Solon reform is one of the most important social and political reforms in the history of Athens city-state and even ancient Greece. It paved the way for the revitalization and prosperity of Athens city-state and laid the foundation of democratic politics in ancient Greece.
The main contents of establishing democracy in Athens:
All state power belongs to all citizens, and the main institutions of democratic politics are the citizens' assembly, the 500-member parliament and the jury court.
(2) The citizens' assembly is the highest organ of state power, and all state affairs such as internal affairs, diplomacy, war, peace and the appointment and removal of important officials are decided by the citizens' assembly.
(3) The highest permanent administrative organ of the country is a parliament composed of 500 people, which is responsible for handling daily government affairs and convening citizens' meetings.
(4) The jury court is the highest judicial and supervisory organ of the country, and has the final power to examine and approve the resolutions of the citizens' assembly.
(5) Except for the Ten Generals, all state posts are open to citizens at all levels, and state officials are elected. Public officials at all levels implement the "public office allowance system".
Athens democratic political background:
(1) The nobles of the old clan exercised autocratic rule. ?
(2) The emerging industrial and commercial class is very dissatisfied with this. ?
(3) Ordinary people are even worse. Many people have become debt slaves and social contradictions are acute. ?
The basic characteristics of Athenian democracy;
(1) People's sovereignty. The state management of Athens is in the hands of all citizens. All cooperative citizens have the right to participate, to know, to speak, to vote and to be elected. The composition and operation principles of the civil assembly, the 500-member parliament, the jury court and other military and political organs are the full embodiment of this feature.
② Treatment by turns. All public officials have life tenure. All citizens take turns to rule and be ruled. All citizens are equal and everyone has the right to participate in and discuss state affairs. One person is ruled by others at the same time. In practice, the election of national public officials is decided by drawing lots. This can best reflect the principle of taking turns to govern.
The process of establishing democracy in Athens;
At the beginning of the 6th century BC, Solon carried out reforms in Athens. He divided citizens into four grades according to the amount of property. The more property, the higher the rank, and the greater the rights. The citizens' assembly becomes the highest authority, and citizens at all levels can participate; Establish a 400-member parliament, and all the first three citizens can be selected; Establish a citizen jury court; Abolish debt slavery, etc. It laid the foundation for democracy in Athens;
At the end of 6th century BC, Cleisthenes carried out reforms. Replacing consanguineous tribes with regional tribes dispersed the power of clan nobles and further weakened the remnants of clan system. He also established a parliament of 500 people and a committee of 10 generals to establish democracy in Athens.
"Golden Age": During the period of Perikles in the 5th century BC, the democratic politics in Athens reached its peak, which was called "Golden Age". The citizens' assembly, the highest authority, is open to all adult male citizens; Establish the highest judicial and supervisory body; Encourage citizens to actively participate in politics. ?
1, Solon reform:
(1) Time:
At the beginning of the 6th century BC. ?
(2) Contents:
(1) Implement a property hierarchy;
(2) The citizens' assembly becomes the highest authority;
(3) Establish a meeting of 400 people;
(4) establishing a citizen jury court;
⑤ Abolish debt slavery, etc.
(3) Impact:
The reform shook the hereditary privilege of the old clan nobles, guaranteed the democratic rights of citizens, and laid the foundation of Athenian democratic politics.
2. Reform in Cristini:
(1) Time:
At the end of the 6th century BC.
(2) Contents:
(1) Establish ten regional tribes as electoral units;
(2) set up a meeting of 500 people;
(three) the establishment of a ten-member committee;
(4) expanding the power of the citizens' assembly, etc. ?
(3) Impact:
The reform basically eradicated the political privileges of the old clan nobles, the citizens' right to participate in politics expanded unprecedentedly, and the democratic politics in Athens was established. ?
3. Reform in Perikles:
(1) Time: 5th century BC.
(2) background:
Cleisthenes's reform established democracy in Athens.
(3) Contents:
(1) has expanded the scope of citizens' participation in politics and can hold almost all official positions.
(2) further strengthen the power of parliament.
③ Expand the functions of the 500-member Council.
④ Improve the status of the jury court and become the highest judicial supervision organ.
(5) Paying the salaries of citizens participating in politics.
⑥ Issue "theater allowance"
(4) Impact:?
Civil rights have been fully expanded, and the development of democracy in Athens has reached its peak, that is, the "golden age"
The significance of democracy in Athens;
① Innovation: It provides a new form of collective management for mankind, creates a democratic operation mode, and accumulates valuable experience for the development of democratic politics in later generations. ?
Advantages: most people make decisions, making the problem more comprehensive; Most public officials are elected and supervised by the masses, which reduces the possibility of abusing power for personal gain. ?
(3) civilization progress: it promoted the development of cultural undertakings and made Greek civilization an important civilization center in the ancient west and even the whole world?
The limitations of Athenian democracy;
(1) It only targets citizens, not citizens, such as foreign immigrants, slaves and citizens of other countries, and has no democratic rights; ?
② Democracy of male citizens; ?
(3) All public offices are elected and drawn by lots, which may lead to extreme democratization and the decline of democracy.