Athenian Constitution - Part 2: Sections 11-20

 
Purpose of the Document:  These next few sections read like a continued history leading up to the founding of an Athenian society.

Interesting Points about this Document:

• Section 11: Solon decides that he won't be changing the laws he's enacted.  He's alienated the upper class with the abolition of debts, while both the upper and lower classes have been further alienated by the circumstances he's caused.  The lower classes want him to redistribute the lands.  We are told that he preferred to be the savior of his country and the ideal lawgiver.
• Section 12:  With a few poems, Solon justifies his actions.  He speaks about the abolition of debts and ends up by claiming that even wealthier types should count him as their friends. 
• Section 13:  Not sure why Solon left the country and at what point the internal disorder referenced here began.  Interesting that "some found the cause and justification of their discontent in the abolition of debts, because thereby they had been reduced to poverty; others were dissatisfied with the political constitution, because it had undergone a revolutionary change; while with others the motive was found in personal rivalries among themselves".  There were 3 parties as follows: the Shore, led by Megacles the son of Alcmeon, which was considered to aim at a moderate form of government; then there were the men of the Plain, who desired an oligarchy and were led by Lycurgus; and thirdly there were the men of the Highlands, at the head of whom was Pisistratus, who was looked on as an extreme
  democrat.  
• Section14: The story of Pisistratus is interesting.  He inflicted himself with wounds in order to blame his opponents for it and ferment popular support.  He deviously worked to get himself into the Acropolis, thought the adherents of Megacles and Lycurgus made a coalition and drove him out.  What exactly happens to him after a beauty is groomed for him, passing her off as Athena.
• Section 15:  This section describes how Pisistratus executes a very gangster way of usurping power on the steps of the Acropolis.
• Section 16:   This is the best section of the entire constitution so far!  This section gives us a sense of how Pisistratus was loved by all and how clever he was at making himself rich while also appealing to everyone.  For instance, "Not only was he in every respect humane and mild and ready to forgive those who offended, but, in addition, he advanced money to the poorer people to help them in their labours, so that they might make their living by agriculture."  The majority alike of the upper class and of the people were in his favour; the former he won by his social intercourse with them, the latter by the assistance which he gave to their private purses.
• Section 17:  This section talks about his children and briefly discusses what marriages they may have come from.  There is also talk about Pisistratus dying of natural causes after 33 years of being in power, but also including the period of time during which he was in exile.
• Section 18:   Hippias, one of Pisastatus' sons, takes over the government but soon finds himself battling plots to overthrow him. In the midst of attempted grabs at power, another son of Pisastratus is killed.
• Section 19:  The following sentence best summarizes what happened to Hippias, "After this event the tyranny became much harsher. In consequence of his vengeance for his brother, and of the execution and banishment of a large number of persons, Hippias became a distrusted and an embittered man."
• Section 20:  This section focuses on rival leaders  fighting for power after the overthrow of the tyrants: Isagoras son of Tisander, a partisan of the tyrants, and Cleisthene, who belonged to the family of the Alcmeonidae. 

This is an entry for the Historical Period covering 4000bce - 399.  Within this historical period, this is Ancient Document 3 of  9.

Athenian Constitution - Part 1, Section 1-10

Purpose of the Document:  The first ten sections read like a history leading up to the Athenian constitution, but they then go on to describe the structure of Greek society and its access to political power. Just like the Ancilian and Agrarian laws of the Roman Empire, the Athenian Constitution also begins to offer some protections through the legal system by way of appeals.  I'm looking forward to the following sections of this historical document.

Interesting Points about this Document:

• Section 1:  Interesting how this section talks about Epimenides the Cretan performed a purification of the city. 
•  Section 2:  Interesting how this section mentions that the whole country was in the hands of a few persons, and if the tenants failed to pay their rent they were liable to be put into slavery.
• Section 3:   Before Draco, the magistrates were elected according to qualifications of birth and wealth.  Polemarch, on account of some of the kings proving feeble in war, invited to accept his post on account of need.  The last of the three offices was that of the Archon.  There is talk about where those holding such offices live.
• Section 4:  The first constitution, in the time of the archonship of Aristaichmus, Draco enacted his ordinances.  There is also talk about who the "franchise" could be given to.  Loans were secured upon the persons of the debtors, and the land was in the hands of a few. 
• Section 5:  The many were in slavery to the few, the people rose against the upper class.  Both parties were hostile towards each other until they appointed Solon to be mediator and Archon, and committed the whole constitution to his hands.  By birth and reputation Solon was one of the foremost men of the day, but in wealth and position he was of the middle class.
• Section 6:  As head of affairs, Solon liberated the people once and for all, by prohibiting all loans on the security of the debtor's person: and in addition he made laws by which he cancelled all debts, public and private.  Some accused him of being in on a scheme to buy up land, knowing that all debts would be forgiven.  But this claim is said to be refuted.
• Section 7:  Solon drew up a constitution and enacted new laws; and the ordinances of Draco ceased to be used, with the exception of those relating to murder. Solon divided the population according to property into the following four classes: Pentacosiomedimni, Knights, Zeugitae, and Thetes. The various magistracies were: the nine Archons, the Treasurers, the Commissioners for Public Contracts (Poletae), the Eleven, and Clerks (Colacretae).  The top 3 could be given offices in proportion to the value of their rateable property. The Thetes only had a place in the Assembly and in the juries.
• Section 8:  There were four tribes, as before, and four tribe-kings. Each tribe was divided into three Trittyes, with twelve Naucraries in each; and the Naucraries had officers of their own, called Naucrari.  Solon also appointed a Council of 400, 100 from each tribe; but he assigned to the Council of the Areopagus the duty of superintending the laws, acting as before as the guardian of the constitution in general, keeping watch over state affairs in the more important matters. To protect against conspiracy to overthrow the govt., any one who, in a time civil factions, did not take up arms with either party, should lose his rights as a citizen and cease to have any part in the state.
• Section 9:   There are 3 points in the constitution which appear to be its most democratic features:
• 1.  The prohibition of loans on the security of the debtor's person
• 2.  The right of every person who so willed to claim redress on behalf of any one to whom wrong was being done
• 3.  The institution of the appeal to the jurycourts

This is an entry for the Historical Period covering 4000bce - 399.  Within this historical period, this is Ancient Document 3 of  9.