[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":137},["ShallowReactive",2],{"article-solon-reforms-en":3},{"id":4,"name":5,"keywords":4,"slug":6,"author":7,"status":4,"defaultLang":4,"ogImage":8,"ogType":9,"updateDate":10,"createDate":11,"isDeleted":4,"availableLangs":4,"i18nMeta":12,"relatedBlogs":23},null,"雅典梭伦改革","solon-reforms","卜可","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770290745339_720_1766470048082_solon52.jpg","article","2026-03-12T12:56:42","2025-12-20T16:40:19",{"name":13,"h1Title":14,"title":15,"subtitle":4,"keywords":16,"content":17,"overview":4,"description":18,"ogTitle":19,"ogDescription":20,"preface":4,"note":4,"langCode":21,"updateDate":10,"createDate":11,"priority":22,"author":7},"Solon reform in Athens","Solon's Reform: The Foundation of Athenian Democracy, the Greatest Legislative Reform of Ancient Times","Solon Reform | Athens Democratic Solution Order 400-Person Council Jury Court Ancient Greek History","SauronReform,Athens,Greece,Legislator","## Solon reform\n\nBecause it was too harsh, after the implementation of the Dragu Law, Athens did not become an orderly city-state ruled by law, but the order became more chaotic, and the civilians of Athens began to brew armed riots. The famous Aristotle once talked about the situation at that time: \"* * the majority was enslaved by the minority, the common people rebelled against the aristocracy, and the different classes maintained a long-term opposition to each other * *\". Under such circumstances, some enlightened dignitaries also hope to find a way to deal with it. They elected a new judicial consul and asked him to re-legislate to eliminate the social contradictions at that time. This shining figure was Solon (about 630-560).\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469014164_Solon2.jpg\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"60%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">bust of Solon, a replica of the Greek original (c. 110 BC). National Archaeological Museum of \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Naples City\" lon=\"14.2464\" lat=\"40.8563\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"4\">Naples\u003C/span>.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\nSolon was born in a declining aristocratic family in \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Athens\" lon=\"23.7231\" lat=\"37.9751\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"4\">Athens\u003C/span>. When he was young, he went out to do business and traveled to \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Asia Minor\" lon=\"32\" lat=\"39\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"4\">Asia Minor\u003C/span>, Egypt and other places. He not only visited many places of interest and learned a lot about customs and social systems, but also met many famous ancient Greek scholars. Solon is not only a broad-minded and knowledgeable person, but also a poet. He enjoys the reputation of being one of the seven sages of ancient Greece. Later facts also proved that Solon also has a strong political talent and vision.\n\nIn 594 BC, with military merit and prestige, 44-year-old Solon was elected consul for a one-year term. In Solon's time, there were nine consul s, whose role was equivalent to that of the cabinet in many countries, with the power to propose bills. Only nobles are eligible to run for this office, so if they unite, they can easily elect people from their own faction. Therefore, it can be considered that**Solon was recommended and supported by vested interests before he became a consul, that is, the aristocracy itself is promoting reform, which is commendable and worthy of reference for later generations**.\n\n## Promulgation of the \"Negative Order\"\n\nSolon first**basically abolished the Delagu Law**, retaining only the laws related to homicide, and then initiated reforms that addressed the root causes of the conflict. He issued the so-called \"relief order\" (Seisachtheia), which aims to reduce the burden on the bottom people. It mainly includes three important economic measures:\n\n1. Cancellation of all private and national debt and abolition of debt slavery\n2. Redistribution of land\n3. Implementation of currency reform\n\nThe first of these measures is the most subversive. This law, proposed by Solon and voted by the Citizens' Assembly, is a shock, directly**canceling all public and private debt and abolishing debt slavery**. From then on, those who were unable to pay their debts, themselves and their families, did not have to become slaves to creditors.\n\nObviously, this law will certainly affect the short-term rights and interests of vested interests such as creditors, but since it is aware of the need to eliminate the opposition between aristocrats and commoners, the landlords must have a longer-term vision. To be precise, this is a necessary measure to prevent the collapse of the social system, because if you don't back down, there is a danger that both the jade and the stone will burn. Solon himself is said to have taken the lead, and his family forgave a large amount of debt.