Solón, democracia ancestral y equilibrio timocrático II: reformas constitucionales, constitución mixta y "equilibrio timocrático"En torno a los orígenes de la democracia

Abstract

This article is the second part of a broader study on the ‘ancestral democracy’ introduced by Solon to the late sixth century BC through various legislative and constitutional reforms. In the first part of the work, published in this journal, is described the Athenian political system at a time prior to the time of Solon (1), identified several aspects of his political poetry and its purpose of a «fair balance» ( 2) and, finally, are discussed some of his first legislative measures of social and economic character (3). This second part of this work continues with the study of the Solon constitutional reforms, his division of the Athenian society in propertyclasses and tribes (1), his reform of the Magistracies and the two Councils (2) and that of the Ecclesía, and the people´s courts (3). The essay ends (4) with some conclusions on the political significance of these reforms, the type of political regime they endorse, and the form of «fair balance» sought or even finally achieved by Solon.