Solon reform is one of the most important social and political reforms in the history of Athens city-state and even ancient Greece. It paved the way for the revival and prosperity of Athens city-state and laid the foundation of its democratic politics. On the one hand, Solon's reform laid a social foundation for Athens' democratic politics, on the other hand, it improved the national system and provided institutional guarantee for ordinary citizens to participate in national political activities. Solon's values and various systems created in the reform are of great significance to Athenian democracy. Solon's reform laid the foundation of Athenian democracy and even western democracy.
After he finished the reform, he agreed with the Athenians that he would not change the reform for ten years. Then leave Athens for a long trip. This may be the main reason why his reform has not been fully implemented for a long time. He also made achievements in poetry, mainly praising Athens city-state and law.
economic reform
(1) Abolish all debts mortgaged by Athenian citizens, prohibit borrowing by personal mortgage again, and prohibit turning indebted civilians into slaves. The state paid money to redeem those who were sold to foreign countries as slaves because they could not pay their debts, and abolished the "61 Han" system (civilians were unable to pay their debts, so they had to cultivate land for creditors and only kept one-sixth of their harvest as land rent, so they were called "61 Han" in vain). This measure is called "the order to relieve the negative burden" in history.
(2) Implementing a series of policies and measures that are beneficial to the development of industry and commerce, including restricting the export of grain and expanding the export of olive oil; Carry out currency reform to promote commercial trade; Encourage foreign craftsmen to immigrate to Athens and encourage citizens to learn handicraft techniques; Reformed weights and measures, minted new money in Athens, and formulated some laws and regulations on property inheritance, prohibition of reburial, and compensation for relatives of citizens who sacrificed their country.
(3) Draw up a system of weights and measures, which is in line with the richer Greek city-states such as Corinth, so as to make trade more convenient. Change the standard of Athens coin, so as to have close economic ties with the Aegean Sea and the city-states of Asia Minor.
(4) Encourage artisans to move to Athens from overseas, such as giving them Athenian citizenship, so as to strengthen the handicraft industry in Athens.
(5) recognize the freedom of private property inheritance and eliminate all clan remnants in the system.
political reform
(1) Abolish the monopoly right of hereditary aristocrats, and no longer divide citizens by birth but by property. According to the total income of agricultural products in one year, citizens are divided into four grades (the number of cereals and other products imported each year is divided into four grades), and the political rights of each grade depend on their financial resources. The first level can hold all official positions; Citizens of the second grade can hold senior official positions except treasurer (i.e. financial officer); The third level can be a low-level official position; Fourth-level citizens cannot hold public office, but they have the right to participate in citizens' meetings and people's courts. At the same time, different levels have different obligations. For example, in terms of military obligations, the first and second levels provide cavalry, bringing their own weapons, uniforms and horses. The third level provides heavy infantry. They bring their own weapons and uniforms, but they don't need to provide horses. They are the main components of the Athenian army. The fourth level is mainly for light infantry and ordinary sailors. They don't bring their own weapons, but only bring sticks.
(2) Establish a 400-member meeting as the permanent body and the highest administrative organ of the citizens' assembly. The 400-member conference consists of four tribes 100, and all citizens can be elected except the fourth grade.
(3) Establish a jury court. As the highest judicial organ, any citizen has the right of appeal. Jurors in the jury court are selected by citizens at all levels by drawing lots. The jury court accepts and decides citizens' complaints or appeals, which expands citizens' rights.
(4) Formulate a new code to replace the harsh laws of delacour, and only keep the part about murder, so as to make the whole Athens law more humane.
Solon (about 638 BC-559 BC) was born in Athens and came from a declining aristocratic family. Others think that he was born in the middle class. Doing business in his early years and interacting with business travelers; He opposed aristocratic autocracy, sympathized with civilians, advocated the just position of the polis, and put the interests of the polis first. Solon was a politician, legislator and poet in ancient Athens, and one of the seven sages of ancient Greece. In 594, Solon became the first consul of Athens city-state, making laws and carrying out reforms, which was called Solon Reform in history.
Solon reform is one of the most important social and political reforms in the history of Athens city-state and even ancient Greece. It paved the way for the revival and prosperity of Athens city-state and laid the foundation of its democratic politics. On the one hand, Solon's reform laid a social foundation for Athens' democratic politics, on the other hand, it improved the national system and provided institutional guarantee for ordinary citizens to participate in national political activities. Solon's values and various systems created in the reform are of great significance to Athenian democracy. Solon's reform laid the foundation of Athenian democracy and even western democracy.
After he finished the reform, he agreed with the Athenians that he would not change the reform for ten years. Then leave Athens for a long trip. This may be the main reason why his reform has not been fully implemented for a long time. He also made achievements in poetry, mainly praising Athens city-state and law.
economic reform
(1) Abolish all debts mortgaged by Athenian citizens, prohibit borrowing by personal mortgage again, and prohibit turning indebted civilians into slaves. The state paid money to redeem those who were sold to foreign countries as slaves because they could not pay their debts, and abolished the "61 Han" system (civilians were unable to pay their debts, so they had to cultivate land for creditors and only kept one-sixth of their harvest as land rent, so they were called "61 Han" in vain). This measure is called "the order to relieve the negative burden" in history.
(2) Implementing a series of policies and measures that are beneficial to the development of industry and commerce, including restricting the export of grain and expanding the export of olive oil; Carry out currency reform to promote commercial trade; Encourage foreign craftsmen to immigrate to Athens and encourage citizens to learn handicraft techniques; Reform weights and measures, cast new Athens currency, and formulated some laws and regulations on property inheritance, prohibition of reburial, and compensation for relatives of citizens who sacrificed their country.
(3) Draw up a system of weights and measures, which is in line with the richer Greek city-states such as Corinth, so as to make trade more convenient. Change the standard of Athens coin, so as to have close economic ties with the Aegean Sea and the city-states of Asia Minor.
(4) Encourage artisans to move to Athens from overseas, such as giving them Athenian citizenship, so as to strengthen the handicraft industry in Athens.
(5) recognize the freedom of private property inheritance and eliminate all clan remnants in the system.
political reform
(1) Abolish the monopoly right of hereditary aristocrats, and no longer divide citizens by birth but by property. According to the total income of agricultural products in one year, citizens are divided into four grades (the number of cereals and other products imported each year is divided into four grades), and the political rights of each grade depend on their financial resources. The first level can hold all official positions; Citizens of the second grade can hold senior official positions except treasurer (i.e. financial officer); The third level can be a low-level official position; Fourth-level citizens cannot hold public office, but they have the right to participate in citizens' meetings and people's courts. At the same time, different levels have different obligations. For example, in terms of military obligations, the first and second levels provide cavalry, bringing their own weapons, uniforms and horses. The third level provides heavy infantry. They bring their own weapons and uniforms, but they don't need to provide horses. They are the main components of the Athenian army. The fourth level is mainly for light infantry and ordinary sailors. They don't bring their own weapons, but only bring sticks.
(2) Establish a 400-member meeting as the permanent body and the highest administrative organ of the citizens' assembly. The 400-member conference consists of four tribes 100, and all citizens can be elected except the fourth grade.
(3) Establish a jury court. As the highest judicial organ, any citizen has the right of appeal. Jurors in the jury court are selected by citizens at all levels by drawing lots. The jury court accepts and decides citizens' complaints or appeals, which expands citizens' rights.
(4) Formulate a new code to replace the harsh laws of delacour, and only keep the part about murder, so as to make the whole Athens law more humane.