Premium Essay

Solon and Aristocracy

In:

Submitted By vsahadevan
Words 2915
Pages 12
In this paper, I intend to explore the conflicts that arose between those of the aristocratic society, and those who composed the vast number of peasants before, as well as after the life and times of Solon, and the effect and solutions that Solon’s rule had concerning these conflicts. Such major conflicts between peasants and aristocrats include, [but are not limited to] land and slavery (Trumbach). Though, these laws will be explored further later on in this essay. The ruler, Solon imposed a number of laws in order to rectify the problems that were arising between aristocrats and peasants, as well as to mold Athenian society in a much more citizen-oriented way of living (Trumbach). Such laws included relieving the prior debts that peasants owed to the aristocrats, as well as outlawing the creation of debts slaves (Plutarch: Solon, 57). Again, such laws will be explained further along in this essay.

This essay will consist of three sections. In the first section, this essay will attempt to explain the conflicts that arose between the aristocrats and the peasants on the basis of land and slavery. It will also attempt to describe how Solon’s laws impacted this conflict, as well as the situations that occurred before, and the situations that occurred after Solon. The second section of this essay will explore the conflicts that arose between aristocrats and peasants on the basis of political power, the views of both parties, as well as the reasoning both parties had for their views. The third section of this essay will explore the changes that Solon made to the constitution in order to unify the citizens in which it was written to govern, and the effects that it had on said people.

Most information found in this essay has been discovered through Plutarch’s explanation of the life and times of Solon in his “The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Essay On Ancient Greek Democracy

...Introduction In Ancient Greek, there was no center government nor empire to control the city-states. Instead, each city-state was self-governed resulting in many different format of governments. These different formats of governing developed independently in different city-states and was experimented by these entities for their success if not could be changed. This paper will compare and contrast, aristocracy, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy as forms of government in Ancient Greek city-states. Monarchy Monarchy which is a system of governing that power is sovereignty held by a single person was not very popular in Ancient Greek but was practice by some city-states. The most popular monarchies were those of Mecedonia and Epeiros and the...

Words: 1089 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

“Cleisthenes Reforms Gave the Poor More Rights Than Solon Had Done.” to What Extent Do You Agree with This Opinion?

...“Cleisthenes reforms gave the poor more rights than Solon had done.” To what extent do you agree with this opinion? I think that Cleisthenes did give the poor more rights than Solon did. He went further than Solon did and reduced the gap between the poor and the wealthy by creating new demes based upon the area in which you lived rather than who your family were. Cleisthenes had gained power by promising to give the poor more power, in order to weaken his rival, Isagoras’ support in the political areas. This allowed him to have the backing of the majority of the Athenian citizens, as they were mostly poor. However, it also meant that he had to follow through with his promise otherwise he would have the citizens against him and his regime. In order to make sure that no one else could seize tyrannical power, new cults and military functions increased the unity of the new tribe. The loyalty of the new tribes was now to Attica and not to the noble families as they were grouped into three areas of Attica. The basis of the Boule was strengthened making it more difficult for ambitious tyrants to take power. Breaking up the demes broke the power of the nobles and the old ionic tribes they had dominated. Also, the Boule of 500 became open to all over 30, except thetes and was most likely selected by lot which gave no advantage to the aristocracy. They served for one year and reappointment was allowed once but not in consecutive years making it hard for individuals to dominate. The nobles...

Words: 1024 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hngf7T.L8U7G; /Oh' Ihjh

...Solon Statesman Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic Athens. Wikipedia Born: Athens, Greece Died: 558 BC, Athens, Greece Parents: Execestides Siblings: Dropidas Draco Legislator Draco was the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece. He replaced the prevailing system of oral law and blood feud by a written code to be enforced only by a court. Wikipedia Died: 600 BC, Aegina, Greece Residence: Athens, Greece, Ancient GreeceCleisthenes Political figure Cleisthenes was a noble Athenian of the Alcmaeonid family. He is credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 508/7 BC. Wikipedia Died: Athens, Greece Parents: Megacles II, AgaristeThe helots (/ˈhɛləts, ˈhiːləts/; Ancient Greek: εἵλωτες, heílotes) were a subjugated population group that formed the main population of Laconia and Messenia (areas ruled by Sparta). ol·i·gar·chy ˈäləˌɡärkē/ olegarchy noun a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution. "the ruling oligarchy of military men around the president" a country governed by an oligarchy. "the English aristocratic oligarchy of the 19th century" government by oligarchy. Aristocracy (Greek ἀριστοκρατία aristokratía, from ἄριστος aristos "excellent," and κράτος kratos "power") is a form of government that places power in the hands of a...

