HIST 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Peisistratos, Oligarchy, Trittys

• School: McGill University
• Department: History
• Course: HIST 205
• Professor: Alexander Mc Auley

Document Summary

5b - archaic athens: geography and early history, tyranny of peisistratos, reforms of cleisthenes, athens. Close to the sea, lots of trade and very seafaring. Ionian greek city therefore there was a connected between the athenians and the ionians on the coast of modern day turkey. Attica isn"t the most fertile land, and not particularly wealthy. They focus on trading a lot for food especially wheat. A group of noble families who dominate athenian affairs. A council called the areopagus council (a council of elders) which met on the areopagus hill. Nine archons elected each year (archons = ruler guys) At this time the demos has very little power. Seems to be clan based, organized into four extended clans or families. Draco"s law code (c. 620 bc): he addressed what seemed to be largely complaints about property rights and boundary markers with very harsh penalties.