HISTORY 36B Chapter 1: History 36 B Pisistratus
Document Summary
Reforms alleviated suffering, primarily as result of debt slavery. But the reforms likely did not eradicate social tensions. The ability for the poorer citizens to participate more in government was probably more theory than actual practice. We are not sure why, but sources describe athenians (post solon) as separated by geography. Possibly poor inhabitants of the highlands (and maybe city- Pisistratus was a distant relative of solon. Gained support of the men of the hill and city-dwellers. Around 560 bce carries out a successful coup. Herodotus tells of he fooled into athenians providing him with a bodyguard for protection. Plutarch tells the even solon, after returning, warned the athenians not to believe him. Pisistratus uses the bodyguard and supporters to seize acropolis. Megacles, leader of the men of the coast, drove pisistratus out. Megacles forms alliances with pisistratus and agrees to restore him to power, if he marries his daughter.
