1. LIFE IN ANCIENT ATHENS PART 1:
GOVERNMENT

2. Solon was elected leader of Athens in 594 B. C
Solon was elected leader of Athens in 594 B.C. Leading up to that there was much trouble throughout the city-state. Poor farmers owed so much money that they were being forced to work someone else’s land, or become someone’s slave. Rulers of Athens held much power, and the lower classes were growing angry because of the inequalities of society.
SOLON’S REFORMS
All people who were slaves because of debt were freed.
Created a law stating no citizen could become enslaved.
Salon organized citizens into 4 classes based on wealth. This allowed rich men to have more power.
All citizens could serve on the assembly and elect leaders.
Made laws less harsh.
Fearing mass revolts around Athens, Solon created reforms (changes) to help avoid violence.
Eventually, citizen’s power in Athens grew even more and around 500 B.C., new leaders made changes that took power away from the nobles and made it so that any citizen could vote on laws.
Athens moved towards an early form of DEMOCRACY.
TASK #1: Analyze the DBQ documents E and B. The group’s goal is to figure out as much detail about the established Athenian democracy.

3. ATHENS BUILDS A DEMOCRACY
One of the great legacies that came from ancient Greece is the idea of citizenship. According to your documents, who do you believe qualified to be a citizen of Athens?
To the Greeks, a citizen was a person with the right to take part in ruling the city-state. A citizen had to be born of parents who were free citizens. In ancient Greece, people of both the upper and lower classes were citizens, although only upper-class citizens held power.
“Society is governed by people who obey the magistrates, and magistrates that obey the law.” ~Solon

4. ATHENS DEMOCRACY
In ancient Athens, only free males were considered citizens and could participate in government decisions. Women, slaves, foreigners were not citizens and were not allowed to become citizens.
Democracy: A system in which the citizens make political decisions.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
All citizens meet to decide the laws.
This was the type of Democracy practiced in ancient Athens.
SPECIFICS TO THE ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY
3 MAIN GROUPS
The Ekklesia (Assembly): Up to 40,000 adult male citizens of Athens were welcome to attend. Meetings were held 40 times per year. Decisions were made about war and foreign policy. They also wrote and revised laws. Decisions were made by majority vote.
The Boule (Council of 500): Each man served on the council for 1 year and met every day and dealt with the day to day governing of Athens. They met with representatives from other Greek city-states. The main job was to decide what matters would go to the assembly. They dictated the democracy. Positions were chosen by lottery.
The Dikasteria (courts): 500 jurors were chosen by lottery every day by citizens older than 30. There were no police in Athens and it was the courts who argued for the prosecution and defense. Sentences were done by majority rule.
ATHENS IS KNOWN TODAY AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY
What do you think? Is this an effective system of government?