\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469204993_Solon-pot2.jpg\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"60%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">6th century BC Athens black painted clay jar depicting the harvesting of olives. Many farmers went bankrupt because of their debts and had to work as tenant farmers in the large estates of their creditors, and even their entire families were sold into slavery abroad. The British Museum.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\nSolon proposed and successfully established this law, no doubt has epoch-making significance. From the perspective of human nature, this is an unprecedented measure. Even today, few vested interest groups can take the initiative to give up obviously unreasonable claims or unjust gains. From an economic point of view, this is an unprecedented law; after all, if the failure of borrowing risks the whole family becoming slaves, how many people are willing to invest in business or trade? And commerce is the basic market on which Athens has flourished.\n\nIn addition to debt, Solon also regulates and restricts land possession, and the state not only helps debtors get out of debt, but also helps them redeem mortgaged land. With the land, there are basic survival resources, and the settlement of livelihood problems has greatly eased the contradiction between the aristocracy and the common people.\n\nIt is easy to formulate policies, but difficult to implement them. It takes a lot of money to make the above two measures fall to the ground, otherwise they are all empty talk. Solon cleverly implemented the reform of the currency system: reducing the weight of the currency, improving the quality, and unifying the standard, the standardized currency system stimulated the development of exports and industry and commerce. The debtor also accepted a certain devaluation of the currency. The currency reform also triggered an unexpected chain reaction: merchants from other city-states were more willing to come to Athens to do business because they were more profitable.\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469271334_Solon-coins.png\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"100%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\nThe \u003Cp class=\"description\">\"Chloeside\" (Croeseid) coin, one of the earliest known standardized large circulating currencies, was minted in Lydia (the capital of \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Sardis City\" lon=\"28.0403\" lat=\"38.4883\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"6\">Sardia\u003C/span>) in the early 6th century BC. A currency like this may have been introduced to Athens during the Solon period, and before that, Athens was unlikely to have its own minted coins and could only use general equivalents, including silver ingots, as a medium of exchange.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469352552_Solon-coins32.jpg\" alt=\"Athens最早的货币\" />\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">the earliest currency in \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Athens\" lon=\"23.7231\" lat=\"37.9751\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"4\">Athens\u003C/span>, about 545 BC -515 years ago.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n## Government reform\n\nSomeone asked Solon, do you have the confidence to complete the best reform?\n\nTo this, Solon's answer was: \"I am confident that I will complete the best reform * * within the limits acceptable to the citizens of Athens today\".\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469486004_Solon32.jpg\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"60%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">Solon in \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Vatican\" lon=\"12.4542\" lat=\"41.9021\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"6\">Vatican\u003C/span> Museums\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n**In 591 BC, Solon was re-elected as consul. In this year, he completed one of the most important reforms-the reform of the political system, the establishment of wealth and power to match the political system**. Prior to this reform, Solon apparently conducted a census, the purpose of which was to determine the size of the powers and responsibilities required of citizens to participate in national politics, based on the amount of property they held.\n\nSolon did not consider the natural stratification between nobility and commoners, but divided citizens into four classes according to property. This division is very pragmatic and easy to operate, because its only basis is income and property, and has nothing to do with factors that cannot be quantified, such as family origin, social status or reputation.\n\nThe first level is 500 buckets (Pentakosiomedimnoi), whose property can produce more than 500 buckets (Medimnoi, about 200 tons) of wheat each year. This rank was sparse and corresponded to the super-rich of the time, who were eligible to serve as commanders of the army at the general level.