Words: 367 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Monarchy, Tyranny, Oligarchy And Democracy As Forms Of Government

...Monarchy, Aristocracy, Tyranny, Oligarchy and Democracy as forms of government in Ancient Greece city-states University of the People Fabian Martinez 2015 Introduction Ancient Greece was not a country, it was formed with city-states, some small and some big and powerful as Athens and Sparta consequently all city-states had their own way to do things and apply the law. This paper will analyze and compare the main ideas behind each of these government forms. Monarchy This word comes form the Greek expression “monos” meaning “single” and “arkhein” meaning “rule” consequently this form of government was ruled by a single person in this case the King who used to enforce the rules and made people obey...

Words: 730 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Spodek World History Notes

...Pages 143-157 S = The Development and Transformation of SOCIAL STRUCTURES P = POLITICAL SYSTEMS (State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict) I = INTERACTIONS between Humans and the Environment C = Development and Interaction of CULTURES E = Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of ECONOMIC SYSTEMS P&S- Solon ended the monopoly over public office held by the Athenian hereditary aristocracy P- Opened all men to making decisions (Council of Four hundred) P,E&S- Solon cancelled all public and private debts, and abolished the practice of enslaving people to pay off their debts E- When Peisistratus seized control, there was economic growth through loans to small farmers P- A new ruler Cleisthenes came to power and reorganized the city S- He did away with aristocratic family centers of power & reorganized the electoral diselectoral units creating new political identities and allegiances P- Athens was at the height of its power and prestige under the military and civic leadership of Pericles S&C- Greek victory led by Athens triggered immense pride in the city-state C- Public building ladder C- The amphitheater where plays were regularly performed I- During the war years, the Persians had destroyed and burned much of Athens C- When the war ended the Athenians rebuild and improved S- Socrates + Plato began produced questions about life C- Ideas about the ideal states which Plato had created C- Plato addressed ideas about logic, physics, astronomy etc C- Plays...

Words: 550 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Athen Vs Sparta Research Paper

...government in a military way. All the education was centered on military arts of discipline and strength, the education system was known as the Agoge. There were 2 kings and a council of elders known as the Gerousia, The women was reasonably free on respect of other greek city at that period, but ‘the sole duty was to have as many (preferably male) babies as possible’ (pag.7). Weakness was not tollerated, the practice of killing child considered not strong enough or weak was diffused in both Sparta and Athen. On the sixth century BCE emerged Athen who developed an efficient trading system to feed its community. Few member of the aristocracy who benefit the advantage of trading become the political leaders . In fact, in Athen the wealth was considered the most important discriminate to chose a public officer. Who was in debt should become a slave. Solon was an aristocratic who reformed the too strickt law to equalize the political power, he cancelled the debt slavery. The golden age of Athen was under the control of Pericles who promote culture, philosophy and science. The democracy in Athen was limited to the male citizens, in fact women was educated to domestic duties and was responsible to raise children and manage the household.Enslaved people cultivate food and works in construction projects. The differences between Athens and Sparta eventually led to war between the two city-states. Known as the Peloponnesian War....

Words: 452 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Athens, the Original Eternal City

...Athens, the Original Eternal City They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Athens. Though the Athenians never managed to build an empire the size of Rome’s, they did spread their culture and ideas throughout the Mediterranean. Athens during the Classical, or Hellenic, period (500-340 B.C.E) can easily be compared to Rome at its height in terms of art, and architecture, and far surpassed it in philosophy. While Rome was still struggling for independence from its Etruscan masters, Athens was the center of the Hellenic world. While Alexander the Great was learning from his Athenian tutor, Rome was putting down Latin rebellions. Even under Roman rule, Athens was favored for its ancient accomplishments. Rome may be the Eternal City, but it is simply a backwater pretender to Athens. Democracy is probably Athens most well known characteristic, but it was not always that way. Like every other Greek city during the Mycenaean period (1500-1200 B.C.E.), Athens was once ruled by a king. Little is known of Athens during this period, though the archeological record combined with popular myth from later periods may give us an insight. The names of several legendary kings of Athens have come down to us: in particular Erectheus, the first king, who was believed to have established the worship of the goddess Athena on the Acropolis, and Theseus, killer of the Minotaur, who (according to the Greek historian Plutarch) unified Attica (Connolly 10). Legend tells of...

