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I’m wondering what you all think of the reforms in the political system that were brought about by Solon and then later on by Cleisthenes. Which reforms do you think were more ingenious? Here is a summary of some of Solon’s reforms, and here are some of Cleisthenes’ reforms.
I would say Cleisthenes' was the better way because he divided it geographically instead of by class. The only question I have is were the geographic regions different economically or was each one a good mix?
I imagine the regions would have been economically different. I believe the groupings were the city, the coast, and the mountainous or hill land. I can't imagine those would all have been on equal financial footing. People from these areas comprised the 50 people in each group that comprised the council of 500. The way I just heard it explained was that it forced Athenians with perhaps divergent interests to work through their problems since they were bringing different concerns to the table. Quite a bright idea.
I just read that Cleisthenes instituted a lottery type system to pick the 50 from each council. That way no wealthy or powerful individual, or group I would imagine, could influence decisions.Brilliant!!(and did you know when googling 'Cleisthenes reform" this thread shows up on the first page? Figured I'd just stop by. ;D )
(and did you know when googling 'Cleisthenes reform” this thread shows up on the first page? Figured I'd just stop by. ;D )
Funny...it didn't show up on the first four pages when I ran that search. Then I realized it might help if I could spell "Athenian" correctly (I had spelled it A-t-h-e-n-e-i-a-n).
I wonder how many Marxists use Solon's reforms as an example. Unfortunately for them, Solon was no Marx. He did give the poor more power and economic opportunity, but he never took away wealth from the rich.
For I granted the people an adequate amount of power and sufficient prestige-no more no less. But I found a way also to maintain the status of the old wielders of power with their fantastic riches...1
Is this a correct summation/comparison?1Plutarch, Solon 18.4 (note: not sure if that's the correct way to cite this)
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