SeisachtheiaSeisachtheia (Greek: σεισάχθεια, from σείειν seiein, to shake, and ἄχθος achthos, burden, i.e. the relief of burdens) was a set of laws instituted by the Athenian lawmaker Solon (c. 638 BC–558 BC) in order to rectify the widespread serfdom and slavery that had run rampant in Athens by the 6th century BC, by debt relief.
Athenian democracyAthenian democracy developed around the 6th century BC in the Greekcity-state (known as a polis) of Athens, comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, and focusing on supporting liberty, equality, and security. Although Athens is the most familiar of the democratic city-states in ancient Greece, it was not the only one, nor was it the first; multiple other city-states adopted similar democratic constitutions before Athens.
Archaic GreecePeriod of ancient Greece from c. 800 to 480 BCThe Temple of Concordia, Valle dei Templi, Magna Graecia, in present-day ItalyGreek territories and colonies in the Archaic periodArchaic Greece was the period in Greek history lasting from c. 800 BC to the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC, following the Greek Dark Ages and succeeded by the Classical period.Constitution of the Athenians (Aristotle)The Constitution of the Athenians, also called the Athenian Constitution (Ancient Greek: Ἀθηναίων πολιτεία, romanized: Athēnaiōn Politeia), is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. The work describes the constitution of Athens. It is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now in the British Library.
DemosthenesDemosthenes (; Greek: Δημοσθένης, romanized: Dēmosthénēs; Attic Greek:; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators.
Solonian constitutionThe Solonian constitution was created by Solon in the early 6th century BC. At the time of Solon, the Athenian State was almost falling to pieces in consequence of dissensions between the parties into which the population was divided. Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco. He promulgated a code of laws embracing the whole of public and private life, the salutary effects of which lasted long after the end of his constitution.
Draconian constitutionThe Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code created by Draco in Athens around 620BC, in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats. In the mid-seventh century BC, Ancient Greek societies began to codify basic law; this started in Athens with the emergence of Draco's code.
History of AthensHistorical affiliationsKingdom of Athens 1556 BC–1068 BCCity-state of Athens 1068 BC–322 BCHellenic League 338 BC–323 BCHellenistic Athens 322 BC–86 BCRoman Republic 86 BC–27 BCRoman Empire 27 BC–395 ADEastern Roman Empire 395–1205Duchy of Athens 1205–1458Ottoman Empire 1458–1822, 1826–1832Provisional Administration of Greece 1822–1826Kingdom of Greece 1832–1924, 1935–1941, 1944–1973Second Hellenic Republic 1924–1935Hellenic State 1941–1944Greek junta 1973–1974Third Hellenic Republic 1974–presentAthens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for perhaps 5,000 years.
AristotleAristotle (Ancient Greek: Ἀριστοτέλης, romanized: Aristotélēs; 384–322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings span the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.
Interpolation (manuscripts)An interpolation, in relation to literature and especially ancient manuscripts, is an entry or passage in a text that was not written by the original author. As there are often several generations of copies between an extant copy of an ancient text and the original, each handwritten by different scribes, there is a natural tendency for extraneous material to be inserted into such documents over time.
Seven Sages of GreeceThe Seven Sages or, alternatively, the Seven Wise Men were the honorary title(s) given to seven philosophers, statesmen, and law-givers of the 7th–6th centuries BCE who were especially renowned for their wisdom.
Ancient GreekAncient Greek (Ἑλληνική, Hellēnikḗ [hellɛːnikɛ̌ː]) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (c. 1400 – c. 1200 BC), Dark Ages (c. 1200 – c. 800 BC), the Archaic or Homeric period (c. 800 – c. 500 BC), and the Classical period (c. 500 – c. 300 BC).
Athenian democracyAthenian democracy developed around the 6th century BC in the Greekcity-state (known as a polis) of Athens, comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, and focusing on supporting liberty, equality, and security. Although Athens is the most familiar of the democratic city-states in ancient Greece, it was not the only one, nor was it the first; multiple other city-states adopted similar democratic constitutions before Athens.Archaic GreecePeriod of ancient Greece from c. 800 to 480 BCThe Temple of Concordia, Valle dei Templi, Magna Graecia, in present-day ItalyGreek territories and colonies in the Archaic periodArchaic Greece was the period in Greek history lasting from c. 800 BC to the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC, following the Greek Dark Ages and succeeded by the Classical period.Constitution of the Athenians (Aristotle)The Constitution of the Athenians, also called the Athenian Constitution (Ancient Greek: Ἀθηναίων πολιτεία, romanized: Athēnaiōn Politeia), is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. The work describes the constitution of Athens. It is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now in the British Library.DemosthenesDemosthenes (; Greek: Δημοσθένης, romanized: Dēmosthénēs; Attic Greek:; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators.Solonian constitutionThe Solonian constitution was created by Solon in the early 6th century BC. At the time of Solon, the Athenian State was almost falling to pieces in consequence of dissensions between the parties into which the population was divided. Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco. He promulgated a code of laws embracing the whole of public and private life, the salutary effects of which lasted long after the end of his constitution.Draconian constitutionThe Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code created by Draco in Athens around 620BC, in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats. In the mid-seventh century BC, Ancient Greek societies began to codify basic law; this started in Athens with the emergence of Draco's code.History of AthensHistorical affiliationsKingdom of Athens 1556 BC–1068 BCCity-state of Athens 1068 BC–322 BCHellenic League 338 BC–323 BCHellenistic Athens 322 BC–86 BCRoman Republic 86 BC–27 BCRoman Empire 27 BC–395 ADEastern Roman Empire 395–1205Duchy of Athens 1205–1458Ottoman Empire 1458–1822, 1826–1832Provisional Administration of Greece 1822–1826Kingdom of Greece 1832–1924, 1935–1941, 1944–1973Second Hellenic Republic 1924–1935Hellenic State 1941–1944Greek junta 1973–1974Third Hellenic Republic 1974–presentAthens is one of the oldest named cities in the world, having been continuously inhabited for perhaps 5,000 years.AristotleAristotle (Ancient Greek: Ἀριστοτέλης, romanized: Aristotélēs; 384–322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings span the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.Interpolation (manuscripts)An interpolation, in relation to literature and especially ancient manuscripts, is an entry or passage in a text that was not written by the original author. As there are often several generations of copies between an extant copy of an ancient text and the original, each handwritten by different scribes, there is a natural tendency for extraneous material to be inserted into such documents over time.Seven Sages of GreeceThe Seven Sages or, alternatively, the Seven Wise Men were the honorary title(s) given to seven philosophers, statesmen, and law-givers of the 7th–6th centuries BCE who were especially renowned for their wisdom.Ancient GreekAncient Greek (Ἑλληνική, Hellēnikḗ [hellɛːnikɛ̌ː]) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (c. 1400 – c. 1200 BC), Dark Ages (c. 1200 – c. 800 BC), the Archaic or Homeric period (c. 800 – c. 500 BC), and the Classical period (c. 500 – c. 300 BC).*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.