The Constitution of Athens

Summary

The video traces the evolution of Athens from an oligarchy to the world's first democracy. It begins with the exclusive rule of powerful families in the Areopagus, before Solon’s reforms opened politics to all male citizens, establishing the Assembly and a new class system. Athens' transition from a limited democracy to a full democracy is explored, highlighting the role of the Boule, the introduction of tribes, and the innovative system of Ostracism to prevent factionalism. Despite its flaws, this democratic model had a profound influence on political thought, inspiring future generations across the Mediterranean.

Takeaways

• 😀 Athens transitioned from an Oligarchy to a Limited Democracy and finally to a Full Democracy over several centuries, revolutionizing political systems worldwide.
• 😀 The Areopagus, a small council of powerful families, governed Athens during the Oligarchy, and membership was primarily determined by birth.
• 😀 Solon's reforms in the 6th century BCE introduced the Assembly of Athenian Citizens, allowing adult male citizens to participate in politics, which shifted power away from the oligarchs.
• 😀 Solon also created the Boule, a council responsible for deciding which issues would be voted on by the Assembly. The Boule's membership was based on economic class, though the system was still biased towards the wealthy.
• 😀 Elections for the nine Archons, formerly appointed by the Areopagus, were introduced by Solon, though the rich continued to have the upper hand in who was selected.
• 😀 The three main political factions in Athens—Plains, Hill, and Coast—represented different interests: landowners, the poor citizens, and the trade-focused class, respectively.
• 😀 Despite the reforms, Athens faced factional gridlock and a period of tyranny, with strongmen taking control before the system was reformed again to create a Full Democracy.
• 😀 The new democratic system eliminated the old wealth-based class system and created 10 new tribes, each with equal representation from the major political factions.
• 😀 The Boule was expanded to 500 members, with each of the 10 tribes electing 50 representatives. A new system of random selection for positions aimed to reduce the influence of wealth in politics.
• 😀 Ostracism was introduced as a tool to prevent factionalism and the rise of tyrants. Citizens could vote to banish a politician they found divisive, even without proof of wrongdoing, for a period of 10 years.

Q & A

What were the key phases in the constitutional history of ancient Athens?

The constitutional history of ancient Athens can be divided into three distinct phases: 1) Athens as an Oligarchy, where a small group of powerful families ruled; 2) Athens as a Limited Democracy, initiated by Solon’s reforms; and 3) Athens as a Full Democracy, following further reforms that expanded political rights.

What was the Areopagus, and what role did it play in Athenian politics?

The Areopagus was a small, elite council that functioned as the central body in Athenian politics during the oligarchic phase. Its members were drawn from the most powerful families, and they were responsible for political appointments, legal decisions, and oversight of the government.

Who was Solon, and what were his key reforms?

Solon was an Athenian statesman and lawmaker who enacted a series of reforms to address political and social problems in Athens. His key reforms included opening up Athenian politics to all adult male citizens, creating an Assembly for citizens to vote on decisions, and setting up the Boule, a new council responsible for preparing laws.

What was the purpose of the Athenian Assembly, and how did it operate?

The Athenian Assembly was established by Solon and served as the primary decision-making body in Athens. It allowed every adult male citizen to participate in debates and vote on important government matters. Votes were conducted by a show of hands, and at least 6,000 citizens were required for a valid vote.

How did Solon's reforms restructure the Athenian class system and government?

Solon divided Athenian citizens into four economic classes based on wealth and created a new system where each class could elect representatives to the Boule, a council that helped prepare legislation. The wealthiest citizens still had more influence, but it was a step toward broader political participation.

What were the three major political factions in Athens during the early democratic period?

The three major political factions were the Plains Faction, made up of wealthy landowners who wanted to preserve the power of the rich; the Hill Faction, consisting of the poorest citizens who favored reforms; and the Coast Faction, a cosmopolitan and trade-dependent group that supported further political and economic expansion.

How did Athens transition from a Limited Democracy to a Full Democracy?

The transition from a Limited Democracy to a Full Democracy occurred through further reforms that included eliminating the old class-based system and creating new tribes to represent citizens based on geographic areas, rather than wealth. These reforms reduced factionalism and allowed more equal political representation.

What role did the Boule play in the Athenian government?

The Boule was a council of 500 citizens, elected from 10 new tribes, responsible for preparing the agenda for meetings of the Assembly. It played a central role in Athenian governance, helping to decide what issues would be debated and voted on in the Assembly.

What was the Prytaneis, and how did it function in Athenian politics?

The Prytaneis was an executive committee within the Boule, consisting of 50 members from each tribe who served for 36 days each year. They were responsible for the day-to-day running of the Athenian government, including managing public funds, military decisions, and foreign diplomacy.

How did ostracism work in Athens, and what purpose did it serve?

Ostracism was a practice where citizens could vote to banish the most unpopular person from Athens for 10 years. Each year, citizens wrote names on pieces of pottery, and if one individual received more than 6,000 votes, they were ostracized. It served as a mechanism to prevent the rise of tyrants and factionalism.