Athenian Democracy
Direct participation was the key to Athenian
democracy. In the Assembly, every male citizen was not only entitled to attend
as often as he pleased but also had the right to debate, offer amendments, and
vote on proposals. Every man had a say in whether to declare war or stay in
peace. Basically any thing that required a government decision, all male
citizens were allowed to participate in.1
Solon (Greek: Σόλων,
c. 638 BC–558 BC)
The first changes toward
democracy in Greece were started by the archon Solon in 594
B.C. Solon passed laws that not only protected Athenians from being enslaved or
arrested for debt, but also gave them more rights.
Solon divided the population of
Athens into four political groups based on
agricultural output. The most powerful group was the pentakosiomedimnoi which
consisted of powerful land owning individuals. The next most powerful group was
the hippeis, which consisted of archons and other high officials. The third group, the zeugitai held lower offices in the government.
The least powerful of the four was the thetes, who owned no land and had little
or no influence in government.
Solon created the Council of
400 that consisted of 100 members of each political class. The purpose of this
group was to screen business going before the Assembly. This council allowed
the public to play a more active role in government, but the absolute power
still remained in the hands of the Areopagus, the council of aristocrats. The
invention of a civilian assembly also allowed the lowest class to serve as
jurors in a trial for the first time.
Solon was one of the founding
fathers of democracy. Many of his reforms did not last for long, as Athens soon reverted to a tyrannical
government, but other of his changes laid the foundations for modern democracy.3
Cleisthenes
(c.570-507 BC)
The change from a tyrannical
government to a democracy in ancient Greece was started by Cleisthenes. After the
tyrant Hippias was exiled, Cleisthenes gathered the common people and received
their backing by promising them changes in the structure of government. One
major change he proposed was the right for all citizens to vote in the
assembly.
Cleisthenes redivided the
citizens of Athens into ten tribes, each sending 50 representatives to the
Council of 500. Each man had to be at least 30 years old and was chosen by lot.
Each member of the Council of 500 served a one year term and could not serve
more than twice. The council was allowed to veto any of the council's proposals
and was the only branch of government that could declare war.2
Pericles was the most important
figure in the development of Greek democracy. Pericles expanded upon
Cleisthenes' ideas of democracy, and was able to gain the support of the
people. He expanded the power of the assembly, and led Greece into the Periclean Age. During this
period, Athens became a great center of literature and
art.
The Periclean age brought about
an age of "radical democracy." This period was more of a true
democracy than other previous government. Under this form of government, the
civilian masses had the supreme power in the government.
During the Periclean Age, Greece became the most powerful and wealthy
nation in the world. This was a period of great artistic and intellectual developments in Athens, and established Athens as one of the greatest cities in the
ancient world.3