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Source Analysis: Aristotle selections from Constitution of the Athenians and Politics
Constitution of the Athenians (5-12; 18-22) and Politics (1275b34-39 and 1319b2-27) Robinson (77-81;88-93)
Questions:
Is it accurate to label Solon’s reforms democratic? Why and why not?
What did Solon and Cleisthenes add to Athenian government that later aided the development of democracy in Athens?
Synopsis:
In the first selection from Constitution of the Athenians, Aristotle addresses the changes in Athenian government that eventually led to democracy, beginning with the reforms of Solon. Solon’s reforms attempted to reconcile the disputes between the wealthy aristocracy and the indebted masses. His reforms included: the cancellation of debt bondage, ostracism, right to appeal court decisions, and many others. Solon’s restructuring of the government to have 9 archons, a boule (council of 400), an Assembly of All Athenians, and a jury court gave greater political participation to more Athenians. Further by dividing the people into four classes based on wealth and not status, wealthier but non-aristocratic Athenians gained more political power. A person’s political participation was thus directly proportional to his economic status and only the top two classes could enter the highest political office: the archonship. Solon’s reforms thus strived to strike a balance between the common people and the elite. He wanted to end civil strife and offer protection from an exploitive aristocracy. However, his reforms were unable to end civil distress in Athens.
Aristotle’s second selection addresses the aftermath of the tyranny of Pesistratids and the rise of Cleisthenes to the archonship. The boule after resisting both Isagoras and King Cleomenes brought Cleisthenes back from exile and made him leader. Cleisthenes, already popular among the people, won further support by making the constitution more democratic than Solon’s reforms. He divided the citizens into 10 tribes and increased the membership of the boule from Solon’s 400 to 500. He replaced the naukraroi with the demes as his basic unit for dividing Attica. Cleisthenes also revived Solon’s law of ostracism.
In the final selection Aristotle tackles the reforms of the citizenship under Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes redistribution of the tribes included the expansion of citizenship to foreigners. Aristotle postulates that actions like these are caused by democratic leaders who desire to strengthen the people. “In order to constitute such a democracy and strengthen, the people, the leaders have been in the habit of including as many as they can, and making citizens…” (Aristotle, 92). In these remarks we can begin to see the introduction of political thought and Aristotle questioning the legitimacy of providing citizenship indiscriminately.
The three passages taken together reveal the historical development of Athenian democracy and political thought. Solon and Cleisthenese introduce reforms which act as the foundations of Athenian government. Solon’s reforms gave political voice to the non-landed classes, while Cleisthenes increased the boule, redivided the tribes, and re-evaluated the requirements for citizenship, thus breaking regional monopolies and providing greater equality.
Word Count: 483
Constitution of the Athenians (5-12; 18-22) and Politics (1275b34-39 and 1319b2-27) Robinson (77-81;88-93)
Questions:
Is it accurate to label Solon’s reforms democratic? Why and why not?
What did Solon and Cleisthenes add to Athenian government that later aided the development of democracy in Athens?
Synopsis:
In the first selection from Constitution of the Athenians, Aristotle addresses the changes in Athenian government that eventually led to democracy, beginning with the reforms of Solon. Solon’s reforms attempted to reconcile the disputes between the wealthy aristocracy and the indebted masses. His reforms included: the cancellation of debt bondage, ostracism, right to appeal court decisions, and many others. Solon’s restructuring of the government to have 9 archons, a boule (council of 400), an Assembly of All Athenians, and a jury court gave greater political participation to more Athenians. Further by dividing the people into four classes based on wealth and not status, wealthier but non-aristocratic Athenians gained more political power. A person’s political participation was thus directly proportional to his economic status and only the top two classes could enter the highest political office: the archonship. Solon’s reforms thus strived to strike a balance between the common people and the elite. He wanted to end civil strife and offer protection from an exploitive aristocracy. However, his reforms were unable to end civil distress in Athens.
Aristotle’s second selection addresses the aftermath of the tyranny of Pesistratids and the rise of Cleisthenes to the archonship. The boule after resisting both Isagoras and King Cleomenes brought Cleisthenes back from exile and made him leader. Cleisthenes, already popular among the people, won further support by making the constitution more democratic than Solon’s reforms. He divided the citizens into 10 tribes and increased the membership of the boule from Solon’s 400 to 500. He replaced the naukraroi with the demes as his basic unit for dividing Attica. Cleisthenes also revived Solon’s law of ostracism.
In the final selection Aristotle tackles the reforms of the citizenship under Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes redistribution of the tribes included the expansion of citizenship to foreigners. Aristotle postulates that actions like these are caused by democratic leaders who desire to strengthen the people. “In order to constitute such a democracy and strengthen, the people, the leaders have been in the habit of including as many as they can, and making citizens…” (Aristotle, 92). In these remarks we can begin to see the introduction of political thought and Aristotle questioning the legitimacy of providing citizenship indiscriminately.
The three passages taken together reveal the historical development of Athenian democracy and political thought. Solon and Cleisthenese introduce reforms which act as the foundations of Athenian government. Solon’s reforms gave political voice to the non-landed classes, while Cleisthenes increased the boule, redivided the tribes, and re-evaluated the requirements for citizenship, thus breaking regional monopolies and providing greater equality.
Word Count: 483
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