Week five: Democracy in Practice, the Athenian consitution

Question 1

When was Athens ruled by a dictatorship?

Answer 1

Between 546-510 BCE

Question 2

What kind of political system did Athens identify with?

Answer 2

Democracy (Ancient Greek democracy)

Question 3

What year was Solons reforms in?

Answer 3

early 6th century (594/2 BCE)

Question 4

What groups did Solon’s reform divide the citizen body into? (just the names and what required them to be in that subcategory)

Answer 4

1. pentekisiomendimnoi (500-bushel men) who owned land capable of producing 500 bushels of grain, wine or olives
2. The hippeis (knights) who owned land capable of 300-500 bushels of grain, wine or olives
3. the zeugitai (yoke men) who owned 200-300 bushels of grain, wine or olives
4. thetes who did not own enough land capable of producing 200 bushels

Question 5

In Solon’s constitution, how accessible was the Assembly?

Answer 5

Open to all citizens

Question 6

Can you remember the progression of the Athenian constitution?

Answer 6

1. Athens was ruled by a dictatorship from 546-510 BCE
2. Athens experienced two oligarchic coups in 411 (the Four hundred) and 404/3 (the Thirty) and a civil war (404/3 to 403/2)
3. The democratic constitution retained some important oligarchic aristocratic features even in the late fifth and fourth centuries.
4. Some changes introduced after the end of the civil war in 403/2 imposed some restrictions on the decision making power of the Assembly.

Question 7

What was the Council of 400?

Answer 7

Chief consultative body the Council of the Four Hundred: 100 to each tribe was assigned

(most likely elected councillors)

Question 8

Who could partipate in high financial offices?

Answer 8

High financial offices reserved from pentekosiomedimnoi

Question 9

Who were the Nine Archons and who could participate in this?

Answer 9

the nine archons were the highest magistrates, responsible for various administrative, judicial, and religious functions.

only the pentekosiomendimnoi and hippeis could participate in this

Question 10

Who could participate in Office

Answer 10

Every tribe; though there were some higher up ones that were only accessible to the more prestigious tribes.

Question 11

Who were the Areopagos council? What did they do?

Answer 11

Comprised of men who had served as the nine Archons

has certain judicial and constitutional oversight as well as decision-making powers.

Question 12

Who were the courts accessible to?

Answer 12

Jurors selected from among all citizens over 30.

Question 13

What did Kleishthenes do to reform Attica?

Answer 13

Kleishtenes changed the original four tribes into ten tribes.

This resulted in the formation of 30 trittyes, which each were subdivided into demes. (By the end they had 139 demes)

Question 14

What is the point of the council of 500?

Answer 14

The council of 500, also known as the Boule:
1. controlled the agenda of the Assembly

2. had limited decision making powers in connection with administrative matters
3. the councillors seemed to have monitored Athens officials and held them accountable
4. The council could debate matters of polcy, but couldn’t make final decisions; only the assembly could do that.
5. No matter could be debated in the assembly unless it had been put on the agenda for the assembly meeting.

Question 15

Important points regarding the council of 500?

Answer 15

1. each ten tribes contributed 50 members of the council of 500
2. each deme had a fixed number of positions on the council (depending on the size)
3. Councillors could serve for only one year only, and only twice in their lifetime
4. assumed that during the fifth century this was only availble for the top three, but during the 4th they had to allow all otherwise it would not have functioned.

Question 16

What was the Assembly like after Kleisthenes reforms?

Answer 16

1. Only political body authorised to make final, binding political decisions.
2. in C5 all laws and decrees made by the Assembly.
3. Only male adult citizen can attend any meeting he wants and speak
4. Debates and proposals could only be made on matters that have been placed on the agenda.
5. Assembly is authorised to sit as a court in impeachment trials.

Question 17

What was Ostracism and why was it done under Kleisthenes?

Answer 17

Citizens were invited to name an individual citizen who was likely to pose a risk to the constitution, the citizen with the most votes had to leave Athens for 10 years.

This aimed to prevent popular and influential citizens from consolidating their power as dictators.

Question 18

What aristocratic/oligarchic features were there in the athenian constitution after Kleisthenes’s reforms?

Answer 18

1. The office of the Nine Archons and the Treasures of Athena were still reserved for the top property classes
2. Appointment of theses offices had been by election rather by selection of lot.
3. the council of Areopagos, which was composed of ex-nine Archons had important political powers and jurisdiction.
4. the bottom census-group, the Thetes, wasn’t eligible to hold office in principle.

Question 19

Give examples of Ephialtes democratic developments during the fifth century until 462 BC in Athens

Answer 19

Ephialtes democratic reforms:
1. 487/6 the Nine archons are now selected by lot rather than elected (but the offices were still reserved for citizens from the top-two census groups

2. the board of generals soon replaced the Polemarch as military commanders in chief
3. 462 BCE: Stripped the Areopagos Council of its political power and most of its jurisdiction (except as a homicide court as deciding some religious cases)
4. the powers previously held by the Areopagos was distributed between the Council of 500, the Assembly and the courts.

Question 20

Examples of democratic developments during the fifth century until the 430s?

Answer 20

1. 458/7 BCE: The offices of the Nine Archons were opened to citizens belonging to the census group zeugitai, eventually comprised of all three groups (poor thebes)
2. 450s or 440s: pay for jury service was introduced, thus, allowing the poorest citizens to take time off, enabling them to participate.
3. 450s or 440s: pay for council service and for serving as an official was introduced, allowing citizens of modest means to hold such positions. However, there was on pay for the Assembly in this century.

Question 21

Changes to the constitution in the fourth century, after the restoration of democracy in 403/2?

Answer 21

1. Assembly no longer authorised to make final ratification of laws, before a law can be enforced it has to be ratified by a board of Nomothetai: lawgivers
2. 360: Assembly no longer functions as a court in impeachment trials
3. 340: The Arepagos is given power as an investigative body in cases of suspected treason and other High crimes.
4. Citizens belonging to the lowest census group appear to have been able to get selected by lot for the offices of the Nine Archons.

Question 22

What is introduced in the 390s in Athens?

Answer 22

Pay for Assembly participation

Question 23

How old did you have to be to participate in Athenian court?

Answer 23

30 years old, usually courts were manned by large panels of ordinary citizens

Question 24

How was Athenian democracy transparent and took accountability?

Answer 24

1. the 700+ officials appointed every year, and the 500 Councilor’s would have to undergo an accounting procedure before the courts when they finihsed their year in office.
2. Any citizen who made a policy proposal at an assembly meeting would be held personally accountable for the proposal contravened established law.

Question 25

How did the Athenians achieve 'rule of the people'?

Answer 25

1. All adult men were entitled to attend, speak, make proposals and vote in assembly meetings

Question 26

How did the Athenians not achieve 'rule of the people'?

Answer 26

1. Well educated wealthy Athenians may have found it less daunting to stand up and speak in a mass-meeting.