What was Cleisthenes known for?

Answer 1

Cleisthenes was important because he was known as the reformer of the constitution of Athens. He also began to point Athens in the way of becoming a democracy. He is known as "the father of Athenian democracy."

Answer 2

He was important because he created Athenian democracy. This system's ideas are widely used throughout the world today. If Cleisthenes had not introduced this system, our government officials would still be kings and queens who would be able to rule only based by genetics.

Answer 3

He did it for the city-state of Athens. After the exile of the tyrant Hippias, Cleisthenes overcame an oligarchic attempt to re-impose aristocratic rule, and established the beginnings of democracy in 508 BCE by giving political power to landowners, big and small, in an Assembly.

This was overtaken by the re-emergence of aristocratic rule who led the war effort during the Persian invasions, but re-emerged under the leadership of Ephialtes in 462 BCE.

Ephialtes was assassinated for this, but it was continued on by his protégée Pericles, who progressively developed it to a radical democracy where decisions were taken by a assembly comprising all adult male citizens, which decisions were implemented by a council.

This system spread to some other Greek city-states, however the novelty eventually wore off and the assembly role was reduced to voting on what the council proposed.

So Cleisthenes kicked off democracy. His successors enhanced, then fumbled it. Today's democracies are not direct democracies - representatives are elected to a parliament, where they are not subject to regular direction of the people as Cleisthenes wanted.

Answer 4

The Cleisthenes is important in the history of Athenian Government because it served as the foundation for Athenian Democracy.

Answer 5

He is regarded as the founder of democracy in Athens.