Cleisthenes of Athens
At a glance:
- Series: Great Lives from History: The Ancient World, Prehistory-476
- Categories: Government and Politics, Law, Legal History, Courts
- Subcategories: Politicians, Diplomats, Hellenistic Age, Ancient Greece
- Curriculum: Western Civilization/European History, Ancient History
Article abstract: Athenian statesman{$I[g]Greece;Cleisthenes of Athens} The famous lawgiver and reformer Cleisthenes was the real architect of Athenian democracy. His statesmanship created radical innovations in the constitution: the representative principle and the idea of political equality.
Early Life
Cleisthenes (KLIZ-thah-neez) was a son of the Athenian Megacles, a member of the illustrious Alcmaeonid family, and a non-Athenian, Agariste, daughter of Cleisthenes of Sicyon. Little is known of his personal life. The Alcmaeonidae had been in exile...
[The entire page is 1787 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
