Transcript Athens in the Archaic Age - University of California, Irvine

Athens in the Archaic Age




CITY-state like the others
Had a BASILEUS (=king)
The power of the basileus started fading; With
the basileus there was a council of aristocrats,
called the Areopagus, from the name of the
hill on which they met
Towards oligarchy
Areopagus Council



The Areopagus consisted of a varying number
of members,
The Areopagus elected nine archons, or
"rulers," to run the state. The archons, always
had to get the approval
The archons became members of the
Areopagus when their term in office expired,
so, in reality, the Areopagus ruled the country.
Farmers- Slavery - Problems







The farmers in the countryside produced mainly wheat,
the wealthy and nobility owned estates that produced wine and olive oil.
Wheat-farming poorly managed, however; (without crop rotation).
Athenians began to import wheat and to export olive oil and wine.
production of wheat fall, so did its price.
even though the wealthy farmers were making money hand over fist, the
average farmer had fallen deeply into debt to the wealthiest members of
society.
To pay for that debt, farmers sold their children, their wives, and even
themselves into (limited) slavery both in Athens and abroad.
The government under the control of the wealthy people – contrast with
the average Athenian farmer
Solution> SOLON



in 594 BC, the Areopagus and the people of
Athens handed over all political power to a
single individual, Solon.
In effect a tyrant (term used as “basileus’ or
king), Solon's mission was to reform the
government and solve the slavery problems
Seisachtheia = “shaking-off of burdens”
(cancellation of debt) and elimination of debtslavery
SOLON








Law-giver, he gave to the Athenians:
Four classes based on wealth
Pentakosiomedimnoi: > 500 bushelmen = aristocrats
Hippeis: “horsemen”: 500 > x > 300 = cavalry
Zeugitai: “yokemen”: 300 > x > 200 = hoplites
Thetes: “rowers”: 200 > x = oarsmen
Political decisions no longer in hands of Areopagus only:
boule (“council”) of 400 (100/tribe) and hence the demos
(“people”)
Post-Solonian Athens: discontent, civil war, the rise of a
tyrannos
Division of Government with Solon






The two wealthiest classes were allowed to serve on the
Areopagus.
The third class could serve on an elected council of four
hundred people.
COUNCIL OF 400: was organized according to the four
tribes making up the Athenian people;
each tribe was allowed to elect one hundred representatives
from this third class. This council of four hundred served as a
kind of balance or check to the power of the Areopagus.
ASSEMBLY The fourth class, the poorest class, could
participate in an assembly; this assembly voted on affairs
brought to it by the council of four hundred,
Assembly could elect local magistrates.
PEISISTRATUS








Solon's new state lasted briefly.
Indeed reform of the government, but the economic crisis was not solved
,
Athens was collapsing in anarchy.
Of aristocratic origin Peisistratus, swept into power during this anarchy
and set about restoring order.
Although he was a military leader, with a mercenary army, Peisistratus
began to actively build in and around Athens,
He reformed Athenian religion and religious practices,
cultural reform.
He increased the power of the Assembly and the courts associated with
the poorest classes, and used all his power to make sure that the Solonian
government worked smoothly and that elections were held (provided his
supporters were elected).





Peisistratus’ tyrannies
Sources for Peisistratus:
Herodotus, Thucydides, Atthidographers, Archon
lists, Athenaion Politeia = "Constitution of the
Athenians"
561/0 BCE with the club-bearers
556/5 BCE with Phye of Paiania
546/5 BCE with Battle of Pallene - 528/7 BCE