Democracy in Ancient Greece

By miabattad
  • 505

    Cleisthenes establishes the first democratic constitution, a set of laws to define and limit the government's power. (505 BCE)

    Free speech and political involvement is extended to all Greek citizens.
    Prior to Cleisthenes' rule, there were four traditional tribes. Cleisthenes reorganized the tribes so there were ten, each based off of residential areas. Following this, he changed the amount of city council members who voted on laws 500, with fifty members from each tribe.
    Therefore, the government had become a better representation of the people.
  • Period: Jan 1, 650 to Jan 1, 700

    Most Greek city-states become oligarchies ruled by the wealthy wine and olive merchants. (800-650 BCE)

    In this period, many farmers in Greece become impoverished and are sold into slavery.
    Most oligarchies at this time were made up of the wealthiest citizens, making them somewhat more like timocracies, which means "rule of the wealthy."
    Some oligarchies would be overthrown by tyrants, and some would later become democracies. This system of government was also part of the process of shaping democracies into what they are today.
  • Jan 1, 700

    Most Greek city-states are monarchies. (prior to 8th century BCE)

    Around the 9th century BCE, the Greek city-states were established. The first system of government was a monarchy; it had a king that ruled with a group of nobles underneath him. As the nobles became richer, they formed a group called the Areopagus. This would later become an oligarchy.
    This was the starting point of Ancient Greek government, and if they hadn't started off like this, democracy may not have developed the way it has.
  • Period: to

    Solon becomes sole ruler in Athens and makes reform to government. (584-559 BCE)

    The poorer classes are included in making government decisions through an elected council, and many people are freed from slavery due to debts.
    During this time,a new set of laws called the "seisachtheia" was created, which freed slaves and their families who had been forced into slavery due to an inability to pay off a debt.
    In addition to this, the time period was also a very significant step towards modern democracy in how it started the inclusion of lower-classes in government participation.
  • Period: to 460

    Pericles leads the Athenian government. A council of 500 is chosen by lottery from among male citizens over the age of thirty. (460-429 BCE)

    They serve as the decision makers for a term of one year, to a maximum of two terms. The assembly of all greek citizens (adult males of Greek descent from both parents) meet forty times a year to approve or reject the decisions of the Assembly of 500.
    There are only about two major differences from this democracy and a modern one, being the people who are allowed to vote and the democracy being direct or representative.