Law and Justice - Economic Justice in Early Greece - 4.2 Life of Solon

Summary

Dr. Kyle Harper discusses the origins of Athenian democracy in the 6th century BC, highlighting Solon's pivotal role as the lawgiver who shaped it. Solon's reforms addressed a profound economic crisis and social divisions, including debt slavery, by introducing new laws and economic policies. His actions laid the groundwork for Athens to become a preeminent city-state in ancient Greece.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Athens is recognized as the birthplace of democracy, a concept that originated in the 6th century BC during the Archaic period.
• 🗣️ The term 'democracy' is derived from Greek, signifying 'rule by the people', and was significantly shaped by Solon, a prominent lawgiver.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Solon was elected as the Chief Archon in 594 BC amidst a period of severe crisis in Athens, marking a pivotal moment in Greek history.
• 👥 Prior to Solon's reforms, Athens was governed by an oligarchy, where a small group of elites held political power, a common pattern in the Greek world.
• 🏙️ The Greek city-states, or poleis, were the foundational units of political life, distinct from empires or large kingdoms, and served as incubators for political systems.
• 🌐 The crisis in Athens during the 590s led to unprecedented political experimentation, distinguishing it from other historical periods.
• 📜 The concept of legislation, where laws are created by society for itself, emerged in Archaic Greece, contrasting with the enforcement of customs by kings as seen in other civilizations.
• 📚 Plutarch's 'The Life of Solon' is a primary historical source on Solon, despite the significant time gap between their eras.
• 🌾 Athens faced a profound economic crisis with deep divisions, including conflicts between the rich and the poor, and between different economic classes.
• 💰 The introduction of coinage in the Greek world was a new development that exacerbated social divisions, as it was a tool that could be used by the wealthy to exploit the poor.
• 🔗 Solon's inheritance of a society where the poor were virtually enslaved to the rich due to debt and lack of financial recourses led to his implementation of transformative reforms.

Q & A

What does the term 'democracy' mean and where did it originate?

Democracy is a Greek word meaning 'rule by the people', and it originated in Athens, the birthplace of democracy.

In what century did Athenian democracy begin to take shape?

Athenian democracy began to take shape in the 6th century BC during the Archaic period.

Who is considered the primary figure responsible for shaping Athenian democracy?

Solon, the great Athenian lawgiver, is considered the primary figure responsible for shaping Athenian democracy.

What was the political structure in Athens before Solon's reforms?

Before Solon's reforms, Athens was ruled by an oligarchy, a political and social elite who controlled the state's affairs.

What were the two structural features of Greek society at the time?

The two structural features of Greek society were the absence of monarchies and the prevalence of small-scale, polis-based political units.

What was the crisis in Athens during the 590s BC?

The crisis in Athens during the 590s BC was characterized by extreme social and economic divisions, with the poor becoming virtually enslaved to the rich.

How did the introduction of coinage affect the social divisions in Athens?

The introduction of coinage, a new technology of commerce, exacerbated the social divisions in Athens by enabling the wealthy to further consolidate their power and resources.

What role did money play in the economic crisis of Athens during Solon's time?

Money, as a new invention in the Greek world, played a significant role in the economic crisis by contributing to the social divisions and the enslavement of the poor to the rich through debt.

What was the situation of the poor in Athens before Solon's reforms?

Before Solon's reforms, the poor in Athens were effectively enslaved to the rich, with no public banks or government welfare programs to turn to, leading to debt bondage.

Who is the primary source for the life of Solon?

The primary source for the life of Solon is the biography 'The Life of Solon' written by Plutarch, a Greek biographer living in the Roman Empire.

What were the key issues Solon inherited in Athens and how did he address them?

Solon inherited an Athens in profound economic crisis with deep divisions among the rich and the poor. He addressed these issues through a series of reforms that aimed to alleviate the debt slavery of the poor and set Athens on the path to becoming a glorious city.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Birth of Athenian Democracy and Solon's Rise

The paragraph discusses the origins of Athenian democracy, which began in the 6th century BC during the Archaic period. It emphasizes the pivotal role of Solon, who became the Chief Archon in 594 BC amidst a societal crisis. Solon inherited an Athens ruled by an oligarchy, a system common across the Greek world at the time, characterized by small-scale political units based on the polis. The paragraph also contrasts the Greek approach to law with that of the law code of Hammurabi, highlighting the innovative concept of legislation in ancient Greece. Solon's historical significance is underscored by the fact that he is a verifiable figure, unlike some other legendary lawgivers like Lycurgus. The primary source for Solon's life is Plutarch's 'The Life of Solon,' which, despite being written 700 years later, remains a classic work that has inspired many.

05:05

🌾 Economic Crisis and Debt Slavery in Athens

This paragraph delves into the profound economic crisis that Athens faced during Solon's time, marked by deep divisions within the ruling classes and between the rich and the poor. The introduction of coinage, a new technology of commerce, exacerbated social divisions. The poor, often farmers, were forced into debt slavery due to the lack of public banks or government welfare, and the absence of laws regulating credit. When they failed to repay loans, their land and even their persons could be seized as collateral, leading to a situation where the rich became richer and the poor more impoverished. Solon's reforms were aimed at addressing this crisis and setting Athens on a path to prosperity and glory.