\n\nThe second level is knights (Hippeis), who earn about 300-500 buckets of wheat each year, giving them enough wealth to acquire equipment such as horses and armor, which they need to serve as cavalry in wartime. Cavalry was powerful but very expensive, and only citizens of the first and second ranks could afford it. Because the necessary equipment for the cavalry is not only one or two horses, but also servants, coachmen, etc., the burden is very heavy, and only the wealthy class can bear it. Because of this, the number of cavalry was very small. Among all the city-states in Greece, even though Athens had the largest population in the period of prosperity, only about 1,000 cavalry could be summoned in wartime.\n\nThe third class is the double-oxen (Zeugitai), who receive about 200-300 buckets of wheat a year and are capable of raising two cows, similar to the medieval commoner class. In addition to the spears and shields uniformly provided by the state, they need to purchase helmets, breastplates, leg guards, swords and other equipment out of their own pockets, and need to serve as heavy infantry in wartime. This class was the largest in number at that time,**Socrates had been a heavy infantry. It sounds strange, but many famous figures of ancient Greece, themselves soldiers and athletes, were involved in the war and the Olympic Games.\n\nThe fourth class was the day maids (Thetes), who belonged to the poor of the Athenian citizens and were mostly required to work daily to earn their rations. As manual labourers or tenant farmers, they volunteer as servants in peacetime and as auxiliary armed personnel in wartime, such as light infantry, crossbowmen, or oarsmen on naval ships. Later, when Athens dominated the sea, a large number of fourth-class citizens constituted the main force of the navy.The above hierarchy includes all the full citizens of Athens. In addition to the different powers and responsibilities in wartime, the political rights of each level are also different. The first three levels can hold public office, but only the first two levels can serve as consul. The fourth level is also full citizens, but they only have the right to attend the citizens' meeting and serve as jurors. However, they have the real right to participate. We need to realize that * * before Solon's reform, citizens belonging to the third and fourth grades had no right to participate in national politics * *.\n\nThrough the above reforms,**Solon succeeded in dismantling the aristocratic monopoly of state power**. Also the purpose of the hierarchy was not for taxation, as Athens at the time was dominated by indirect taxes and there were no direct taxes other than military service. * * military service is quite special, which is vividly called \"blood tax\". Athens is a country where all citizens are soldiers. * * all levels of citizens have the obligation to perform military service. For so-called citizens, if their right is to participate in national affairs, then their duty is to defend the country, because the country is the basis for ensuring the safety of their property. And those who have property, as cavalry or heavy infantry, have to charge ahead, because rights and obligations must be equal.\n\nThrough the above reforms, Solon successfully established a political system in which wealth and honor were interrelated and matched with each other, laying the foundation for the democratic system after Athens: power was no longer distributed simply by family size,**no longer by origin as a measure of aristocracy, but by the amount of wealth owned as a measure of responsibility and obligation**.\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469618985_Hippeis2.jpg\" alt=\"Hippeis\" />\n\u003Cspan>\nImage source: \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippeis\" target=\"_blank\">Hippeis\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">the image of knights (Hippeis) on black painted pottery, they belong to the second class and can afford the cost of horses and necessary equipment.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469707242_Solon-soldiers2.jpg\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"60%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254872\" target=\"_blank\">the MET\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">the ancient Greek heavy infantry.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n## Legislative power reform\n\nThrough the reform of the regime, although all people have a certain political rights and interests, to some extent alleviated the phenomenon of aristocratic monopoly of power, but in general, the amount of wealth determines the size of power. It is not difficult to imagine that some very talented people would be constrained by the scarcity of property and lack of political influence. In order to take into account the rights and interests of these people, * * Solon has carried out a third major reform, the purpose is to let the common people in Athens also have the opportunity to obtain legislative power, this is the \"400-member council\" * *.