CMS150 - Winter 2001

Trials of Conscience: Litigation

and the Rhetoric of Identity

• Solon - biographical information:
  
   
  • from the noble family of the Medontids
  • wrote extensive poetry describing his political opinions and actions
  • was chief archon in 594/3 - a period of tremendous social strife; was given authority to reform the Athenian constitution
  • died around 540
    
     
• made numerous economic reforms in Athens
  
   
  • seisachtheia (shaking off of debts) - cancelled all debts secured by land or person (no liens or debt bondage).
  • outlawed debt bondage.
  • bought and brought back to Athens many citizens who had been sold into slavery on account of debt.
  • reformed (perhaps invented) currency
  • forbade the selling of any Attic crops (except olives) outside of Attica.
  • expanded citizenship to include many metics (immigrant tradesmen/craftsmen).
    
    
• made numberous constitutional reforms in Athens
  
   
  • divided citizenry into classes soley in terms of the wealth their land produced, not blood lines. Eventually, any source of wealth, not just farming, satisfied these classes:
    
     
    • pentakosiomedimnoi ("whose land produced more than 500 bushels of corn");
    • hippeis ("horsemen," i.e. knights/cavalry) - 300-500 bushels;
    • zeugitai ("teamsters") - 200-300 bushels
    • thetes - (hired men) - less than 200 bushels.
      
      
  • The Pentakosiomedimnoi and Hippeis were eligble to stand for the chief magistries (which in turn guaranteed membership in council). The effect was to transform Athens from an aristocracy of wealth, not birth.
    
     
  • The Zeugitai became eligible to run for minor offices.
    
     
  • The Thetes were allowed to vote in the Ekklesia and Heliaea.
    
     
  • Declared an amnesty that permitted most folks who had been expelled for political reasons to return to Athens (included the Alkmonidae, descendants of family who had killed Cylon, the first Athenian to attempt tyranny in 632).
    
     
  • Established the Boule (a council of 400), which included Zeugitai (but not Thetes) and which prepared and organzied meetings of the Ekklesia and prepared appeals to the Heliaea.
    
    
  • Established the Heliaea, law courts which heard appeals from citizens against decisions of magistrates