Keywords

💡Athens

Athens is historically recognized as the birthplace of democracy. In the video, Athens is highlighted as the city where democratic principles began to take shape in the 6th century BC during the Archaic period. The city's political structure and the reforms implemented by Solon are central to the video's theme, illustrating how Athens transitioned from an oligarchy to a more democratic system.

💡Democracy

Democracy, derived from the Greek words 'demos' meaning people and 'kratos' meaning rule, refers to a system of government where power is vested in the people. The video emphasizes the development of Athenian democracy, which was a radical departure from the oligarchic rule prevalent in the Greek world at the time. It underscores the significance of Solon's reforms in establishing democratic practices.

💡Solon

Solon is portrayed as a pivotal figure in Athenian history, known as the great lawgiver. He was elected Chief Archon in 594 BC during a period of crisis. His reforms are central to the video's narrative, as they addressed the economic and social divisions in Athens, setting the stage for the city's democratic evolution.

💡Oligarchy

An oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small group of people, typically the wealthy or elite. In the context of the video, Athens was previously ruled by an oligarchy before Solon's reforms. This system is contrasted with the democratic ideals that Solon sought to implement, highlighting the shift from elite control to a more inclusive form of governance.

💡Polis

A polis refers to a small, autonomous city-state that was the fundamental unit of political organization in ancient Greece. The video mentions that the Greek world was characterized by small-scale polis-based politics, which were the precursors to modern political systems and constitutions. The polis structure allowed for experimentation with different forms of governance, including the democratic reforms in Athens.

💡Crisis

The term 'crisis' in the video refers to the socio-economic turmoil in Athens during the 590s BC. This crisis was characterized by deep divisions between the rich and the poor, with the latter being virtually enslaved to the former due to debt. The crisis is a key element in the video's narrative, as it led to Solon's reforms and the subsequent development of democracy.

💡Lawgiver

A lawgiver is an individual who creates or reforms laws. Solon is described as the great lawgiver of Athens, indicating his role in shaping the city's legal and political landscape. The video emphasizes the novelty of legislation in ancient Greece and Solon's pivotal role in creating laws that would benefit all citizens, not just the elite.

💡Economic Crisis

The economic crisis mentioned in the video refers to the severe financial difficulties faced by Athens, particularly the poor who were burdened with debt. This crisis is tied to the broader social and political issues of the time, as it led to the poor becoming debt slaves to the wealthy. Solon's reforms aimed to alleviate this crisis by addressing the economic disparities and restructuring the credit system.

💡Debt Bondage

Debt bondage is a condition where individuals are bound to service or labor to pay off debts. In the video, it is described as a consequence of the economic crisis in Athens, where the poor, unable to repay loans, became enslaved to the rich. This practice is highlighted as a significant social issue that Solon's reforms sought to rectify, thereby alleviating the plight of the impoverished.

💡Reforms

Reforms, in the context of the video, refer to the changes or amendments made to the laws and social structures by Solon. These reforms were a response to the crisis in Athens and aimed to create a more equitable society. The video details how Solon's reforms, such as the abolition of debt slavery and the establishment of a property class system, laid the groundwork for Athenian democracy.

Highlights

Athens is recognized as the birthplace of democracy, a concept that originated in the 6th century BC during the Archaic period.

Democracy is derived from the Greek word meaning 'rule by the people'.

Solon, a prominent Athenian lawgiver, played a pivotal role in shaping Athenian democracy in the 6th century BC.

Solon was elected Chief Archon in 594 BC during a period of severe crisis in Athens.

Before Solon, Athens was governed by an oligarchy, a political and social elite controlling the state's affairs.

Greek society at the time was characterized by small-scale political units based on the polis, not empires or large kingdoms.

The crisis in Athens during the 590s led to a period of unprecedented political experimentation.

In contrast to the law code of Hammurabi, Solon's era saw the birth of legislation, where laws were created by society for itself.

The rise of lawgivers like Solon and Lycurgus marked a new phase in the Greek world, with each shaping their polis' constitution.

Plutarch's 'The Life of Solon' is a primary source for understanding Solon's life and reforms, despite the significant time gap.

Solon inherited an Athens in profound economic crisis with deep divisions within the ruling classes.

The introduction of coinage to the Greek world was a novel development that contributed to social divisions in Athens.

In Solon's Athens, the poor were effectively enslaved to the rich due to a lack of public banks and welfare programs.

The concept of collateral was emerging, leading wealthy individuals to secure loans with the bodies of debtors.

Solon's reforms were designed to address the social crisis of debt bondage and set Athens on a path to greatness.