\n\nThe so-called 400-member council is composed of 100 representatives elected from each of the four tribes in Athens. Any public affairs must be discussed and pre-examined by a 400-member council before it can be submitted to the citizens' assembly for final ruling. At the same time, the citizens' assembly was also granted higher powers of deliberation and supervision. In the past, if people were dissatisfied with the consul, they could only sue the war god mountain council, and the nobles of the war god mountain council often favored the consul. However, after the 400-member council, the power to supervise the consul was handed over to the citizens' assembly composed of all citizens. As a result, the power of the War God Mountain Council composed of nobles was weakened. Although the corresponding institutions were still retained, it was also a fact that the political status was reduced.\n\nIt should be noted that in order to avoid the influence of human factors, the members of the 400-member council must be selected by drawing lots, not by election. Because the lottery was considered to be more \"fair\" than the election campaign at the time-everyone, regardless of background and ability, had an equal opportunity to enter the political institutions. It was also one of the most unusual moves of Solon's reforms, demonstrating his genuine desire for all citizens to have the opportunity to participate in the management of the country.\n\nLater, the citizens' assembly gradually became the highest authority of the city-state, and all decrees had to be passed by the citizens' assembly. As a result, citizens' participation in the citizens' assembly was at an all-time high, and the cohesion of the country was greatly enhanced.**The 400-member council system has had a profound impact on the western legislative system of later generations. The political model and legislative system adopted by many western countries can be traced back to this reform**.\n\n> \"I give enough privileges to the civilians, and they do not lose their dignity, nor do they need to be proud. Those who have the right and the rich, I will ensure that they are unharmed. I stand bravely in the middle of the shield, and I will not allow the two sides to fight against each other.\"\n>>\n> -- Solon\n\n## Judicial power reform\n\nBefore Solon's reform, the House of Lords in Athens not only had the legislative power, but also actually controlled the judicial power of the country. At that time, there were no roles such as professional judges or professional lawyers, and disputes that could not be resolved by themselves could only be decided by the House of Lords. Obviously, such a judicial process will definitely favor the aristocracy and will also cause dissatisfaction among the civilian class.\n\nAs a result, Solon once again exerted his unique creativity. He also drew 1500 people from the four tribes in Athens by drawing lots to form a new organization, the so-called \"6,000-person jury court\". Of course, so many people do not actually participate in every trial, but * * they all have jury qualification and have influence on the verdict * *.\n\nAs a result of the drawing of lots, the composition of the jury can be described as varied, aristocrats, builders, shoemakers, blacksmiths, artists, traders and other people can be selected, and it is stipulated that 1/3 seats need to be replaced every year. In fact, for the so-called justice at the time, the most important thing was not theory, but relative justice and simple openness: no one could operate in the dark, and everyone had the actual right to participate, even if this participation was very insignificant. The 6,000-person jury court is a body that can not only participate in routine trials, but also accept various appeals, which is equivalent to the modern Supreme Court.\n\nOf course, the 6,000-person court has its flaws, such as**the most famous case in the judicial history of Athens was the public trial of the philosopher Socrates (Socrates)**. In 399 BC, Socrates, who was nearly 70 years old, was brought to court for \"blasphemy\" and \"corruption of youth. It is clear that these accusations were made by his political adversaries, because Socrates' philosophy was not so easily accepted. There are two theories about the number of people involved in the trial of Socrates at that time. One is that the court was composed of 1201 people, and the other is that the court was composed of 501 people. Regardless of the exact number of people, it shows that this was a very important case at the time, because courts usually composed of dozens of people can try ordinary cases.\n\nIn the end, according to the trial process, most of the jurors believed that Socrates was guilty, so the \"founder of Western philosophy\" was sentenced to death.\n\nSocrates allegedly declared in court that the law is sacred and the observance of the law is absolute. He is not afraid of death, and the difficulty is not to avoid death, but to avoid unjust and immoral treatment, which is more terrible than death.\n\nLater, Socrates calmly accepted death and ended his life by drinking poisoned wine.