Cleisthenes Essay

What reforms did Cleisthenes introduce and what were his likely motives for them.

Cleisthenes, the son of Megakles, began work on the constitution of Attica (Athens). Unlike Solon, he left no writings to describe himself, so he remains a vague figure. Unlike Solon, Cleisthenes did not receive any clear directions on reform. His achievements were made through the assembly, the government body made up of all the citizens with the responsibility of passing laws. As the head of a rich and aristocratic clan, his main motives may have been to acquire political power for himself and his noble followers as well as a military purpose and democracy.

Cleisthenes' methods allied him firmly with the ordinary citizen and took Attica a long step further on the road to democracy.

Democracy was supposed to have begun in Attica after the last major faction fight of the 6th century B.C. This fight was between Isagoras and Cleisthenes. To ensure his position, Cleisthenes reformed the tribal system and introduced the council of five hundred. Again, he did not aim to introduce democracy; rather his aim was most likely to overcome his regional rival, Isagoras.

His reforms that were placed in were that the country was divided into 10 new tribes, also know as plylae, on a regional basis, with sections of the 3 classes in each. Each tribe with 3 trittyes (one from the city (asty), one from the coast (paralia), and one from inland (mesogaia)) was composed of new units called demes. In the countryside these were villages, while in Attica itself they were divisions of the city. (Source: Bradley, 1998)

Old clans and noble families now possessed far less political significance because they were now able to control only one-third of each tribe. Citizenship was now based on locality, with citizenship being granted to metics and other aliens resident in and around Attica.

The tribes were roughly equal in number. They usually contributed soldiers for the army. Usually each tribe contributed a regiment of hoplites and a squadron of military. This action served to reinforce tribal loyalty.

Commanding the army was the 10 strategoi, or referred to as generals. These 10 generals were, at first, under the control of the Polemarch but later were to become the chief magistrates.

The boule was also enlarged to five hundred, 50 from each tribe, divided into 10 committees of 50, called prytanies. Each committee was in charge of administration and government for a month, so that more people were now directly involved in government.

This council was to be the supreme administrative, deliberative and judicial body of Attica. It kept a check on the acts of public officials. It controlled the finances of the state, prepared business for the assembly and was in charge of foreign policy.

The council took an important role in making all laws and could convene as a court to try a case to impeach a public official.

The assembly was constituted to meet regularly, deciding matters that affected the daily lives of citizens. It consisted of all citizens over 20 years of age and was to be the final authority. It passed laws and decrees, and voted on war, peace and taxes.

The people's courts were enlarged, with juries being selected by lot. The courts were used for appeals and for civil cases. (Source: Bradley, 1998)

Ostracism was introduced. At a meeting of the assembly once a year, voters named a person to be sent into exile. The names of persons proposed for exile were scratched onto pieces of broken pottery (ostraka). 6,000 votes were needed. The exile was to be for 10 years. There was no loss of citizenship or property and the family of the ostracised person was still permitted to remain in Attica. The process was intended as a safeguard against tyranny. (Source: Bradley, 1998)

There were mainly two results of Cleisthenes' reforms. These were either positive aspects or negative aspects.