Transformation of government
·     During the seventh and sixths centuries BCE, aristocrats ran the show in most of Greece.
·     Aristocrats= members of the ruling class
·     They attended symposiums= meetings where the elite men would enjoy wine and poetry, performances and dances
Politics- and exclusive club
·     No women (except for “entertainment”)
·     No middle class
·     No slaves
Tyrants seize control 
·     Aristocrats would form alliances with hoplites= armed soldiers/ formed a tyranny
·     Tyrant= someone who rules outside the framework of the polis
1.    Modern meaning of tyrant= an abusive oppressive ruler
2.    Greek meaning of tyrant= someone who simply seized power (usually with hoplite help)
Rules, Codes, and Laws 
1.    Draco (621 BCE)
·     All Athenians (rich or poor) are equal under the law 
·     Death is the punishment for many crimes 
·     Debt slavery is OK (work as a slave to repay debts)
2.    Solon’s reforms (594 BCE) 
·     Outlaws debt slavery
·     All American citizens can speak at the assembly 
·     Any citizens can press charges against wrongdoers 
Eventually leading to… Cleisthenes
3.    More reforms (around 500 BCE)
·     Allowed all citizens to submit laws of debate at the assembly (created the council of Five Hundred (members chosen at random, to counsel the assembly)
·     Can you see them leading to democracy?
·     But… only free adult male property owners born in Athens were considered citizens 
·     Sorry women, slaves, and “foreigners”
Rewind to… clash of the tyrants!
·     Hippias was a tyrant who rules from 527-510 BCE
·     His brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh

·     Eventually he was expelled from Athens ( this is called being ostracized)

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