\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469877634_UWASocrates_gobeirne_cropped2.jpg\" alt=\"UWASocrates\" />\n\u003Cspan>\nImage source: \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates\" target=\"_blank\">Socrates\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">Socrates: \"I know I know nothing\", \"unexamined life is not worth living\".\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n**The fact that the wisest brains have been executed in a\" democratic \"framework through a\" just \"process is a source of regret for later generations**. But in any case, the citizen jury system that appeared nearly three thousand years ago is still a great pioneering work. For Athens, which was still the so-called slavery background at that time, it fully embodies the valuable meaning of democracy and is a very advanced judicial system innovation.\n\n* * Any system has defects, but the existence of defects should be the driving force of innovation, not an excuse for conservacy * *.\n\n## The Meaning of Solon's Reform\n\nIt is entirely possible to think of it this way:**Solon's reform ushered in a new era of ancient Greek history and was the first cornerstone of Athenian democracy**. There is no lack of social reforms in the history of all nations in the world, but almost all world history textbooks regard the Solon reform in 594 BC as a model of ancient social reform. The reason why it is called a model is that the principles and spirit established by Solon's reform have long-term exemplary significance.\n\n> I finished these jobs in my power\n> Tuning brute force and justice to each other\n> I stick to it as I promised;\n\"I have written the law, equally for the noble and the humble.\n> Tuning justice for everyone\n>> \u003Cbr>\n> -- Solon\n\nReform is the most complex and dangerous adjustment of social forms, which requires great courage and wisdom of the promoters. After the reform policy was adopted and implemented by the citizens' assembly, Solon chose to leave Athens and travel abroad. It is alleged that**he exiled himself, not for fear of assassination, but to avoid the distortion of the system caused by his long stay in power, and to prevent the interruption of reform by his personal fate**. In his later years, Solon lived in seclusion and devoted himself to research and writing.\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766469966374_Solon42.jpg\" alt=\"Solon\" width=\"90%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">\"Solon demands respect for his laws\". Illustrated book published in 1832.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"img-container-article\">\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.25.34/1766470048082_solon52.jpg\" alt=\"solon\" width=\"90%\"/>\n\u003Cspan>\nPhoto by \u003Ca href=\"https://picryl.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Picryl\u003C/a>\n\u003C/span>\n\u003Cp class=\"description\">statue of Solon in the Library of Congress.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\nSome verses from Solon still survive today. When the later tyrant Pisitra (Peisistratus, Athenian tyrant, reign: 560 years -550 years ago; 546 years -527 years ago) constantly seized power and made people begin to feel the oppression brought by autocratic rulers, Solon wrote this poem:\n\n\"If you suffer because of the lowliness of your soul,\nPlease don't blame the gods.\n\"You yourselves have delivered power and dominion into the hands of these men,\n> but drag yourselves into a pathetic state of slavery......\n>> \u003Cbr>\n> -- Solon\n\nAfter Solon's death, his ashes were scattered on the beautiful island of \u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Salamis Strait\" lon=\"23.5667\" lat=\"37.9514\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"8\">Salamis\u003C/span>.People engraved an inscription on his statue: \"**\u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Salamis Strait\" lon=\"23.5667\" lat=\"37.9514\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"8\">Salamis\u003C/span>, who destroyed the unprovoked arrogant Persian invaders, gave birth to Solon, the great legislator**\".\n\nThis honor is because Solon laid a solid foundation for the development of democratic politics in ancient Greece. Later, Christine (Cleisthenes) and Pericles (Pericles), etc., they will continue Solon's career and carry forward, and promote the development of Athenian democracy towards a more brilliant stage.\n\n## References\n\n\n\n《埃及、希腊与罗马 : 古代\u003Cspan class=\"marker\" enus=\"Mediterranean Sea\" lon=\"18\" lat=\"34\" map=\"HB\" zoom=\"3\">地中海\u003C/span>文明》；查尔斯·弗里曼；李大维 刘亮[译]；民主与建设出版社 2020-9\n\n《希腊人的故事》；[日] 盐野七生；计丽屏 徐越 田建国[译]；中信出版社 2018-11\n\n《希腊人和希腊文明》；[瑞士]雅各布·布克哈特 ；王大庆[译]；上海人民出版社 2012-04\n\n《美国国家地理全球史：希腊的起源》；美国国家地理学会；潘垣铮[译]；现代出版社 2023-02\n\n《希腊3500年》；罗德里克·比顿；徐一彤[译]；中信出版社 2022-12\n\n\u003Cbr>\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece\" target=\"_blank\">Ancient Greece\u003C/a>\n\n\u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solon\" target=\"_blank\">Solon\u003C/a>\n\n\u003Cbr>\n\n---\n\n\n","Solon's reform was the most important social and political reform in Athens in 594 BC. It abolished debt slavery, divided citizens according to property, established jury court, and laid the foundation of western democratic system.