The government at Athens now (507 B. C.) became a pure democracy, under
the auspices of Cleisthenes. At the head of the popular party he
effected important changes in the constitution. The public offices of
power were thrown open to all the citizens, the whole people was divided
into ten tribes or wards, and the senate (Boule) now consisted of five
hundred members, fifty from each ward or tribe.
POLITICAL OSTRACISM.--Cleisthenes introduced the ostracism (from
ostrakon, the oyster-shell, on which the vote was written), by which the
citizens could banish for ten years, by a majority of votes, any citizen
whose removal from the state might seem desirable. This device was
intended to secure a fair trial for the new constitution by checking
the power of individuals who might be dangerous to popular liberties,
and by putting a stop to quarrels between rival politicians.
Athens had at last secured a government of the thoroughly democratic
type, and from this time began to assume a new and ever-growing
importance in Greece, and was soon regarded as the chief of the Ionian
States. The people, through the Ecclesia, became thoroughly versed in
public affairs, and practically, as well as legally, supreme in the
state.