Isabella Carter
The Constitution of Athens, also known as the Athenian Constitution, has been the subject of several ancient treatises, including those by Aristotle and Pseudo-Xenophon. However, the first person to reform the Athenian Constitution was Solon, a wise and noble Athenian lawmaker, who implemented his constitution in the early 6th century BC. Solon's reforms included debt relief, limiting the right to life and death of the father of the family, and dividing the population into four groups based on income and military service. He also formed the boule, a council of 400-500 people, and established the Ekklesia (assembly) and the Heliaia (court).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First reformer of the Constitution of Athens | Solon |
| Year of implementation | Early 6th century BC |
| Solon's role | Elected Archon |
| Reforms | Forgiving peasants their debts, limiting the right to life and death of the father of the family, dividing the population into four groups according to their income and military service, formation of the boule, a council of 400 or 500 people, the Ekklesia (assembly), and the Heliaia (court) |
| Aristotle's role | Wrote a treatise on the Athenian Constitution |
| Aristotle's treatise | Consists of two parts, the first part deals with the different forms of the constitution, the second part describes the city's institutions, including terms of access to citizenship, magistrates, and the courts |
| Date of Aristotle's treatise | Between 328 BC and 322 BC |
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What You'll Learn
The Draconian Constitution
At the time, most societies in Ancient Greece codified basic laws, but the oral law in Athens was manipulated by the aristocracy. This led to the people of Athens commissioning Draco, an aristocratic legislator, to devise a written law code and constitution, earning him the title of the first legislator of Athens. The laws were inscribed on wooden tablets and displayed on steles of the shape of four-sided pyramids, making them accessible to the literate.
Draco's code introduced several novel concepts to Athenian law. It distinguished between intentional and unintentional homicide, with both crimes being adjudicated by the state at the Areopagus. As a result, murder cases were no longer tried through feuds, which became illegal. The Draconian Constitution also introduced the council, vaguely characterised as a magistracy by Aristotle, and the Assembly, another Athenian magistracy described in detail by Aristotle.
The laws established by Draco were known for their harshness, with the death penalty prescribed for most offences, including minor crimes such as stealing a cabbage or an apple. Plutarch states that when Draco was asked about the severe punishments, he replied that he considered the lesser crimes to deserve the death penalty, and no heavier penalty existed for greater crimes. According to tradition, all of Draco's laws were later repealed by Solon, except for those on homicide. The adjective "draconian" has since entered the English language to refer to unusually harsh punishment or rules.
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The Solonian Constitution
Solon's constitutional reforms were part of a broader effort to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in Athens. These reforms included debt relief, later known and celebrated among Athenians as the seisachtheia, or "shaking off of burdens". Solon's reforms also had a religious impact, as religion had always influenced political potential in Athens. Notably, Solon kept only the Draconian constitution's laws regarding homicide.
Solon's constitution also legislated for all citizens to be admitted into the Ekklesia, and for a court, the Heliaia, to be formed from all citizens. By giving common people the power to elect officials and call them to account, Solon established the foundations of a true republic. His constitution lowered the requirements for election to public office, making it more accessible to those of lower financial and social status.
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The Areopagite Constitution
Other scholars, such as Donald Kagan, counter that no concrete measures were necessary for the Areopagus to establish dominance, as it relied on the prestige of its leading members. Ephialtes' reforms, which sharply limited the powers of the Areopagus, are considered by Aristotle and modern scholars to mark the end of the Areopagite Constitution.
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Pericles' democratic reforms
The Athenian Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Athenians, was written by Aristotle or one of his students in around 350 B.C.E. It is a treatise on the Athenian form of government and is based on Athens at the time of Aristotle, dating the work to no earlier than 328 B.C. and no later than 322 B.C.
Pericles was a prominent Greek politician and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was particularly influential in Athenian politics between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War and was described by a contemporary historian as "the first citizen of Athens". Pericles is known for his democratic reforms, which some historians argue led to the stalemate of populism and the decline of Athens. However, others assert that his democratic measures provided the basis for an unassailable political strength.
Pericles also played a role in the ostracism of Hipparchus, a relative of the tyrant Pisistratus. The law of ostracism was originally passed as a precaution against men in high office taking advantage of their position, and the first use of this law was against Hipparchus. Pericles' military excursions, such as the expulsion of barbarians from the Thracian peninsula of Gallipoli in 447 B.C., also contributed to his political strength and influence in Athens.
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Solon's constitutional reforms
Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, political philosopher, and poet who lived between 630 and 560 BC. He is credited with laying the foundations for Athenian democracy through his constitutional reforms, which were implemented in Athens in the early 6th century BC. Solon's reforms were in response to the conflict between the landed aristocracy and the peasantry, as well as economic and ideological rivalries.
Solon's reforms also introduced important changes to judicial practices. Any Athenian, not just the injured party, could initiate a lawsuit, and there was some measure of control over the verdict of magistrates through the right of appeal to a court of citizens at large. Solon also created a lower and higher assembly, which were meant to decrease the power of the Areopagus, the aristocratic council.
In addition to his constitutional reforms, Solon also implemented economic reforms to strengthen the Athenian economy. He dealt with the issue of debt, which was one of the immediate causes of the crisis, by cancelling all debts, freeing enslaved debtors, and forbidding borrowing on the security of the person. Solon encouraged the growth of Attica's trade and industry, forbidding the export of produce other than olive oil, minting new Athenian coinage, reforming the standard of weights and measures, and granting immigrant craftsmen citizenship.
Overall, Solon's constitutional reforms were a significant step towards democracy in Athens, and he is described by Aristotle in the Athenian Constitution as "the first people's champion".
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Frequently asked questions
Solon reformed the constitution of Athens in the early 6th century BC.
Solon's reforms included debt relief, limiting the right to life and death of the father of the family, and dividing the population into four groups based on income and military service. He also formed the boule, a council of 400 or 500 people, and allowed all citizens to be admitted into the Ekklesia (assembly).
Solon is described by Aristotle in the Athenian Constitution as "the first people's champion". He is also known for writing poetry in defence of his constitutional reform.
After Solon, there were new social revolts that fractured the city until Peisistratus took control of Athens by force. Cleisthenes, the leader of the democratic movement in 508 BC, granted citizenship to all free men and further reformed the constitution of ancient Athens. Pericles, a prominent political leader in the 5th century BC, also made important reforms to Athenian democracy.