\n","Solon's Reform: The Great Legislation that Foundated Athenian Democracy and Influed the Western System","Solon reformed Athens with neutral and balanced wisdom: the abolition of debt slavery, the determination of rights and responsibilities according to property, and the establishment of the jury system became the real starting point of ancient Greek democracy and the rule of law. Learn about this important historical point.","en",0.7,[24,32,39,46,53,60,67,74,81,88,95,102,109,116,123,130],{"id":25,"name":26,"keywords":4,"slug":27,"author":7,"ogImage":28,"isBlog":4,"createDate":29,"updateDate":30,"description":31},"cdd3eb803e6f4e86956355300f73f2c7","The Draconian Laws of Athens","draconian-constitution","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770290677319_720_1766468453361_draco.jpg","2026-03-07T15:18:29","2026-03-07T15:19:52","Delago legislation is the first written law in Athens, known for its harshness, misdemeanor is the death penalty, although the establishment of the form of the rule of law, but failed to resolve social contradictions, laid the groundwork for Solon's reform.",{"id":33,"name":34,"keywords":4,"slug":35,"author":7,"ogImage":36,"isBlog":4,"createDate":37,"updateDate":37,"description":38},"919b416e88614c30a4a7c0e644ac0d12","Athenian consul system","emergence-of-the-archon-system","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770290389975_720_1765864819085_Archon.jpg","2026-03-07T15:03:18","The Athenian consul system replaced the hereditary kingship, from a lifetime, ten-year term to a one-year election, from one to nine people to divide power, and the War God Mountain Council was in power, laying the foundation for democratic reform.",{"id":40,"name":41,"keywords":4,"slug":42,"author":7,"ogImage":43,"isBlog":4,"createDate":44,"updateDate":44,"description":45},"8937d3fd1b814f4f8fb500f806c3f47d","Athens Born in Mythology","athens-and-her-myths","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770283592436_720_1765861793133_Athena.jpg","2026-03-07T13:44:21","Athens evolved from a Neolithic settlement into a Mycenaean center, was said in myth to be protected by Athena, and was unified under Theseus to encompass all of Attica. It became the cradle of ancient Greek civilization and democracy.",{"id":47,"name":48,"keywords":4,"slug":49,"author":7,"ogImage":50,"isBlog":4,"createDate":51,"updateDate":51,"description":52},"1ff11f790154484882c2330ce9ee4dc8","Themistocles built the Athenian navy.","themistocles","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1773996650171_493BC.jpg","2026-03-20T16:49:25","Themistocles used the revenues from the Laurion silver mines to build the Athenian fleet, construct ports and fortifications, and lay the foundations of Athens’ maritime supremacy. Yet in his later years, he was subjected to ostracism and died in exile in Persia.",{"id":54,"name":55,"keywords":4,"slug":56,"author":7,"ogImage":57,"isBlog":4,"createDate":58,"updateDate":58,"description":59},"ba466fa2bd764277afaed94930cca1bd","Pyrrhic War","pyrrhic-war","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770291637619_720_1770035579003_Pyrrhic-War.jpg","2026-03-07T18:09:45","In 280-275 BC, King Pirus of Epirus defeated Rome twice, but paid a heavy price and gave birth to \"Piros Victory\". Rome finally unified Italy and took the first step towards dominating the Mediterranean.",{"id":61,"name":62,"keywords":4,"slug":63,"author":7,"ogImage":64,"isBlog":4,"createDate":65,"updateDate":65,"description":66},"f10b84ff69c44eb9a065a9120fae75e4","Battle of Marathon","battle-of-marathon","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770291266497_720_1767514856581_Battle_of_Marathon72.jpg","2026-03-07T17:28:57","in the marathon battle in 490 bc, under the command of miyad, the athenian heavy infantry defeated the Persian army with a narrow attack. they defended the independence of greece and the democracy of athens, and also gave birth to the modern marathon long-distance running.",{"id":68,"name":69,"keywords":4,"slug":70,"author":7,"ogImage":71,"isBlog":4,"createDate":72,"updateDate":72,"description":73},"47a8b8099952445fb6dec0c099fa0542","The Greco-Persian Wars","greco-persian-wars","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770291207033_720_1767604173163_Spartans_at_Plataea.jpg","2026-03-07T16:35:55","The Greco-Persian Wars (499–449 BCE) were sparked by the Ionian Revolt. The Persian Empire launched a series of campaigns to subdue Greece and retaliate against Athens, while the Greek city-states united to defend their independence. This protracted conflict profoundly shaped the trajectory of ancient Greek civilization.",{"id":75,"name":76,"keywords":4,"slug":77,"author":7,"ogImage":78,"isBlog":4,"createDate":79,"updateDate":79,"description":80},"df934351485e4a5db7fbdb3b962b4f54","Kreisthini and Athenian Democracy","cleisthenes-and-athenian-democratic-regime","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770291181987_720_1767607483610_The_Parthenon_in_Athens.jpg","2026-03-07T15:58:34","Cleisthenes replaced kinship ties with territorial