When1: -594
Who: Solon
What: lawgiver
Where: Athens, Greece
works\ ordinances [-594]
Detail: He lived -638 to -558 and codified laws that protected peasant lands from merchants, opened assembly to all free men, gave power to assembly, and created Council of the Four Hundred as trial jury [-594].
Demiurgoi selected Solon to reform law and to be dictator and forced eupatrids to approve. Solon declared amnesty, abolished all Draco's laws except for murder, and codified Greek law. Athenians had to take oaths not to alter his laws for 100 years, and his laws held for 50 years.
He established plutocracy. He reordered social classes based on property and taxed them accordingly. Social classes, from highest to lowest, were eligible for fewer and fewer offices.
He kept Council of Areopagus but reduced its powers. He gave assembly {ekklesia} power to elect the nine governors {archon}. He created council {boule, council} of 400 people, one hundred from each Attic tribe, to bring legislation before assembly.
He devalued currency and reduced or eliminated all debts. He freed citizens enslaved through debt and bought back citizens sold to foreigners. He ended making debtors slaves. He limited land owned by one person.
He allowed citizens to indict any person. He allowed citizens to be on juries.
He allowed man who had no sons to make will.
He held state responsible to educate sons of men killed in battle.
He legalized prostitution. He closely regulated behavior of women and conduct in society.
Social Sciences>Law>History>Greek Law
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Date Modified: 2022.0224