Early History
According to tradition, Athens was governed until c.1000 b.c. by Ionian kings, who had gained suzerainty over all Attica. After the Ionian kings Athens was rigidly governed by its aristocrats through the archontate (see archons), until Solon began to enact liberal reforms in 594 b.c. Solon abolished serfdom, modified the harsh laws attributed to Draco (who had governed Athens c.621 b.c.), and altered the economy and constitution to give power to all the propertied classes, thus establishing a limited democracy. His economic reforms were largely retained when Athens came under (560–511 b.c.) the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons Hippias and Hipparchus. During this period the city's economy boomed and its culture flourished. Building on the system of Solon, Cleisthenes then established (c.506 b.c.) a democracy for the freemen of Athens, and the city remained a democracy during most of the years of its greatness.
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