Cleisthenes (not to be confused with Cleisthenes, tyrant of Sicyon) was an Athenian statesman who carried through a "democratic" reform package in the year 508/7. He was an Alcmaeonid and connected to the Sicyonid dynasty through it. After the expulsion of Hippias (510), he stood as rival to Isagoras, leader of a pro-Spartan faction; after he was exiled, he was recalled when a Spartan force tried to install a pro-Spartan oligarchy. This resulted in a Spartan and allied advance on Athens being repulsed.
Cleisthenes' power base can be explained by a 'regionalist' interpretation of city politics: he was allied with the city faction, while Isagoras was connected to a group in eastern Attica.
Cleisthenes' reform package:
-He split the previous four tribes into ten and distributed the demes (roughly 140 in number) among them. Military organization was based on the tribes; each had a taxiarch and a strategos. This enabled a more even division of service amidst a growing, partially immigrant population.
-He created the Council of Five Hundred, fifty from each tribe with the prytany among them presiding for a month. It prepared business for the public assembly. They were chosen by lot.
-He split Attica into three large regions (city, coast, and interior) and split each into ten trittyes; each tribe had one trittys from each region.
-At this time the nine archons was increased to ten, one elected from each tribe.
-It is possible that he instituted the practice of ostracism.
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