Cleisthenes reforms

• Cleisthenes was an Athenian statesmen who is known as the “father of democracy” and introduced far-reaching democratic reforms in 508/7
• Background: Cleisthenes was a member of the Alcaemoid clan during Hippias (or) involved as archon in 525/4
• Cleisthenes was in a power struggle with Isagoras and as a result, he turned to the people for support
• Pre-reforms: a citizen was a free adult male who had inherited his citizenship from his citizen parent
• Cleisthenes‘ reform of political constituencies destroyed the power of the aristocrats for good
• Cleisthenes left some parts of Solons government the same with: the role of Archon, the council of the Aeropagus and the law courts
• Sortition was a democratic practice of selecting by lots, and therefore everyone has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of social class
• Cleisthenes turned to the people not to help democracy but to help himself -> democrat by need
• Cleisthenes created the boule/ council of 500 - its not clear whether this was a new foundation or a reorganisation of Solons council of 400
• The powers of the Boule are not spelled out in any sources but it can be assumed that its main role was to prepare business for the assembly
• Information on the assembly under the Cleisthenic system is sketchy. the use of “Demokrata” for Athens after cleisthenes indicates the assembly may have had the final say on major issues of public policy
• Board of 10 generals created, one from each of the ten tribes, though the Polemarchus retained overall command in war. the generals eventually became the most important public officials in the 5th Century