What is demos? Definition, a digression into the history

What is demos? According to the definitions of all explanatory dictionaries, this is a free population that does not belong to aristocrats, but has all the civil rights. The very word came to us from ancient Greece (demos - people). Thus, to understand what the demos means, a digression into history will help. Let's return to the events of bygone days ...

Fighting the aristocrats

The struggle between aristocrats and demos began at the beginning of the 6th century BC. What is a demos in reality, and how much is a strong part of society, aristocrats understood very quickly. The insurgents demanded the rights to rule the country, the abolition of slavery (debt) and land redistribution.

Frightened by bloody clashes and rumors about the impending general uprising, the aristocrats frantically searched for a way out. At the convocation of a people's assembly, a ruler named Solon was elected. This person was respected by both "lower classes" and "tops". This was the aristocracy's bet, hoping that Solon would be able to reconcile the parties and reach a compromise without bloodshed. The new ruler came from a rather noble family, but he did not belong to the rich. He was engaged in sea trade (honorable in Greece business), was smart and extremely honest.

Solon took control of Athens. He began with the establishment of new laws, which were immediately recorded on large wooden boards and put on the square for acquaintance. This was 504 BC. E.

Solon Reforms

Reform, in fact, means transformation. What changes has Solon introduced?

1. He canceled (withdrawn) the debt stones (freed the hostages and prohibited the sale into slavery and personal bondage).

2. Changed the system of weights and measures.

3. Encouraged the development of crafts and trade.

Political reform was also carried out.

1. All the natives of Attica (male) were declared citizens, had the same duties and rights. At the same time, the division of society into categories was introduced, where in the first place were aristocrats, on the second - the squad, on the third - demos, behind them - slaves.

2. The People's Assembly became the highest organ of expressing the will of the population.

3. Judges could now become not only representatives of the nobility, but also demos.

abolition of slavery

Debt stones from the fields were removed. The farmers rejoiced: at last the debts are forgiven! Knowing what a demos is, it's easy to understand what to know "kept" just at the expense of ordinary people who were cornered. Some were enriched, others were increasingly poor. The land of Attica was called Solon the slave, who finally got freedom. Which, in fact, corresponded to reality. Now, under the law of the venerable archon, a person could borrow only under his property. To convert the debtor into slavery was forbidden. All debtors were released to freedom. Moreover, Solon ordered to find those who were sold for the sea, and redeem, and for the money of the state. Among the returnees, some managed to forget their native speech.

Now in Athens slaves were only foreigners.

To know is deprived of advantages

Now the aristocrats could not rule the country as before. Archon could become any rich man, regardless of the level of nobility. Representatives of the demos who managed to get rich thanks to sea trade, having ships and owning houses, land and slaves, could also take up this post. The most important state affairs were now decided only at the general People's Assembly, in which all citizens participated (free Athenians).

An elected court was established and the most brutal laws were abolished. For the first time a jury could become a poor man of 30 years, not previously accused. The judge was determined by lot. All Athenians were entitled to attend the hearing. After the speeches of the prosecutor, witnesses and the accused, a secret ballot began, which was carried out by throwing stones into one vessel (black - "guilty", white - "justify"). Immediately there was also a calculation: the decision of the court depended on what kind of stones there were more, and if the votes were divided equally, the defendant was released. It would seem that a compromise was found, a truce was reached. But...

Solon leaves Athens

What is a demos, and how it looks from the inside, soon recognized ruler. "It's difficult to immediately please all in the affairs of great people ... Once upon a time everyone was exultant, now they see me off with an evil glance ..."

In fact, Solon not only did not please anyone (although he did a lot), he also brought on himself hatred. The rich were embittered by the cancellation of debts and the deprivation of the free labor, the poor wanted redistribution of the land. Solon decided to leave the country on alleged commercial matters. He traveled for many years, then returned to his homeland after all. "Like a wolf I was spinning among dogs ..."

But it was the laws of Solon that became the basis of democracy.