Democracy in Athens

In Athens the central square, the agora, was the place for public assemblies. Citizens openly discussed important matters and decided by vote. This form of rule is called democracy, “rule of the people” (“demos” — people, “kratos” — power). At first power was in the hands of nobles: the Council of Elders (Areopagus) chose officials and judges. Because the common people worked for the nobles’ benefit, conflicts arose. In 621 BCE Draco wrote down the laws, which were very harsh (the death penalty even for petty crimes). In 594 BCE Solon cancelled farmers’ debts, banned enslaving people for debt and widened the people’s part in governing; later reforms (end of the 6th century BCE) strengthened democracy. Only male citizens could vote; women, metics and slaves took no part. The Assembly approved laws, the Council of Five Hundred, elected yearly, handled current matters, and the people’s court was also an important body. In 443–429 BCE Pericles was repeatedly elected strategos; under him Athens was strongest, the Parthenon (temple of the goddess Athena) was built on the Acropolis, and officials began to be paid. This period is called the “Age of Pericles”.