affiliation, establishing demes, trittyes, and tribes; he also created the Council of Five Hundred and instituted ostracism, thereby laying the institutional foundations for Athenian direct democracy and a polity in which sovereignty resides with the people.",{"id":82,"name":83,"keywords":4,"slug":84,"author":7,"ogImage":85,"isBlog":4,"createDate":86,"updateDate":86,"description":87},"7b7ef21e726e46949a3dcd3a668a6504","Pisitratu and Tyrant Politics","pisistratus-and-tyrannical-politics","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770290830871_720_1767493510403_Pisistratus32.jpg","2026-03-07T15:39:08","Pisitratu became the first tyrant of Athens with three seizing power, attacking aristocrats, supporting civilians, developing culture and public works, and his rule objectively laid the foundation for the democratic reform of Kristi.",{"id":89,"name":90,"keywords":4,"slug":91,"author":7,"ogImage":92,"isBlog":4,"createDate":93,"updateDate":93,"description":94},"ef03580faf004abe90d29feefbab8905","The Greeks and Greek Civilization","the-greeks-and-greek-civilization","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770290366558_720_1765795709122_Agrigento-Tempio_della_Concordia01.jpg","2026-03-07T14:45:29","Ancient Greece was formed through the fusion of the Achaeans, Ionians, Dorians, and Aeolians, and during the Archaic period it developed a unified culture, writing system, religious beliefs, and city-state civilization.",{"id":96,"name":97,"keywords":4,"slug":98,"author":7,"ogImage":99,"isBlog":4,"createDate":100,"updateDate":100,"description":101},"6dfc438b53904bc7a4733667146c0c01","The First Ancient Olympic Games","ancient-olympic-games","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770283752083_720_1767604862500_Ancient-Olympic-Games.jpg","2026-03-07T14:30:06","In 776 BC, the first ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, featuring only a sprint event. The winner was a cook named Coroebus, marking the dawn of Greece’s Archaic period and the beginning of an Olympic tradition that would endure for nearly 1,200 years.",{"id":103,"name":104,"keywords":4,"slug":105,"author":7,"ogImage":106,"isBlog":4,"createDate":107,"updateDate":107,"description":108},"189f6f4b90c44310b4dfded323bcdc7e","The Archaic Period of Greece","archaic-greece","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770283723164_720_000205_1720618388027.jpg","2026-03-07T14:06:48","The archaic period was the key transition period of Greek civilization: the post-Mycenaean recovery, the rise of city-states, large-scale overseas colonization, and the laying of the foundation for the art and political system, paving the way for the classical era.",{"id":110,"name":111,"keywords":4,"slug":112,"author":7,"ogImage":113,"isBlog":4,"createDate":114,"updateDate":114,"description":115},"8f3f3b603b9146758e1c9d8a3cd6e497","Ancient Greek Homer era","homeric-age-of-ancient-greece","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770283164016_720_1765019833607_Mask-of-Agamemnon.jpg","2026-03-06T13:09:22","Why is the Homeric era called the \"Dark Age\" of ancient Greece? Based on the \"Homeric Epic\" and archaeological discoveries, this paper interprets the social, political and cultural heritage of this period of civilization transition.",{"id":117,"name":118,"keywords":4,"slug":119,"author":7,"ogImage":120,"isBlog":4,"createDate":121,"updateDate":121,"description":122},"480a16c534384973ba79c9e547c5cff5","Demise of Mycenaean civilization","demise-of-mycenaean-civilization","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770283067928_720_1765026506785_Large_Krater_with_Armored_Men_Departing_for_Battle_Mycenae_acropolis_12th_century_BC.jpg","2026-03-06T10:42:26","Why did the Mycenaean civilization suddenly collapse? Was it the maritime national invasion, the Doria's southward, or the internal economic collapse and civil war? One can understand the great turning point of ancient Greek civilization.",{"id":124,"name":125,"keywords":4,"slug":126,"author":7,"ogImage":127,"isBlog":4,"createDate":128,"updateDate":128,"description":129},"cb379ebd67614a04b01b318201ccf1c6","The heyday of Mycenaean civilization","mycenaean-palatial-bronze-age","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770278551734_720_000186_1715741489174.jpg","2026-03-05T20:40:37","The Mycenaean civilization entered its heyday in the 15th century BC, controlling the Aegean region, building acropolis and palaces, and unearthed a large number of gold relics, which were revealed by Schliman's archaeological discoveries.",{"id":131,"name":132,"keywords":4,"slug":133,"author":7,"ogImage":134,"isBlog":4,"createDate":135,"updateDate":135,"description":136},"6d84c58e8d0149b0b0e5a2a726c3c49d","The Mycenaean civilization begins.","beginning-of-mycenaean-civilization","https://image.big-history.online/tree_24.40/1770278295553_720_1764141355734_Agamemnon.jpg","2026-03-02T22:45:09","This article reviews how Mycenaean civilization replaced Cretan civilization, and introduces Mycenaean city-state culture, martial spirit, linear character B, the golden mask of Agamemnon, and its historical connection with Homer's Epic.",1774515947304]