Democracy in Athens Began with Cleisthenes' Reforms (508/7 BCE)

Athenian democracy didn't appear overnight. It crystallized in 508/7 BCE through the reforms of Cleisthenes — often called "the father of Athenian democracy."

Pre-Cleisthenes

• Draco (621 BCE): Written law code (harsh — "draconian").
• Solon (594 BCE): Debt relief, four property classes, Council of 400, popular courts (heliaia). Laid groundwork but kept aristocratic dominance.
• Peisistratid Tyranny (561–510 BCE): Stability, festivals, silver mines, Panathenaia — but no popular sovereignty.

Cleisthenes' Revolution (508/7 BCE)

• Deme system: 139 demes (local villages/wards) — primary civic unit. Every citizen registered in a deme.
• 10 Tribes (phylai): Each tribe = 3 trittyes (city, coast, inland) from different regions — broke regional/factional power.
• Council of 500 (Boule): 50 per tribe, chosen by lot, annual. Prepared agenda for Assembly.
• Assembly (Ekklesia): All citizens (~30–60K eligible). Final authority on laws, war, treaties, ostracism. Met 40×/yr.
• Ostracism: Annual vote to exile a citizen for 10 years — anti-tyranny valve.
• Sortition (lot) over election: Most offices (except strategoi/generals, treasurers) filled by lot — rotation, amateurism, anti-oligarchy.

Later Deepening (Ephialtes/Pericles, 462–430 BCE)

• Areopagus stripped of political power (462 BCE).
• Pay for jury service (misthos) — enabled poor citizens to participate.
• Pay for Assembly attendance (later).

Limits

Only adult male citizens (~10–20% of population). Women, metics (foreign residents), slaves excluded. Imperial tribute funded the pay. Direct, not representative.

Cleisthenes didn't invent "democracy" (demos + kratos = people power) — but he built the machinery that made it work for 180 years.