Words: 5064 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Research Proposal

...Athens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for at least 7000 years. Situated in southern Europe, Athens became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC and its cultural achievements during the 5th century BC laid the foundations of western civilization. During the early Middle Ages, the city experienced a decline, then recovered under the later Byzantine Empire and was relatively prosperous during the period of the Crusades (12th and 13th centuries), benefiting from Italian trade. Following a period of sharp decline under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Athens re-emerged in the 19th century as the capital of the independent Greek state. Contents    1 Name 1.1 Geographical setting 2 Antiquity 2.1 Origins and early history 2.2 Reform and democracy 2.3 Classical Athens 2.3.1 Early Athenian military history 2.3.2 Artists and philosophers 2.3.3 Peloponnesian War 3 Athenian coup of 411 BC 3.1 Corinthian War and the Second Athenian League 3.2 Athens under Macedon 3.3 Hellenistic Athens 3.4 Roman Athens 4 Middle Ages 4.1 Byzantine Athens 4.2 Latin Athens 4.2.1 Burgundian period 4.2.2 Aragonese period 4.2.3 Florentine period 5 Modern history 5.1 Ottoman Athens 5.2 Independence from the Ottomans 5.3 Modern Athens 5.3.1 Population influx 5.3.2 Athens under the Nazis 5.3.3 Postwar Athens 5.3.4 Athens today 5.3.5 Recent historical population 5.4 Notable Athenians 5.5 Ancient sites in Athens ...

Words: 5137 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Money

...The History of Money THE HISTORY OF MONEY From Its Origins to Our Time This was the final draft of the English text of "Une Histoire de l’Argent: des origines à nos jours" - www.autrement.com/ouvrages.php?ouv=2746710306 - published by Autrement in Paris in November 2007 with a few minor changes in the final French text. I am very grateful to Philippe Godard - www.autrement.com/collections.php?col=277 for his editorial support, and to Autrement for allowing me to make the English version accessible here. INTRODUCTION This book is about the history of money: how did it begin? how has it evolved to the present day? what has it enabled humans to achieve? and why do so many people in the world today have problems with it and suffer from the way it works? The book is also about the future: how may money develop further? how might we want it to develop? Humans are the only creatures that use money. Animals and birds and insects and fishes and plants exist together in the world without it. But in human societies the earning and spending of money has become one of the most important ways we connect with one another. Most of us have to have money. We need to get enough coming in to match what we need to pay out. We all need to understand at least that much about money. But there is more to it than that. Over the centuries, money has reflected changes in politics and government, in economic life and power, in science and technology, in religious and other cultural beliefs, in family and...

Words: 12180 - Pages: 49

Premium Essay

World Civilisation

...HUM 1000: WORLD CIVILIZATIONS NOTES BY DR. KAKAI P.W THE NATURE AND ORIGIN OF CIVILIZATION IN AFRICA Definition of key terms As we begin this course, it is crucial to first discuss our understanding of the concept ‘civilization’. This is a comparative term which is usually applied in comparison to such words as ‘barbarian’ ‘savage’ and ‘primitive’. In classical antiquity the Europeans used the word ‘barbarian’ to refer to a foreigner who was regarded as inferior (Ogutu and Kenyanchui, An Introduction To African History, 1991 p33). Do you think this is still the way we use the word barbarian? The Latin speakers referred to hunters, food-gatherers as savage. In the 17th century this term ‘savage’ referred to a person without art, literacy, or society who lived in fear of existence and death. ‘Primitive’ on the other hand, in Latin meant ‘the first or original’. Europeans used these words interchangeably when referring to non-Europeans while the word civilization was preserved to describe historical developments of European people (ibid). Now the term civilization is no longer confined to the above development but also extends reference to non-European communities. Attributes of civilization includes observance to law, belonging to an organized society, having a society of literate people with advanced developments in urbanization, agriculture, commerce, arts and technology. The French thinkers of the 18th century referred to a person of the arts and literature...

Words: 29345 - Pages: 118

Premium Essay

Work

...Foundations: c. 8000 B.C.E.–600 C.E. Major Developments 1. Locating world history in the environment and time 1. Environment 1. Geography and climate: Interaction of geography and climate with the development of human society a. Five Themes of Geography – consider these 1. Relative location – location compared to others 2. Physical characteristics – climate, vegetation and human characteristics 3. Human/environment interaction – how do humans interact/alter environ a. Leads to change 4. Movement – peoples, goods, ideas among/between groups 5. Regions – cultural/physical characteristics in common with surrounding areas b. E. Africa first people – 750,000 years ago started to move 1. moving in search of food c. Role of Climate – End of Ice Age 12000 BCE – large areas of N. America, Europe, Asia became habitable – big game hunters already migrated 1. Geographical changes - 3000 BCE Green Sahara began to dry up, seeds to forests – N. America 2. Effect on humans – nomadic hunters didn’t move so much a. Settle near abundant plant life – beginning of civilization b. Sedentary life w/ dependable food supply 3. milder conditions, warmer temperatures, higher ocean...

