Greece Notes #6

Hippias (r. 527-510 BC).

• Before his brother's death (murdered), he had fit in the older meaning of a tyrant.
• After, Hippias had turned into a tyrant best described by the modern definition of the word.
• He was eventually ostracized from Athens (thing that, at the time, was worse than death).
• Seeking revenge, he began to work with the Persian king Darius I, helping the Persians invade Marathon (to the eastern coast of Athens).
• With Hippias gone, Isagoras and Cleisthenes (both aristocrats) were engaged in a power struggle.
• Isagoras had support from some fellow aristocrats and from Sparta.
• Cleisthenes, on the other hand, had the support of the majority of Athenians.

• Isagoras became the archon eponymous (self-proclaimed leader) and a tyrant.
• After he became the leader, he decided to ostracize Cleisthenes.
• Cleisthenes' supporters rebelled against the government under Isagoras for the first time in the history of the world.
• Isagoras was trapped in the agora for two days and then had fled on the third day and was banished.
• Cleisthenes was definitely a member of the elite.
• He was very rich and insulated from the "hoi polloi"-average people, such as middle and low class citizens.
• But, he was a crafty politician who saw the value of tapping into the talents, intelligence, and energy of non-aristocrats (middle class citizens).
• He didn't see the value of women, though.
• Cleisthenes' democracy:
• Huge step forward--getting "regular folks" involved in the government.
• The first democracy had limits.
• Only citizens could participate (which made about a fifth of the Athenian population).
• Only free, adult, male, property owners born in Athens were considered citizens.
• Direct demmocracy.
• Where the state (in this case, city-state) is voted by its citizens.
• Rule based on citizenship.
• Majority rule decides vote.
• In the agora (meeting place for politics and social events and also marketplace), citizens argued, made speeches, and then voted with black (nay) and white (aye) stones.
• It was first in Athens under Cleisthenes' rule by about 500 BC.
• It is very hard to keep in countries with big populations (such as the United States) on the federal level and, although easier, state level.