The reforms of Cleisthenes and their historical significance

The history of Athens, like many other cities, has not been without conspiracies and coups. The political system was periodically changed. Its final formation occurred during the reign of Cleisthenes. It was he who struck the ruling tribal nobility. He actually remade the state system of Athens. As a result of his reforms, a democratic society was formed. Solon also made a significant contribution to the organization of the political system. Next, let us analyze in more detail which transformations were made by these people. The article will also give a description of Athens of that time.

The situation at the beginning of the VI century BC. E.

It was quite complicated. The free population was gradually stratified. This process was due to the development of commodity-money turnover. In a free environment, contradictions began to emerge between impoverished and wealthy eupatrioads. The former still retained power. A layer of rich men from artisans, traders and landowners emerged. They aspired to power, using the discontent of small and medium-sized owners, as well as representatives of the poor. To mitigate the contradictions and unification of all free in one dominant layer, radical changes were required. Their beginning was laid by Solon, archon, elected in 594 BC. E. The main goal of his reforms was to reconcile the interests of existing warring associations free. Thanks to his activities, the Athenian land was cleared of debt obligations. From the old constitution, he retained only some of the provisions. And everything else was canceled.

Solon paid special attention to law. So, citizenship was granted to foreigners who settled in Attica with property and families. The whole population was divided into 4 classes. Inequality was compensated by the distribution of taxes. The last class was exempt from payments at all. Representatives of the remaining classes occupied the relevant positions and paid to file their status. Citizens' rights corresponded to their rank. Solon also proclaimed an amnesty. Everyone said goodbye, except murderers and traitors. Through his actions he tried to unite justice and strength. The reigning democracy existed for another three centuries. And during this time, I never had to repeat what Solon did. However, this does not mean that there was no need for transformations. Years later, new changes occurred in the life of Attica. The reforms of Cleisthenes were of great importance for the political and social system.

Change of power

The history of the Ancient Athens is very eventful. After the death of Pisistratus, power passed to his sons: Hipparchus and Gippius. However, the former devoted himself to art and literature. Gippius also took up state affairs. The regime that existed under Pisistratus became more severe. In 514th year BC. In the Athenian aristocratic society a conspiracy arose. His goal was to eliminate tyranny. Two conspirators, Aristogiton and Garmdi, attempted to deal with the rulers at the festival. However, only Hipparchus managed to kill them. Hippias, who survived, attacked fierce repressions on the opponents. At that time, many Athenians had to leave their homeland. The memory of Aristogiton and Harmodia was long venerated by Democrats.

Foreign policy situation

The situation that Hyppius occupied was quite complicated. It was accompanied by foreign policy difficulties. By the year 519 BC. E. Athens was joined by Platei - Boeotian border town. As a result, there was a break with the Thebans. During the same period, Argos, a long-time ally of Pisistratus, significantly weakened. But the hostile Sparta, on the contrary, strengthened and strengthened its positions. Among other things, Athens lost control over the straits that have passed into the possession of the Achaemenids.

Complicating the situation

The power of the Pisistratides was resisted by the leaders of trade and craft societies and clan nobility. The opponents of the brothers supported the aristocratic circles of Sparta, as well as the Delphic oracles, who had great influence. In the year 510 BC. The Spartans broke into the city and drove out Gippius.

The struggle for power

After the expulsion of Hippia, the confrontation between paralysis and eupatrioads began. At the head of the nobility stood Isagor. It was supported by Cleomenes - the Spartan king. As a result of the confrontation, Cleisthenes was expelled from the city. He belonged to the Alcmaeonids, who as early as the 7th century BC. Were cursed. The reason was the struggle of the representatives of the clan with the usurper Kilon, during which the sacrilege was committed against the sacred temple. With Cleisthenes, the city was forced to leave 700 families of his supporters. Having placed the head of the board of Isagor, the Spartans wanted to restore the power of the tribal nobility. However, the population of Attica showed discontent. Athens quickly filled up with peasants who, together with the city residents, locked up the Spartans and their local supporters on the Acropolis. As a result, the Eupatridians had to surrender, and Cleomenes was forced to leave the city. Cleisthenes came back and was elected, as in his time Solon, the first archon. This event occurred in the 508th (507th) BC. E. At that time, his age was about 60 years.