Words: 8930 - Pages: 36

Premium Essay

Medi

...For other uses, see Constitution (disambiguation). A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.[1] These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is. When these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to embody a written constitution; if they are written down in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign states to companies and unincorporated associations. A treaty which establishes an international organization is also its constitution, in that it would define how that organization is constituted. Within states, a constitution defines the principles upon which the state is based, the procedure in which laws are made and by whom. Some constitutions, especially codified constitutions, also act as limiters of state power, by establishing lines which a state's rulers cannot cross, such as fundamental rights. An example is the constitution of the United States of America. George Washington at Constitutional Convention of 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution of India is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world,[2] containing 444 articles in 22 parts,[3][4] 12 schedules and 118 amendments, with 117,369 words in its English-language translation,[5]...

Words: 9424 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Ancient Greece

...Ancient Greece The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, located on the Acropolis in Athens, is one of the most representative symbols of the culture and sophistication of the ancient Greeks. Part of a series on the | Modern Greece.Septinsular Republic.War of Independence.First Hellenic Republic.Kingdom of Greece.National Schism.Second Hellenic Republic.4th of August Regime.Axis occupation (collaborationist regime).Civil War.Military Junta.Third Hellenic Republic | History by topic.Art.Constitution.Economy.Military.Names | History of Greece | | Neolithic Greece.Neolithic Greece | Greek Bronze Age.Helladic.Cycladic.Minoan.Mycenaean | Ancient Greece.Homeric Greece.Archaic Greece.Classical Greece.Hellenistic Greece.Roman Greece | Medieval Greece.Byzantine Greece.Frankish and Latin states.Ottoman Greece | | Ancient Greece was a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BCto the end ofantiquity (c. 600 AD). Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in ancient Greece is the period ofClassical Greece, which flourished during the 5th to 4th centuries BC. Classical Greece began with the repelling of a Persian invasion by Athenian leadership. Because of conquests by Alexander the Great of Macedonia, Hellenistic civilization flourished fromCentral Asia to the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. Classical Greek culture...

Words: 17888 - Pages: 72

Premium Essay

Life of a Successful Entrepreneur

... 1 Factors determining citizenship: - Parents are citizens -Born within a county -Marriage to a citizen -Naturalization  2 History * 2.1 Polis citizenship * 2.2 Roman ideas of citizenship * 2.3 Middle Ages * 2.4 Renaissance * 2.5 Modern times  3 Different senses of citizenship -International citizenship -Commonwealth citizenship -European Union citizenship -Subnational citizenship  Citizenship education * United Kingdom * Ireland citizenship in Bangladesh CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship laws are based upon the Bangladesh Citizenship Order dated 1972. Questions concerning persons born before March 26, 1971, should be directed to the Bangladesh Embassy. (UKC-Commonwealth Nation) BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Bangladesh does not automatically confer citizenship. Only persons born before March 26, 1971 would be deemed Bangladesh citizens by birth. BY DESCENT: Rules stated below apply to persons born after March 26, 1971. Child born of a Bangladesh father, regardless of the child's country of birth. Child whose grandfather was a citizen of Bangladesh, regardless of the child's country of birth. Child born of a Bangladesh mother and an unknown or stateless father, regardless of the child's country of birth. OTHER: Person who was a permanent resident of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971, is granted citizenship, unless disqualified by law at that time. BY NATURALIZATION: A person...

Words: 17350 - Pages: 70

Premium Essay

Business Notes

...Principles of Measurement Mosso member of the FASB FASB’s Conceptual Framework project over the period 1973-1985 Define measurement Measurement is the assignment of numerals and other symbols to represent the magnitude of an attribute of a phenomenon Phenomenon A thing or event of interest E.g. a table, a performance, an exam Attribute A characteristic or quality of the phenomenon to be measured Magnitude The extent to which the phenomenon has the attribute Often we can’t directly observe a phenomenon of interest We need to find a substitute Direct observation- the only time we can accurately observe the attribute and phenomenon How happy is the baby? Phenomenon-baby Attribute-happiness Can you measure this attribute directly? NO Smiles per hour Laughter per day Financial Statements: When investors focus on a company’s net income, is net income necessarily the investors’ attribute of interest Firm performance Firm future performance What two things do accounting measures often represent Performance- what have we done? Position- what do we have? Business Strategy and Accounting USSBA Too many teams to manage What is strategy according to Porter? Strategy is creating a fit among an organization’s activities (to enable it to realize its goal or mission). The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well and integrating among them Operational Effectiveness versus Strategic Positioning Operational effectiveness Performing similar activities...

Words: 21330 - Pages: 86