Ancient Greece: Oligarchic Constitution Of Ancient Athenian

HIS1001

The ancient Athenians had used an oligarchic constitution; it was not a good era to be stricken with poverty. The aristocrats dominated the peasants, so much so that the peasants were dependent on them. The poor worked the fields of the rich for a portion of the harvest, and if the rent was not met, their wives and children were seized in order to pay it off.
Officials were chosen based on their birthright, at first for life, then for a decade. The officials consisted of the basileus, the traditional rulers, the polemarch, and the archon, which were responsible for newer traditions. Following the archon, the thesmothetae had been created. The thesmotheta were appointed for only a single year; they were in charge of writing and preserving statutes for the resolution of disputes. The officials occupied the Bucoleum, the town hall, the Epilyceum, and the thesmotheteum, in their respective orders. During Solon’s time, they all converged in the thesmotheteum, where they gave final judgment in lawsuits. The greatest of the affairs were handled by the council of the Areopagus, punishing the disorderly.
Soon after this, Draco passed his legislation. Political power was granted to those who owned land, as well as generals and cavalry commanders, who had legitimate sons over the age of
Pericles further weakened the Areopagus and grew the city’s naval power. Pericles was the first man to reward jury service, to counter Cimon, who was as wealthy as a tyrant. During the rule of Pericles, the constitution was relatively healthy, but following his death, it took a turn for the worse. The champions of the people following him were Nicias, Cleon, Theramenes, Cleophon, Callicrates, Thucydides, and Theramenes. The most favorable politicians following the older ones were Nucuas, Thucydides, and Theramnes who were public-spirited and behaved fatherly towards their fellow