History: Cleisthenes

500 BCE

An Athenian aristocrat who gained control of government and established the basis for Athenian democracy. Cleisthenes created a hierarchical government composed of ten tribes of Athenian citizens and a ruling council of 500 members who were elected by the tribes. Cleisthenes' reforms served to decrease the power of aristocrats in favor of local citizenry, and also to increase the loyalty of citizens to the polis.