- Hippias was a tyrant who ruled 527 to 510 B.C.E.
- his brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh
- eventually he was expelled from Athens (ostracized)
- in revenge he began working with the Persian king Darius , helping them invade Marathon
- with Hippias gone, Isagras and Cleisthenes (both were aristocrats) engaged in a power struggle
- Isagoris had some support from fellow aristocrats, plus from Sparta
- Cliesthenes had the support of the majority of Athenians
- Isagoris becomes archon eponymous (tyrant)
- he ostracizes Cleisthenes
- Cleisthenes' supporters- and the ordinary Athenian citizens!- revolt against Isagoras' tyranny
- they trap Isagoras on the acropolis for 2 days- on the third day he fled and was banished
508 B.C.! Yes!
- Cleisthenes- definitely a member of the elite
- Elite
- Very rich
- Insulated from the "hoi polloi" (average)
- Crafty politician
- intelligence and energies of the non-aristocrats (middle class)
- too bad they didn't realize the value of women... but, hey, babysteps
- Middle class had the power
- citizens could participate but... only 1/5 of Athens population were citizens
- after several years, Athens practiced a direct democracy
Direct Democracy
- where a state (or city-state) is ruled by its citizens
- rule is based on citizens
- majority rule decides vote (in the Agora, citizens argued, made speeches, then voted with white stones (yes) and black stones (no)
- it was first practiced by Cleisthenes in Athens around 500 B.C.E.
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