Solon's Reforms at Athens

What happened

Appointed archon of Athens amid economic crisis, the statesman and poet Solon abolished debt-slavery, cancelled debts, and restructured Athenian society and law to reduce the power of the aristocracy and give ordinary citizens a stake in government.

Why it matters

Though an aristocrat himself, Solon laid the legal and social foundations on which Athenian democracy would later be built.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Solon · Reputable source