Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1987

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

History

Major Professor

J. D. Bing

Abstract

In June 411 B.C. the democratic government of Athens was overthrown and replaced by the government of the Four Hundred. In September the latter was in turn replaced by a broader oligarchy of the Five Thousand. Sometime in May 410 this regime gave way to the restoration of full democracy. This thesis examines the individuals and groups of Athenians who supported the moves to limit or destroy democracy in this period. Who were the active members of the conspiracy to establish the Four Hundred? How widespread was the support for oligarchy within the citizen body of Athens? How were the conspirators able to overthrow the established democracy?

The major sources for the events of 411/10 are the eighth book of Thucydides' account of the Peloponnesian War and Aristotle's Athenaion Politeia. Though they disagree on some details, these two works provide a connected account of the oligarchic movements and shed light on the motives of the participants. These are supplemented by a variety of other ancient sources: contemporary orators (Antiphon, Andocides and Lysias), comic playwrights (Aristophanes, Plato, Eupolis and others), and later historians and scholars (Xenophon, Diodorus and Plutarch). Also, inscriptions from the period provide valuable details.

The oligarchic movement at Athens received support from a broad section of Athenians. Not just wealthy and aristocratic knights, but many hoplites of moderate means shared a desire to change the government. This sentiment was a result of earlier trends which had reduced the social prestige and political power of both the upper classes and the hoplites. More important was the economic pressures on individual property owners created by renewed war with Sparta, the occupation of Decelea, and the loss of revenues from the empire. The absence of the poorer citizens, the thetes, and the support of many hoplites enabled the Four Hundred to seize power, but the members of the oligarchy and its most enthusiastic supporters were from the wealthy knights. The Four Hundred fell when the hoplites withdrew their support and the oligarchs quarreled among themselves. The government of the Five Thousand was not a return to full democracy, which shows the hoplites wanted to implement the idea of a government restricted to those of hoplite status. The revival of Athenian naval power brought about the restoration of full democracy and the recognition of the rights of the thetes.

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