This article looks at some of the factors involved in the development of Athenian democracy. Solon, a wise man, poet, and leader, made some necessary changes in the economics and government of Athens, but he also created problems that needed fixing. Cleisthenes' reforms were instrumental in converting the earlier democratic tendencies into a governmental form that we might recognize as democracy.
In the 7th century B.C., Athenian economic crises led to unrest, attempted tyranny, and the Draconian law code (punishment in Draco's law code was so severe that the word 'draconian' was named after him). In 594 B.C., Solon, a widely traveled aristocrat, was appointed sole archon to avert catastrophe.
Solon's Modest Social Reforms
While Solon enacted compromises and democratic reforms, he kept the social organization of Attica [see map of Greece] and the Athenians, the clans and tribes. Following the end of his archonship, political factions and conflict developed. One side, the men of the Coast (consisting mainly of the middle classes and peasants), favored his reforms. The other side, the men of the Plain (consisting mainly of Eupatrids 'nobles'), favored restoration of an aristocratic government.
Pisistratus took advantage of the unrest. Backed by a foreign army and the new Hill party (composed of men not included in either the Plain or Coast parties), he took control of Attica as constitutional tyrant. He encouraged cultural and religious activities. Pisistratus is credited with
bringing rural festivals honoring the god of revelry, Dionysus, into the city, thereby creating the extremely popular Great Dionysia or the City Dionysia. He gave a prize to the first writer of tragedies, Thespis, in about 534 B.C. Anacreon of Teos and Simonides of Ceos sang for him. Trade flourished, and Athens coined its Athena/owl silver coins. Pisistratus' sons, Hipparchus and Hippias, followed him, but after Hipparchus' murder, Hippias became despotic.
The exiled Alcmaeonids wanted to return to Athens, but couldn't so long as the Pisistratids were in power. By taking advantage of Hippias' growing unpopularity, and by gaining the support of the Delphic oracle, the Alcmaeonids were able to compel the Pisistratids to leave Attica.
Cleisthenes vs. Isagoras
Back in Attica, the Eupatrid Alcmaeonids, led by Cleisthenes (c. 570 - c. 508 B.C.), were allied with the mostly non-aristocratic Coast party. From another Eupatrid family, Isagoras, Cleisthenes' rival, was supported by the Plain and Hill parties. Isagoras seemed to have the numbers and the upper hand until Cleisthenes promised citizenship to those men who had been excluded from it
Cleisthenes and the Ten Tribes
Cleisthenes won the bid for power. When he became chief magistrate, he had to face the problems Solon had created 50 years earlier through his compromising democratic reforms -- foremost among which was the allegiance of citizens to their clans. In order to break such loyalties, Cleisthenes divided the 140-200 demes (natural divisions of Attica) into 3 regions: city, coast, and inland. In each of the 3 regions, the demes were divided into 10 groups called trittyes. Each trittys was called by the name of its chief deme. He then disposed of the 4 birth-based tribes and created 10 new ones composed of one trittys from each of the 3 regions. The 10 new tribes were named after local heroes:
Erechthesis
Aegeis
Pandianis
Leontis
Acamantis
Oeneis
Cecropis
Hippothontis
Aeantis
Antiochis.
Tribes
Each tribe is composed of three trittyes:
one from the Coast
one from the City
one from the Plain.
Trittyes Coast
Each trittys would have been named after the dominant deme. The numbers (1-10) are hypothetical.
Trittyes City
Each trittys would have been named after the dominant deme. The numbers (1-10) are hypothetical.
Trittyes Plain
Each trittys would have been named after the dominant deme. The numbers (1-10) are hypothetical.
Tribe 1
Erechthesis
Trittys 1
Coast
Trittys 1
City
Trittys 1
Plain
Tribe 2
Aegeis
Trittys 2
Coast
Trittys 2
City
Trittys 2
Plain
Tribe 3
Pandianis
Trittys 3
Coast
Trittys 3
City
Trittys 3
Plain
Tribe 4
Leontis
Trittys 4
Coast
Trittys 4
City
Trittys 4
Plain
Tribe 5
Acamantis
Trittys 5
Coast
Trittys 5
City
Trittys 5
Plain
Tribe 6
Oeneis
Trittys 6
Coast
Trittys 6
City
Trittys 6
Plain
Tribe 7
Cecropis
Trittys 7
Coast
Trittys 7
City
Trittys 7
Plain
Tribe 8
Hippothontis
Trittys 8
Coast
Trittys 8
City
Trittys 8
Plain
Tribe 9
Aeantis
Trittys 9
Coast
Trittys 9
City
Trittys 9
Plain
Tribe 10
Antiochis
Trittys 10
Coast
Trittys 10
City
Trittys 10
Plain
Council of 500
The Areopagus and archons continued, but Cleisthenes modified Solon's four-tribe-based Council of Four Hundreds.
The word ostracism comes from ostraka, the word for the potsherds on which the citizens wrote the name of their candidates for the 10-year exile.
Cleisthenes changed it to a Council of 500 to which each tribe contributed 50 members. Each deme contributed a number proportional to its size. Over time each member came to be chosen by lot from those citizens who were at least 30-years old, and then approved by the outgoing council. Instead of having the unwieldy 500 sitting day after day for the year of their office, each tribe sat on the administrative and executive council for 1/10 of the year. These groups of 50 men were called prytanies. The Council could not declare war. Declaring war and vetoing recommendations of the Council were responsibilities of the Assembly of all citizens.
Cleisthenes and the Military
Cleisthenes reformed the military, as well. Each tribe was required to supply a hoplite regiment and a squadron of horsemen who were commanded by a general from each tribe.
Ostraka and Ostracism
Information on the reforms of Cleisthenes is available through Herodotus (Books 5 and 6) and Aristotle (Athenian Constitution and Politics). The latter claims that Cleisthenes was also responsible for the institution of ostracism, which allowed the citizens to get rid of a fellow citizen whom they feared was getting too powerful, temporarily. The word ostracism comes from ostraka, the word for the potsherds on which the citizens wrote the name of their candidates for the ten-year exile.
Sources:
J.B. Bury: A History of Greece
[URL = pages.ancientsites.com/~Epistate_Philemon/newspaper/cleis.html] The Reforms of Cleisthenes from A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great, by J.B. Bury.
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