Solon: a legislator and reformer in
Ancient Athens
Solon's reforms
- Around 600 BC many
Athenians were losing their freedom, and were being enslaved through debt
bondage. This movement of power continued for some time and wealthy families
were gaining political power as they grew richer. Had this trend continued,
a rebellion would have been unavoidable.
-
- Fortunately, Solon, the Archon
at the time (594 BC) realized the severity of the situation and enacted laws
that not only protected Athenians from being enslaved or arrested for debt,
but also gave them more rights. For the first time the decisions of archons
and officials could be challenged.1
-
- As a result of Solon's political reforms, the population
of Athens was divided into four political groups based on their agricultural
output. The most powerful and productive group were the pentakosiomedimnoi.
Individuals who belonged to this group had the greatest agricultural output
and possessed the most power in the polis (state). The second most
influential group were the hippeis: archons and various other officials
belonged to this group. The third group was not as powerful as the first two.
However, the zeugitai also possessed some degree of political influence
and members of this group usually held lower offices in the polis.
The least powerful of the four were the thetes, who owned no land at
all, and those who belonged to this group were generally poor and had very
little influence in the polis. Of course slaves
were below even the thetes. Aristotle
and many other historians have stated that for the first time in Athenian
history Solon permitted the thetes to participate in the Assembly.
However, this claim is now being challenged by modern historians who believe
this to be too revolutionary a step for the moderate Solon.2
-
- The three upper classes made up the Athenian army
in time of war. Solon brought about
many more changes in Athens, including changes in the polis which enabled
more people to participate in the government. He created the Council of 400
which consisted of a hundred members from each political class. The purpose
of this council was to screen business going before the assembly. Although
the formation of the Council of 400 allowed for more participation, the protection
of public order remained in the hands of the Areopagus,
the council of aristocrats.3 Solon was also responsible for a new
law which permitted the lowest class to serve as jurors during trials. To
justify and explain his actions he wrote:
"I have given the common people sufficient
power to assure them of dignity, and I have protected those of great wealth
and influence. I took a firm stand, holding my stout shield over both classes,
so that neither should win any unfair advantage."4
Solon was one of the founding fathers of democracy.
He accomplished many things in a short period of time. Some of his reforms
didn't last long, but others laid the foundations for democracy.
Bibliography
- Most influential politicians of Ancient Greece
from 600 BC - 323 BC
- Some contributed more than others to the development
of
- Democracy.
- Solon's laws
|
- 600 - 563 BC
|
- Name unknown
|
- 563 - 561 BC
|
- Peisistratus (tyrant)
|
- 561 - 557 BC
- 546 - 527 BC
|
- Sons of Peisistratus
- Hipparchus (killed in 514
BC)
- and Hippias
|
- 527 - 514 BC
|
- Hippias
|
- 514 - 510 BC
|
- Isagoras
|
- 510 - 508 BC
|
- Cleisthenes
|
- 510 - appr.500 BC
|
- Themistocles
|
- 500 BC - *
|
- Aristides
|
- *- 470's BC
|
- Cimon
|
- 470's - 461 BC
|
- Ephialtes
|
- 460's - 451 BC
|
- Pericles
|
- 451 - 431 BC
|
- Peloponnesian
War
|
- 431 - 403 BC
|
- Radical Democracy
|
- 403 - 322 BC
|
- Philip of Macedon
|
- 338BC - *
|
- Philip's son Alexander
the Great
|
- *BC - 323 BC
|
* I was unable to find exact dates
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