Cleisthenes The father of democracy
The Life of Cleisthenes Before Fame
Cleisthenes was born to the Alcmaeonid family, his parents being Agariste and Megacles II, and raised as a noble. He was born in the year 570 BC and he worked to dissolve the wall dividing the nobles and common people until the year 508 BC when he died. Cleisthenes was the grandson of Cleisthenes of Sicyon, a successful ruler and Olympic Games victor, he had a lot to live up to, and he did. Cleisthenes is credited for reforming the constitution of Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 507 BC.
Cleisthenes Rise to Power
Cleisthenes is also responsible for overthrowing Hippias, (tyrant son of Pisistratus) after the collapse of Hippias' tyranny, Isagorus (Athenian aristocrat) and Cleisthenes became rivals in their struggle for power. Isagoras gained the upper hand when he appealed to the Spartan King Cleomenes I. He did so on the pretense of the Alcmaeonid Curse, Cleisthenes was said to be cursed because his father was responsible for killing the followers of Cylon of Athens (previous noble and victor of the Olympic Games). Isagoras succeeded in exiling Cleisthenes, and many other Athenian citizens. Soon after Cleisthenes left Isagoras attempted to dissolve the Boule (council of Athenian citizens appointed to run the daily affairs of the city). This did not work, the council resisted and its many followers supported them. Isagoras and his followers ended up exiled instead and Cleisthenes and the others banished by Isagoras were recalled. And so started the changes Cleisthenes invoked upon the government.
Cleisthenes Contributions to the Athenian Government
Cleisthenes' reformation of the Ancient Athenian Government started with his commission of a bronze memorial sculpted by Antenor in honor of those Isagoras executed. He continued with changing the political organization from four traditional tribes, which were based on family relations, to ten tribes now based on location of residence. "A true test of real democracy," this was said about his establishment of Sortition, the random selection of citizens to fill government positions rather than kinship or heredity. The Boule wasn't left out of his reoganizations, now instead of 400 members under Solon (Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet) it had 500 members, 50 citizens from each tribe. Cleisthenes also introduced the Bouletic oath "to advise according to the laws what was best for the people." The court system was reorganized now 5000 jurors (500 from each tribe) were picked each day. The Boule also took on the role of proposing laws to the assembly of voters, who convened in Athens around 40 times a year. New bills that were proposed could be: rejected, passed, or returned for amendments by the assembly. Having the opinion of the citizens was the whole goal of Cleisthenes, especially when it concerned the citizens directly, so he introduced Ostracism, a vote from more than 6000 citizens would exile a citizen for ten years.
Cleisthenes, a Great Greek
Thomas Carlyle, 19th century philosopher and historian said, "the history of the world is but the biography of great men." The proposed question though, is not if Cleisthenes was a great man, which truly he was, but if he was an 'eventful man' (any man whose actions influenced subsequent developments) or 'event-making man' (an eventful man whose actions are the consequences of outstanding capacities of intelligence, will, and character rather than of accidents of positions). Many of his achievements throughout life point him in the direction of an event-making man, but how he ultimately achieved them advocate Cleisthenes as an eventful man. Though he was responsible for overthrowing Hippias and beginning the fight for power between Isagoras and himself, he was exiled by Isagoras on account of his family's curse. Cleisthenes didn't make any attempts to return to Athens and overthrow Isagoras, but as luck may have it he didn't have to to gain power. When Isagoras tried to dissolve the Boule they resisted, the other Athenians supported the Boule and banished Isagoras and his followers. All those exiled were recalled, including Cleisthenes, beginning his reign of power and greatness. Though he acheived many great things, he did not create the oppurtunities, they were thrust upon him, deeming Cleisthenes as an eventful man.
Cleisthenes: the Great Greek and Eventful Man