Title:
CLCV 205: Introduction to Ancient Greek History Lecture 11 - The Rise of Athens (cont.)
Speaker:
Professor Kagan
Subject:
the attempted coup d'état of Cylon and the Law of Draco, Solon
Area:
Classics
Type of school:
university
School name:
Yale University
Country:
United States
Course language:
English
Course media:
Video
Course duration:
Contributor:
pbp
Comments:
CLCV 205: Introduction to Ancient Greek History Lecture 11 - The Rise of Athens (cont.)
Overview:
In this lecture, Professor Kagan traces the development of Athens. He argues that Athens, like other poleis, undergoes political and social turmoil due to the rise of the hoplite farmer. This unrest is first seen in the attempted coup d'état of Cylon and the Law of Draco. Professor Kagan also points out that in response to these developments, Solon was made sole archon of Athens to establish peace in a time of unrest. It should also be noted that Solon established laws that were moderate in nature. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Solon was only partially successful. Eventually, a tyranny is established in Athens by Peisistratus, but Peisistratus, according to Professor Kagan, was a special type of tyrant, one that not only upheld the new laws of Solon, but was also interested in the welfare of Athens.
Reading assignment:
Pomeroy, Burstein, Donlan and Roberts. Ancient Greece. Oxford University Press: New York, 1999, pp. 159-181.
Plutarch, The Rise and Fall of the Athens: Theseus and Solon.