Solon – Biography, Philosophy, Reforms, Accomplishments, & Quotes
8 Major Achievements of Solon of Athens
World History Edu presents below 8 major achievements of Solon, the Athenian lawmaker, statesman, and poet most known for laying the foundations of Athenian democracy.
Solon – Bust of Solon, copy from a Greek original (c. 110 BC) from the Farnese Collection, now at the National Archaeological Museum, Naples
Leader of the Athenian forces that defeated Megara
His rise to acclaim came around 600 BCE when the Greek city-state of Athens was warring with Megara over the island of Salamis in the Aegean Sea. Solon is said to have used his well-crafted poems to make Athenians take a second look at its war efforts against Megara. Thus, his poems were sought of a call-to-arm statement that inspired more Athenians to join in the fight for Salamis. By so doing, Athens was able to turn the tides in their favor and secure victory over Megara.
Solon whipped up the morale of Athenian troops, rallying them to victory over their neighbor Megara
Solon’s reforms helped end aristocratic rule in Athens
Beginning around the early 6th century BCE, the Greek city-state Athens was on a tipping point as all spheres of the government was controlled by the aristocrats and the eupatridae (a group of high-born elites who monopolized the courts, economy and governance). To make matters worse, Athenians had to contend with the in-fighting and cracks that had emerged among the aristocrats. Amidst all that, the conditions of the poor folks and serfs (hektemoroi) continued to get worse and worse.
Much of the change that Athens needed came thanks to the middle class, i.e. the merchants, craftsmen, and farmers, who were very agitated by their lack of any substantive political power. One of individuals that rose up was Solon, renowned poet from the merchant class.
Like many of his merchant friends in the middle class, Solon feared that concentration of political and economic power in the hands of a few aristocrats would tip Athens into an all-out revolution and thereafter the emergence of a tyrant.
An eloquent speaker and poet, Solon rose to become the man to save Athens from such dire future. Solon pursued the path of moderate reforms.
What were some of the economic reforms championed by Solon?
Mindful of the huge debt that the poor and low class had accumulated, Solon, armed with enough power as a reformer and law maker, quickly sought to tackle the issue. The poor folks had become serfs and even slaves on lands that the once owned due to a mounting of debt they could not pay. His first call of action was to redeem those lands taken by the powerful and rich aristocrats from the poor. He then went ahead to free Athenian citizens that had been enslaved by their debts.
Some of the economic reforms he passed were aimed at spurring more growth so that wealth trickles down to the poor. Farming, mercantile and trading activities were encouraged. The poor were also encouraged to acquire skill sets in craftsmanship in order to reduce their overreliance on farming.
Solon’s reforms tackled the acute shortage of grains in Athens by halting the export of produce other than olive oil.
He rallied his fellow law makers to get behind the circulation of coined money. Athenians set up a new coinage, thereby reducing their over reliance on coins from neighboring cities. Similarly, an improved weights and measurement system was introduced to allow for easier trade and commerce. By so doing, Athenian products become more competitive relative to the products and goods from their neighbors.
He reforms forbade the use of individuals or one’s family member as security on loans. | Solon, “the wise lawgiver of Athens”, illustration by Walter Crane, from The Story of Greece, told to boys and girls, by Mary Macgregor (1910s)
Political reforms by Solon of Athens
Solon was not a novice when it came to lawmaking as he had once been an archon (i.e. annual chief ruler) around 594 BCE. His experiences came to fore in his push for political reforms in Athenian society.
Like the middle class, Solon sought to end the immense political power Eupatrid (i.e. “of a good father”) held. The eupatrids were members of the nobility of Athens who completely dominated the political landscape of Athens. Solon’s reforms ended property qualifications for office, allowing people not of high born to seek political power in Athens.
Solon’s reforms helped end the dominance of aristocratic rule and monopoly of government in ancient Athens
The four Athenian classes
Re-structured the Athenian society into four groups on the basis of agricultural production
Additionally, he initiated an annual census program that measured the wealth of Athens. This allowed lawmakers to make proper social programs that benefited a wide section of the populace.
Solon is credited with dividing the citizens of Athens into four groups on the basis of their incomes. In a descending order of prominence, the four groups created by Solon were: the pentakosoimedimnoi, hippeis, zeugitai, and thetes. Thereafter, Solon set out to distribute political power among those groups, not on the basis one’s birth.
All four groups were could hold seats in the Athenian general assembly. With the exclusion of the zeugitai and the thetes, members of the other two classes were eligible to hold high political office.
Solon’s reforms in the general assembly
Athens’ general assembly (Ecclesia) was opened to all citizens of Athens. Prior to Solon’s reforms, only the elites could secure a seat in the Athenian Ecclesia. The assembly was thus made a sovereign and independent institution with membership of male citizens 18 years or over. It was given the power to dictate the city’s policies, receive appeals from the hēliaia (public court), and elect officials, including archons (i.e. chief magistrates). The Athenian Ecclesia also had the power to bestow special privileges upon individuals that distinguished themselves brilliantly.
There was also the Council of Four Hundred, a subsection of the Ecclesia that allowed its members to hold seat for a year at a time. The council submitted policies for discussion in the Assembly. Solon thus established in some way separated power in Athens in order to ensure that pillars of democracy remained firm for quite some time.
Entry into the general assembly was opened to all male citizens 18 years or over from all classes but the poorest Athenian class.
Did you know: The Greek word ‘ecclesia’ translates into “gathering of those summoned”, which in turn has roots in word ‘agora’ which means “meeting of the people”?
Solon’s Code of Laws
Fully aware that Athens ought to have a reliable and fair code of laws to support his reforms, Solon set about to make many judicial and constitutional reforms. He had to contend with the written code of laws from the reign of Draco, the 7th century BCE lawmaker infamous for his very harsh legal codes.
By replacing Draco’s laws with fair and just legal codes, Solon in effect eliminated situations where debtors could be enslaved simply for their inability to pay debts. Other harsh punishments (mostly capital punishments) for trivial or petty crimes were also scrapped off the law books.
