Storiascopio · Era 5 of 12 · primary year 5
Cleisthenes and democracy
about 508 BC · Athens (Greece)
In short
In 508 BC the Athenian Cleisthenes reorganised the city into ten tribes, mixing citizens from the coast, the countryside and the town. In this way no powerful family could rule on its own any more. Important decisions were made by the assembly, where every adult male citizen could speak and vote. Women, foreigners and slaves, however, were still left out.
Why it matters The word ‘democracy’ means ‘power of the people’, and its journey begins here.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Cleisthenes of Athens”
Where we are in the era “Ancient Greece”
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about 800 BCEvent 9 of 25about 100 BC
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/cleisthenes-and-democracy/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class