cleisthenes

Today in class we learned about Cleisthenes and Hippias. Hippias was a tyrant modern day and greek definition from 527-510 b.c.e. His brother was murdered and his rule was harsh. eventually he was expelled from Athens ( ostracized ). He began working with the Persian king Darius 1, helping them invade marathon.  After he was ostracized two men Isagoras and Cleisthenes both ran against each ( both were aristocrats ) engaged in a power struggle. Isagoras had support from aristocrats and Sparta. Cleisthenes had the support of athenian citizens majority. Isagoras became archon eponymous and he ostracizes cleithenes. Cleisthenes supporters and ordinary athenian citizens revolt against his tyranny. They trap him at the acropolis for two days and he escapes on the third day being banished in the process, 508 B.C.E . Cleisthenes was a member of the elite, very rich, and saw value of tapping into the intelligence of regular citizens. He was also a crafty politician but was insulated from the " Hot poloi" or the middle class citizens.