Athens background information

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1. Athens had been a tyranny ruled by Peisistratus who died in 527 BC

2. Peisistratus had previously exiled the Alcmaeonidae family in 546 BC

3. Peisistratus' son, Hippias became tyrant, but was unpopular as he foreign mercenaries to keep power.

4. Cleisthenes of the Alcmaeonidae family overthrew Hippias in 510 BC with Spartan help.

5. However, the other noble families of Athens rejected Cleisthenes.

6. So Cleisthenes suggested to the Athenians that the power should be given to the people - a 'democracy'

7. The Athenians overthrew Isagoras and invited Cleisthenes to return to Athens and put his plan into action in 508 BC.

8. The Athenian army was now governed by the 10 strategoi (generals) who took it in turn to govern the army every tenth day.

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