The
Athenian Revolutions
The
Development of Athens
Attica – 3 Plains divided by Mountains
Confederation (sunoikismos) of Attica - myths of Theseus
Securing the borders – Eleusis and Salamis
Cylonian conspiracy 630 BCE
The Curse on the Alcmaionids
Purifications of Epimenides
Law code of Drakon 621 BCE
Athenian Power Expands
foundation of Sigeum 610
First Sacred War around Delphi 595-596
Wars with Megara over Salamis
Reforms
of Solon
Solon as poet and political actor - Archon 594/3
seisachtheia - the shaking off of burdens
hectemoroi - farmers owing one-sixth of land's produce to nobles
debt slavery
New
Socio-Economic Classes
Pentacosiomedimnoi - 500 bushels of produce
Hippeis (knights) - 300 bushels
Zeugitai (hoplites) - 200 bushels
Thetes
- less than 200 bushels
Political
and Legal Reforms - new systems and offices
Nine archons: eponymous, polemarch, archon basileus, 6 thesmothetai
Areopagus
Boule (Council) of 400
Ecclesia (Assembly) of all citizens
Heliaia – the courts of the Assembly
Tyranny
in Athens: The Pisistratids
Anarchia
Geographic factions
- the Coast Dwellers led by Megacles the
Alcmaionid
- the Plains Dwellers led by Lycurgus son of
Aristolaides
- Hills Dwellers led by Pisistratus
Pisistratus as Tyrannos:
first tyranny 561 BCE
second tyranny 557 -555? BCE
third tyranny 547-528/7 BCE
Pisistratids as Patrons of Culture
Acropolis Building Projects
Great PanAthenaic Festival established 566
expanded by Pisistratids
City Dionysia established
- Dionysos comes from Eleuthera
- choral competitions and tragedy - Thespis 534
BCE
Building at Eleusis - expansion of the Mysteries?
Purification of Delos - Delian Festival for
Ionians
Expulsion
of the Pisistratids
Pisistratids: Hippias and Hipparchus succeed their father
Harmodius and Aristogeiton - assassination of
Hipparchus - 514 BCE
Alcmaionids at Delphi - temple building and
favorable oracles
Cleomenes, king of Sparta, brings Spartan force to
expel Hippias - 510 BCE
|
687-652 |
Gyges rules in Lydia |
|
680-640 |
life of Archilochos of
Paros |
|
669 |
Spartans defeated by
Argives at battle of Hysiai |
|
655-625 |
Cypselus tyrant of
Corinth |
|
650 |
Orthagoras tyrant of
Sicyon |
|
640-600 |
Theagenes tyrant of
Megara |
|
632 |
Cylonian conspiracy |
|
630 |
Foundation of Cyrene |
|
621 |
Drakon gives lawcode to
Athens |
|
600 |
Cleisthenes tyrant of
Sicyon |
|
600-595 |
Athens takes Salamis
from Megara |
|
595 |
Earliest Greek coins
minted by Aegina |
|
595-586 |
First Sacred War for
control of Delphi |
|
594-3 |
Solon Archon of Athens |
|
582 |
Pythian Games
established |
|
581 |
Isthmian Games
established |
|
573 |
Nemean Games
established |
|
572 |
Marriage contest held
by Cleisthenes of Sicyon |
|
561 |
Pisistratus' first
tyranny at Athens |
|
560-550 |
Sparta at war with
Tegea |
|
560-546 |
Croesus king in Lydia |
|
559 |
Cyrus becomes ruler of
Persia |
|
550 |
Cyrus conquers Media |
|
546-528 |
Pisistratus tyrant in
Athens |
|
544 |
floruit of Theognis |
|
527 |
Pisistratids rule in
Athens; Hippias as chief archon |
|
525 |
Fall of Polykrates of
Samos |
|
520-490 |
Cleomenes King of
Sparta |
|
514 |
Harmodios and
Aristogeiton assassinate Hipparchos |
|
510 |
Expulsion of the
Pisistratids from Athens |
|
508/7 |
Isagoras Archon at
Athens; reforms of Cleisthenes |
Assembly Assignment
due before class October 17.
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 7 & 8, 14
Aristotle,
The Constitution of Athens
[Xenophon],
The Athenian Constitution
How did Cleisthenes alter the social structures of
Athenian society? What changes did
he make to the Solonian forms of government in Athens?
How did the changes in the legal system affect the
participation in Athenian government? What were the effects of ostracism?
How did Spartan internal and external politics
affect Athens?
What sort of picture do our sources give us of
Cleisthenes, Isagoras, Cleomenes, and Demaratus? What are the strengths and weaknesses of our sources?
What are the causes of the Ionian revolt in
Herodotus' account? What are his
sources and how may we assess their value?