Information about Solonian Constitution
The Solonian Constitution was created by Solon in the early 6th century BC.
Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco, which had not solved any of the problems in Athens despite inflicting harsh penalties for almost every crime. Under Solon's reforms, all debts were abolished and all debt-slaves were freed. The status of the hectemoroi (the "one-sixth workers"), who farmed in an early form of serfdom, was also abolished. These reforms were known as the Seisachtheia, the "shaking-off of burdens."
Solon's constitution reduced the power of the old aristocracy by making wealth rather than birth a criterion for holding political positions, a system called timokratia or Timocracy. Citizens were also divided based on their land production: Pentacosiomedimni (over 500 bushels of produce), Hippeis (300-500 bushels), Zeugitae (200-300 bushels), and thetes (below 200 bushels, as well as citizens with no wealth tied to the land). Each division had different rights; for example, the pentecosiomedimi could be archons, while thetes could only attend the Athenian assembly (the Heliaia).
The Heliaia was given the right to hear appeals, and Solon also created the Boule as a higher assembly. Both of these were meant to decrease the power of the Areopagus, the aristocratic council.
The only parts of Draco's code that Solon kept were the laws regarding homicide. The constitution was written as poetry, and as soon as it was introduced, Solon went into self-imposed exile for 10 years so he would not be tempted to take power as a tyrant.
Exile can be a form of punishment.[1] It means to be away from one's home (i.e.
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Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco, which had not solved any of the problems in Athens despite inflicting harsh penalties for almost every crime. Under Solon's reforms, all debts were abolished and all debt-slaves were freed. The status of the hectemoroi (the "one-sixth workers"), who farmed in an early form of serfdom, was also abolished. These reforms were known as the Seisachtheia, the "shaking-off of burdens."
Solon's constitution reduced the power of the old aristocracy by making wealth rather than birth a criterion for holding political positions, a system called timokratia or Timocracy. Citizens were also divided based on their land production: Pentacosiomedimni (over 500 bushels of produce), Hippeis (300-500 bushels), Zeugitae (200-300 bushels), and thetes (below 200 bushels, as well as citizens with no wealth tied to the land). Each division had different rights; for example, the pentecosiomedimi could be archons, while thetes could only attend the Athenian assembly (the Heliaia).
The Heliaia was given the right to hear appeals, and Solon also created the Boule as a higher assembly. Both of these were meant to decrease the power of the Areopagus, the aristocratic council.
The only parts of Draco's code that Solon kept were the laws regarding homicide. The constitution was written as poetry, and as soon as it was introduced, Solon went into self-imposed exile for 10 years so he would not be tempted to take power as a tyrant.
External links
- The Athenian Constitution, Aristotle (~350 BCE). Commentary on the Solonian Constitution.
- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Plutarch (~75 CE). Article on Solon.
- The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Frederick Engels. Chapter V. The Rise of the Athenian State, discusses the significance and effects of Solonian Constitution.
Solon (Greek: Σόλων, c. 638 BC–558 BC) was a famous Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and Lyric poet. The travel writer, Pausanias, listed Solon among the Seven Sages of the ancient world.
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The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC.
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Overview
In the Near East, the first half of this century was dominated by the Neo Babylonian or Chaldean..... Click the link for more information.
Draco (IPA pronunciation: [ˈdreɪkoʊ]; from Greek Δράκων, IPA ['drakɔːn]
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SERF (spin exchange relaxation-free) is a magnetometer.
Photographs of a serf magnetometer [1] have been published by the Romalis Group at Princeton.
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Photographs of a serf magnetometer [1] have been published by the Romalis Group at Princeton.
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Seisachtheia (Greek: seiein, to shake, and achthos, burden, i.e. the relief of burdens) was a set of laws instituted by the Athenian lawmaker Solon in order to rectify the wide-spread serfdom and slavery that had run rampant in Athens by the 6th Century BC.
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timocracy as either:
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- a state where only property owners may participate in government; or
- a government where rulers are selected and perpetuated based on the degree of honour they hold relative to others in their society, peers and the ruling class.
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In the cities of 5th Century BC Ancient Greece the Pentacosiomedimni were the top class of citizens set out by the Politician Solon. The Pentacosiomedimni were those whose property or estate could produce 500 bushels of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year.
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Hippeis was the Greek term for cavalry. The Hippeus (Greek ἱππεύς) was the second highest of the four Athenian social classes, made of men who could afford to maintain a war horse in the
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In the cities of 5th Century BC Ancient Greece, Zeugitae were the second lowest class of people set out by the politician Solon.
The Zeugitae were those whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year.
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The Zeugitae were those whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year.
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Archon (Gr. άρχων, pl. άρχοντες) is a Greek word that means "ruler" or the like, though it is frequently encountered as the title of some specific public office.
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Heliaia (Greek: Ήλιαία) or Halia (Greek: Άλία) was the supreme court of ancient Athens.
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In the cities of ancient Greece, the boule (Greek: βουλή, plural βουλαί or boulai from the ancient Greek verb βούλομαι (boulomai) meaning to will
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Areopagus or Areios Pagos (Greek Άρειος Πάγος) is the 'Hill of Ares', north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the chief homicide court of Athens.
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Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being.[1] It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English.
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Poetry (from the Greek "ποίησις", poiesis, a "making" or "creating") is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible
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For other senses of this word, see exile (disambiguation).
Exile can be a form of punishment.[1] It means to be away from one's home (i.e.
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tyrant is a single ruler holding vast, if not absolute power through a state or in an organization. The term carries connotations of a harsh and cruel ruler who places his/her own interests or the interests of a small oligarchy over the best interests of the general population
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