Everything about The Solonian Constitution totally explained
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 hadn't 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 wouldn't be tempted to take power as a
tyrant.
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