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How Did Hippias Influence Athenian Democracy

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Hippias who was known as a tyrant is an important individual in the history of Athenian democracy. As the leader of the Athenian city state along with his brother Hipparchus they were supposed to be the continuation of a stable government system that was built upon by their father Peisistratos and those before him. However, with the actions of his brother and then Hippias quickly afterwards led to a series of events that are an important part of the history of Athenian democracy. The actions of his tyranny is something that individuals from the present can take as a history lesson of how important the influence and treatment towards the citizens of a government is. Another reason that makes Hippias’s historical influence important is how his …show more content…

He and his brother Hipparchus succeeded Peisistratus after his death and reigned during 528 BC to 511 BC. Despite both of them succeeding his father Hippias took after his father and thus was treated as the actual successor of the government. Hippias ruled well for the first 14 years of his reign with the population having no major problems with how he governed but a Poleis is a city state and it’s people and that requires the recognition and proper treatment of it’s citizens. A problems arose with Hipparchus as he created tension and conflict with Harmodius and Aristogeiton. Although Hippias was the one who mainly held power Hipparchus still succeeded Peisistratus thus, there was a need for him to understand his position and treat his citizens with respect instead of abusing his position. This abuse of position lasted 3 years before the tensions escalated to a breaking point and led to Harmodius and Aristogeiton’s actions escalating to the point of murdering Hipparchus despite knowing the repercussions of killing a head of the …show more content…

The king of Lacedaemon was persuaded by Cleisthenes, a member of the aristocratic Alcmaeonid family that had been sent into exile by Peisistratos to help him free Athens. Although soon afterwards Clemones’ and the Spartans grew discontent having realized that they had helped Athens establish democratic views that were opposed to their ideological stance and they tried to take over Athens by weakening their power by attempting to have Athens take Hippias back as their leader. This fued between Athens and the Spartans is an important part of Athenian democratic history as the events are of conflict against each other's political worldviews that can be considered even till the present. The result of the end of Hippias’ reign also becomes a major part of Athenian democracy as it resulted in rivalry among the high class citizens in Athens who desired power. This rivalry allowed for individuals such as Cleisthenes, who realized that the influence that Peisistratus and Hippias had derived from the support received from their citizens and therefore, proposed in 508 BC a series of reforms that allowed Athens to develop into one of the most

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