Hippias and Hipparchus, sons of Pisistratus, inherited their father's power, but they were considerably more despicable. A popular uprising in 510 BC expelled Hippias, who survived Hipparchus. In the resulting political strife, the supporters of democracy, under the statesman Cleisthenes, won a complete victory, and a new constitution, based on democratic principles, took effect about 502 BC. The beginning of democratic rule was the dawn of the greatest period of Athenian history and, to me personally this signifies the end of Ancient Greece. .
A body of nine elected officials whom were called archons ruled the Greek system of democracy. All citizens could make speeches and vote at the Assembly. The Council made up of 500 citizens made new laws that were debated in the assembly. Only citizens could vote; Women, foreigners, and slaves did not have the right to vote. These men who were aristocrats lead the government and had supreme control over all of the verdicts and criminal accusations in Athens. Problems arose when aristocrats become jealous of one another and rivalries ensued under the early stages of Athenian democracy. The result of this jealousy was the establishment of a code written by the appointed ruler Draco. This code of laws promoted stability and equity. These laws however did more to hurt the democracy of Athens than to help it. It seems that Draco wrote this code of laws in order to benefit him rather than to benefit the government of Athens.
The democracy of Athens was used in many ways other than for what it was designed for. It was abused by many rulers of that time. They were concerned with their own personal growth and because of their greed and selfishness; they made laws and codes that would benefit their own personal gain. The results though have not always been as what they had expected to be. Many of the lower classes were treated very unfairly and rulers lost popularity to the lower classes.
