Solon
~640–558 BCE · Athenian Greek · Archaic Greece
Known for: Athenian lawmaker who laid the foundations of democracy—one of the Seven Sages of Greece
Solon was appointed archon (ruler) of Athens to resolve a crisis between wealthy aristocrats and debt-enslaved poor. He cancelled all debts, freed enslaved Athenians, reformed the constitution to give more power to common citizens, and then voluntarily left Athens for 10 years to prevent himself from becoming a tyrant.
His reforms created the conditions for Athenian democracy—though full democracy wouldn't arrive until Cleisthenes' reforms decades later.
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