Transcripts

>>>>Dr. Kyle Harper: Athens - the birthplace of democracy. Democracy itself is a Greek

word which means rule by the people, and Athenian democracy would begin to take shape in the

6th century BC in the Archaic period. And above all, the Athenian democracy was shaped

at its beginnings by one towering figure: the great Athenian lawgiver Solon. Solon came

into power in Athens in the 590s, in the year 594, when he was elected Chief Archon. He

was elected the high magistrate of the Athenian people at a time of extreme crisis. The 590s

were a political moment of enormous consequence in the Greek world because of the crisis at

Athens. Now, the Athenians had already before the rise of Solon been ruled by an oligarchy.

That is, they'd been ruled by a political and social elite who controlled the affairs

of state. And in fact this is a fairly common pattern across the Greek world at this time.

And it's worth noting two structural features of this society. One is that it's not monarchy.

And in fact it's highly unique that this part of the world is ruled not by monarchs or even

chiefs, but by a shared kind of authority among oligarchs, a group of small elite rulers.

Two is that the divisions the units of political life in this world are small-scale, based

around the polis. This is not an age of empires or great kingdoms but in fact, small-scale

local city-based politics that would become the laboratories of political systems, of

constitutions as we think of them now to this day. And the crisis in the 590s in Athens

would give rise to a period of political experimentation unlike any that had ever occurred. And it's

worth thinking about what this means in terms of the grand sweep of history. We talked in

our previous lessons when we considered the law code of Hammurabi, the fact that the king

had executive and judicial powers but that there was no sense that the king himself was

a lawgiver or a creator of laws, of rules. He was just the enforcer of justice who gathered

the customs. We talked about the rise of casuistic law, the collection of case-based law that

accumulated, something like common law providing the standards of justice in that society.

But in Archaic Greece we see a new period, a new phase when we see what we might call

the birth of legislation, the idea that laws can be created by a society for itself, and

with that comes extraordinary possibility. And this period in the Greek world saw the

rise of a series of lawgivers that is in some cases semi-legendary figures who would give

shape to their own individual polis. Men like Lycurgus, who was credited with creating the

Spartan constitution, the characteristic way of life of the Spartans. Lycurgus is, we could

say, a largely legendary figure. Solon by contrast, the great lawgiver of the Athenians,

is a truly historical figure even if many legends did accrue around his name. There

is a kernel of historicity, an element of undeniable factual truth in the career of

Solon as we know it. Now, our primary source this day for the life of Solon is the biography,

"The Life of Solon" that was written by Plutarch, a Greek living some 700 years later in the

Roman Empire: in itself an enormous chasm of time. Plutarch's "Lives" are one of the

great classic works. They've survived across history been read generation after generation.

They have been an inspiration to statesmen and leaders across times. And "The Life of

Solon" is the story of the character of the great Athenian lawgiver. Solon inherited an

Athens that was in profound economic crisis. There was deep division even within the ruling

classes. The rich were opposed to the poor. Those who were traders, that is, those who

were engaged in commerce, were opposed to those who were farmers. Those who were landowners

were opposed to those who worked the land. And in fact we're told that the poor were

virtually enslaved to the rich in this society. Now remember that at this time coinage had

just been imported into the Greek world. Money is something that we take profoundly for granted,

but in fact it's a human invention, a convention that arises at particular moments in history.

And at this time it was new in the Greek world and it certainly, this new technology of commerce,

would have contributed to exacerbating the social divisions of Athens. And indeed, the

poor were effectively enslaved to the rich. Now to understand this we have to appreciate

that this is an agricultural economy. And when the crops failed, if you were a small

farmer, there were very few recourses. There we no public banks where you could go to.

There were no government welfare programs. You could only turn to the wealthy for help.

And imagine that you're a wealthy farmer, that you have resources and someone comes

knocking at your door asking for, for aid, for help. Should you give them a loan? Well

you could give them a loan, but a bank won't give you a loan to this day if you don't have

what's called collateral, if you can't securitize the loan. Lending money means taking a risk

and in our society we're accustomed to the idea that there are interest rates, there

are securitization and that the lender can charge a certain amount of interest and expect

something to securitize the loan in case the borrower's unable to pay it back. But this

was all highly novel in the Greek world, and in the Athens of Solon's day there are no

public banks, there are only wealthy individuals. And so what do you do if you're a wealthy

individual and a poor person knocks at your door and asks for money? You want some security.

Some guarantee that those poor peasants will pay you back. Nobody gives away their money

for free in this world. And so, what can the poor man provide as security? Well first maybe

his family farm, but then what happens if the crops fail and he can't pay back his load

and the farm is seized? The farm goes to the wealthy and the rich get richer. What happens

then if he needs to make another loan and he this time has no land to secure the, the

loan with? He can only use himself, his own person, his body, his wife, her body, his

children. And indeed this seems to be what had happened in Athens. There're no laws against

it, there are no laws regulating credit exchanges in this world and so the wealthy begin to

make loans securitizing them with the bodies, the individual persons of the debtors. Now

to us that may seem totally unacceptable, but in this world it was novel and it had

led to a grave social crisis in which the poor had become literally debt bondage. They'd

become debt slaves to the wealthy, and that was the kind of world that Solon inherited

and it was into this crisis that he would step with a series of reforms that would not

only pull Athens out of the crisis, but would set her on the path to become the most glorious

city in all of Greece.