Transformations from 508 BC. E: administrative separation

These reforms of Cleisthenes are considered the most important of all. All citizens of Attica were divided into new fillets. Before that, there were only 4 of them. In each fillet there were 3 phratries. At the head of the latter were representatives of a noble family. They knew the cult affairs of phratries. Ordinary members were obliged to obey the political and religious authority of the nobility and support it in the enterprises conducted. The reforms of Cleisthenes completely broke the old device. He divided the territory into three districts. Now Attica included a city, a coastal strip and a flat plot. Each district had its own division. Now its territory included ten smaller areas. They were called trittium. Next, ten fil. Each of them included one trittium from the district. Union Phil was only for the time of voting. There were 50 people nominated in the boule (now it was, respectively, Council 500), one by one - to the Board of 10 strategists (each of which in turn performed the tasks of the chief commander). There were also three detachments for the army: riders, infantrymen and sailors. These administrative reforms of Cleisthenes, as Aristotle put it, contributed to the "confusion" of the people. The main direction of the reforms was the suppression of eupatrids. For the former family phyla were fixed only religious functions. This was, in general, the state system of Athens.

Dem

It was the main administrative, political and economic unit. Demos were about a hundred. These were self-governing communities that had their own assembly, treasury, court. There was also an elected elder in them - a demarche. He had sufficiently wide police and administrative powers. Demarke was in charge of tax collection, followed the lists of those born, mobilization of young representatives. By lot, the definition of jury members was passed . A separate place was occupied by the right of Ancient Athens. When compiling the demo lists, a large number of meteoks were included. They were descendants of immigrants, limited in rights, and freedmen. This, in turn, contributed to an increase in the population. The fact is that the demes that were on the lists were given civil rights.

Ostracism

The right of the Ancient Athenians was also changed. In the course of the reforms, the role of the jury, the boule and the People's Assembly was restored. Through these institutions it was possible to assert their rights. And this could be done by every citizen, if necessary. The laws of Cleisthenes were mainly directed against tyranny. One such was the act of ostracism. As Krisfen said, every year the People's Assembly had to decide the most important issue. Its essence consisted in revealing the person in the city, allocated the authority so much that quite could seize power in the hands. If the first meeting considered that such a citizen is in the city, then the second one was convened. It carried out the procedure Ostalkism ("ostracon" - a potato). The Athenians present at the meeting could write on the shard the name of the most dangerous person. They could become a successful commander, a well-known politician and so on. I must say that it could well be an ordinary worthy citizen who has not tarnished himself. Nevertheless, the National Assembly could find it dangerous for the city. Such a citizen was expelled from the policy for ten years. His family and property remained in the city. After his return, he immediately regained his rights. Such were the main reforms of Cleisthenes briefly.

The triumph of democracy

The reforms of Cleisthenes in Athens caused discontent among the coalition of Greek countries. In these territories the power was held in the hands of the nobility, who, of course, feared a "bad example" for its inhabitants. The coalition consisted of Aegina, Sparta, Thebes and Chalcis. Alkmeonids tried to get support from the Persians. They were even ready to accept the recognition of the supreme authority of their king. But the population of Attica was categorically against the ratification of the agreement. As a result, in 506 BC. The coalition troops invaded the Athenian territories. However, they suffered a crushing defeat. The Athenians not only could repel the attack, but also to cross over to Euboea and take possession of Chalcis. As a result, democracy triumphed.

Finally

Such are the reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes briefly. These two people lived at different times. However, the work of both of them was of great importance for Attica. The reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes helped to streamline the political, social and administrative structure.