The Road to Democracy Was Neither Straight nor Smooth

The pathway to achieving a government of social equality in Greece was not without difficulties and deviations. Breaking aristocratic power and influence and giving power to the common people was a process full of many obstructions and difficulties. As J.M Roberts put it Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґdemocracy emerged out of Athens unexpectedly and at first almost unobservedÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ (Roberts, J.M, 2002 p. 196). The changes that took place in their politics were gradual and therefore it was influenced by many rulers, events and mistakes. Although steps were taken backward in the course of democracy, the people of Athens learnt from these mistakes and strived for a better way of ruling their state.

The road to democracy was a slow and plodding development. Early signs that a democracy could emerge in Athens came from them adopting egalitarian attitudes and ideas from the other city states, the colonies abroad and the hoplite phalanx. The Athenians embraced values from the city states around them. In Sparta, a citizen was a member of society who was automatically entitled to certain (even if few) rights. This mindset of equality was later adopted by the Athenians. They also took on some SpartanÐ'ÐŽVtype equality values concerning warfare. Colonisation also had important social and political repercussions on the Greek homeland. Colonisation softened the Greeks and opened their mind to different cultures, ideas and forms of Government. Some men must have returned to Greece after living in colonies, bringing with them new ideas and impressions on how to run a political government (Roberts J.M, 2002). The hoplite phalanx was also a great influence on the values and principles to which democracy came to be based on. Broader participation was introduced and Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґrelying on eachÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦, Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґworking togetherÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ and Ð'ÐŽÐ'Ґfighting as oneÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ were all concepts that were imperative to the hoplites (Roberts J.M, 2002). It was over about three centuries that these changes of growth and development were made. So although the Athenians were moving forward in establishing an innovative form of government called democracy, it was a slow and protracted process.

The road to democracy was not easy and straightforward, for many of the citizens were not accepting of the changes being made. Many good leaders such as Solon had started to weaken aristocratic privilege and give rich traders and manufacturers as much power as the nobles. Solon was the bringer of social justice; he allowed all citizens to prosecute wrongdoers in public lawsuits (JH Routledge, 2000). SolonÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s reforms set Athens on the road to prosperity and power. However, people at the time failed to appreciate his achievements at allowing greater access to power, and most remained disgruntled. Subsequently, Solon exiled himself from Athens for ten years. The Athenians narrow and cautious mindset meant that although they were moving towards democracy, not everyone accepted and supported the reforms of the rulers.

While there were plenty of steps made toward the conception democracy there was also a few steps backward along the way. It was the Athenians bad experience of Tyranny that drove them to want a better system of politics. It opened their eyes to a superior way of governing as the people were able to appreciate a more democratic style of leadership. However, Pisitratus was an exception; in fact he threatened the growing hatred for tyranny. He was such a good tyrant that the people of Athens werenÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦t entirely convinced that it couldnÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦t work. Yet PisitratusÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦ successor and son, Hippias was a bitter and aimless dictator who stripped away the Athenians freedoms. The people of Athens must have recognised the danger in giving one man complete power, so they had Hippias banished and at that point Cleisthenes seized power. Cleisthenes took Athens to the next level; he organised ten new tribes, each consisting of fourteen demes, these measures gave more power and greater opportunities to the citizens, and broke the influence of the aristocrats. The country, the city and the coast line citizens were equally represented into a council of 500 members, thus giving an even distribution of power (The Greek World _____ ). Every level of society could be heroes, they started to thrive, prosper and move forward. However, just as they were they were becoming great, the Athenians conspired against Cleisthenes and as a result he was exiled (The Greeks,