Cleisthenes: Leader Of Athens In 508 BCE

The leaders who instigated democracy in Athens, Greece in the 6th and 5th century BCE created a functioning system of government that attempted to benefit its citizens. However, the system of democracy included weaknesses that didn’t support all people to the best of its ability and was overthrown in the end due to war. Several significant leaders were necessary in the commencement of Athenian democracy. These included Solon, Cleisthenes and Pericles. All three had heavy influence in the establishment of democracy, but it was Pericles who truly prospered it. Solon was an aristocratic, not a democratic, but he still believed in supporting the people. Cleisthenes began land reforms which made all of Attica connected as one. Pericles made Athens

During the fifth century bc, Athens had war with Persians, the result of this war had make establishment of democracy to Geek. Acropolis of Athens is an important

The Athenians changed governments many times. They started democracy, they had tyranny, they had aristocracy, they had oligarchy, and they had monarchy. Solon was the one that got rid of the oligarchy. An oligarchy is when a small group of wealthy and high class people rule the government. The Athenians switched around

Cleisthenes created a council that would be easier to handle. He made a democratic constitution because he gave the local parties and clan systems less attention. He also turned Athens into Pro-Spartan by allowing districts to have priority over politics.

The aristocrat Pericles was responsible in every way for the development of the Athenian democracy. Pericles was one of the rare men who didn’t just accept the world’s conditions, but he tried to shape it to an image in his mind, the image of a perfect, or almost perfect democracy.# He was a high government official in the Athenian democracy during the years 446-429 B.C., which is now called the Periclean Age. He wasn’t the founder or inventor of democracy but he came to its leadership 50 years after it started while it was still growing or developing. Under his rule, Athens developed a direct democracy which allowed many citizens to take part in the day-to-day government affairs. Athenian power and influences increases with this.

When evaluating the government of ancient Athens, some might say that it was a democracy, however, it can be better described as an oligarchy: a form of government in which a small group of people has the power and control (Doc. D by Mogens Herman Hansen). A democracy takes all the citizens’ opinions and thoughts into account, unlike an oligarchy that only takes the male citizens’ opinions and thoughts into account. Thus, Athens is more similar to an oligarchy than a democracy. The people of Athens also decide as a whole what the best government for their city-state was, as opposed to a democracy where the people elect representatives to make decisions for them and their city-state. Athens could be seen as not a true democracy because of the lack of basic democratic rules and methods such as what they define democracy as, who is able to vote, and how they vote.

the Athenian Democracy was brutally interrupted by so much revolutions toward the end of the

Thus, breaking away from the originally known practice of a political mobility they had grown to know. In 546 B.C.E., aristocrat, Pisistratus came into power, soon strengthening his possition in the citizens’ eyes, while viewing him as the main superior figure. As his power came to a haul, he traditionally passed the torch onto his son, Pericles, who transitioned all power into the government and the Assembly, Council of 500, and People’s Court. Thus, allowing the men of the city-state to participate and voice their views in governmental issues. In addition to their democratic formation, the Athens too began to become prominent in sales of wealthy painted pottery and vases, which too was their final step in becoming a democracy.

For example, in the sixth century B.C., the tyrants of Greece became widely unpopular, and, despite their work to prove otherwise, were seen as oppressive and hindering Greek development. This fall of tyranny in Greece allowed the Greeks a newfound power of participating in their government, in some city-states, this led to democracy, and in others, oligarchy (Spielvogel 114). In the beginning, Athens was led by a king, then turned to an oligarchy. Due to political issues, aristocrats held all power and wealth and peasants were unable to buy land, leading to a rebellion in 510 B.C.. In 512 B.C., backed by the Athenians, Cleisthenes rose to power, creating a council of 500 that proposed laws, and the assembly, made up of Athenian adult males who voted on the laws after debate (Spielvogel 117). Because of these actions, Cleisthenes is credited

In Document D, it states that every citizen was to write down the name of the person that they thought were most deserving of a high political power, and to govern the democracy. After being elected, each man could only be in power for ten years, meaning that Athens had a sense of organization, and they could prevent someone from getting too much power.

Theseus is known as Athens’ “greatest hero”. There are many different stories of Theseus, as he had many relations with various peoples and lived quite an adventurous life. Modern adaptations of some stories have been made, but more in the imagination of the written rather than following along with what the ancient texts say. One modern adaptation that does as such is the motion picture “Immortals” which was written by two brothers, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides. This motion picture will be the essence of the essay. In ancient texts, Theseus was a great hero and essentially, the founder of the Athenians. In the text, done by Barry Powell, he describes there to be a complexity of the stories of Theseus, as there were more stories added never

The death of Pericles was a significant event in the course of the Peloponnesian War; however, even without Pericles' leadership the Athenian Assembly had countless opportunities to prevent their loss and chose not to take them. The fickleness and inefficiency of democracy ('the mob') allowed the Athenians to be easily influenced and therefore electing populists such as Cleon, Lysicles and Hyperbolus into dominant leadership roles. Election, via democratic means, of such populists, meant that the Athenians would take a much more aggressive approach to the war and therefore abandon the policies that Pericles had previously established. So in turn, democracy the institution for which the Athenians fought

He was a wise poet elected as chief executive. This position is where he started intelligent methodologies to community problems. Solon destabilizes hereditary aristocracy and starts the conversion of Athens into a democracy. This change includes acts of canceling debts and freeing Athenians enslaved for debt, refusing to confiscate nobles’ land, permitting all classes of free men (including poorest) to sit in the assembly, opening highest offices to wealthy commoners and, also initiating key economic reforms and industrial expansion Another contributor to Athenian democracy is Pisistratus, the Tyrant.

In my opinion , the most profound philosopher happens to be Athenian Philosopher Socrates. In comparison to Prince Arjuna I believe that both philosophers possess the qualities and characteristics of very wise men. In this essay I am going to compare two philosophers who may have had different values but similar beliefs.

Described by Thucydides as “the foremost Athenian and most able in speech or action [at the time of the Peloponnesian War,]” Pericles ushered in what was widely known as the “Golden Age of Athens” (31). He often exercised great prudence in his decision making and was widely admired by the Greek people. The man stressed justice, the worth of the Empire, and cleaving one’s personal interests to those of the city. Through his eloquent speeches and definitive actions he captured both the hearts of the Athenians and territory as a premier military commander. The people readily accepted his authority, and became accustomed to it. This would only lead to problems down the road, however, as other rulers took up the mantle of Athens. They would only be but a gilded echo of Pericles, unable and unwilling to follow his path. Therefore, though Pericles did not intentionally set Athens up to fail, because of the oratorical skill, leadership style, and character he possessed, success could only be truly achieved by and through him.