Down to the year 621 B. C. the people were still without a substantial
share in the government, and popular discontent demanded a written
code. Consequently Draco, one of the archons, drew up laws, the severity
of which has become proverbial, and which were intended, by their rigor,
to check the growth of the democracy that was clamoring for a change.
The penalty of death was assigned to all offenses, great or small, to
enable the nobles to get rid of dangerous leaders of the people; but
such a system did not long continue.
Anarchy prevailed in Attica, owing to the various factions of the
oligarchs, the democrats, and a middle party (the moderates).