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Section IV (Historical Periods): The Greek World 500 to 440 BC
Quick questions on Ephialtes, Pericles, and the development of Athenian democracy: HSC Ancient History
15short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the assassination of Ephialtes (461 BC)?Show answer
In 461 BC Ephialtes was assassinated. The murderer was Aristodicus of Tanagra (Aristotle, Athenian Constitution 25.4). The killer was probably hired by oligarchic opponents. The assassination did not reverse the reform.
What are the leadership of Pericles?Show answer
Pericles son of Xanthippus (the victor of Mycale) and Agariste (an Alcmaeonid, niece of Cleisthenes) emerged as the leading democratic politician after Ephialtes's death.
What is the citizenship law (451 BC)?Show answer
Pericles proposed and passed a law restricting Athenian citizenship to those whose father and mother were both Athenian citizens (Aristotle, Athenian Constitution 26.4). Previously only paternal descent had been required.
What is the building program?Show answer
Funded by allied tribute moved to Athens in 454 BC after the Egyptian disaster, the Periclean building program transformed the Athenian Acropolis.
What is archonship by lot?Show answer
From 487 BC the archons were selected by lot from a pool of elected candidates (Aristotle, Athenian Constitution 22.5). This weakened the prestige of the office and the social position of the Areopagites who eventually filled it.
What is the zeugitai admitted to the archonship?Show answer
The third Solonian property class became eligible for the archonship. The office continued to be opened to lower classes.
What is the role of the strategoi?Show answer
The ten annually elected generals (strategoi) became the most important political magistrates. Election (not lot) selected the strategoi; the office could be held repeatedly; Pericles held it 15 times (around 443 to 429 BC).
What is the opportunity?Show answer
Cimon was absent in Spartan territory with 4,000 hoplites helping suppress the helot revolt at Mount Ithome. With Cimon and his philolaconian conservatives away, Ephialtes pushed the reform through the Assembly.
What is the reform?Show answer
The Areopagus was stripped of its political powers. Its retained functions were:
What is powers transferred?Show answer
The political powers went to:
What is cimon's response?Show answer
Cimon attempted to reverse the reform on his return. He was ostracised in 461 BC.
What is background?Show answer
Born around 495 BC. Aristocratic (Alcmaeonid through his mother) but politically committed to the democracy. Educated by Damon (music) and Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (philosophy).
What is political method?Show answer
Elected strategos from 454 BC; held the office every year from around 443 to 429 BC (15 times in succession). Won the Assembly through reasoned oratory rather than mass appeal.
What are thucydides son of Melesias?Show answer
Pericles's main conservative opponent in the 440s BC. Organised the oligarchic protest against the building program. Ostracised around 443 BC; after his ostracism Pericles had no serious rival.
What is thucydides's verdict?Show answer
Thucydides (2.65) summarises: "in name a democracy but in fact rule by the first man."