
3. Key political reforms in 5th century Athens:
 In 487 a change was made to the way the archons were elected. Instead of being
elected directly by the Ekklesia, they were now selected by lot (i.e. randomly) from the
two wealthiest classes in society. The purpose of this was to reduce the influence of
political factions in Athens. However, it also reduced the status of both the archons and
the Areopagus. In particular, the power of the polemarch (the military archon) was
taken over by the strategoi.
 In 462 – 461 Ephialtes introduced laws to reduce the power of the Areopagus. Under
the changes, the power to scrutinise laws, investigate corruption and determine who
was fit to hold public office was given to the Ekklesia, the Boule and the Dikasteria. The
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only power the Areopagus retained concerned religion and homicide cases. This
increased the influence of the lower classes and reduced that of the conservative
faction in Athens.
In 458 – 457 the archonship was opened up to the third of Athens’ property classes –
the zeugitai – which meant that half of Athens’ male citizens were now eligible for
office. Soon after that the thetes were also made eligible. This dramatically reduced the
status of the archonship, opening the way for the strategoi to dominate politics in
Athens.
In 457 Pericles introduced payment for jury service. Around the same time, payment
was introduced for all political offices. These reforms allowed the lower classes to serve
as jurors, further extending democracy in Athens.
Because government officials were now being paid, it was felt that the number of
citizens should be limited. In 451 Pericles introduced a law restricting citizenship to
those with two parents who were citizens. He also established cleruchies (settlements)
in some of the more distant parts of the empire. This relieved pressure on the city,
which was becoming crowded.
4. Radical democracy in Athens:
 Radical democracy in Athens was based on five key elements:
 Direct participation in the political process by citizens.
 Selection of officials by lot (except the strategoi, who were elected directly by the
people.)
 Rotation of officials: Only the strategoi and members of the Boule could serve more
than once.
 Collegiality: Magistrates ruled collectively, thereby preventing any one from
monopolising power.
 Payment for service, so all citizens could afford to participate in the political process.
 While this created a dynamic system in which everyone participated, it was also
inherently unstable. Increasingly, unscrupulous politicians (called ‘demagogues’)
appealed to the masses by making unrealistic promises. This spiralled out of control
once the Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 BC, and ultimately contributed to Athens’
defeat.
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