Tyrants and Democracy

Hippias was a tyrant who ruled from five hundred twenty seven B.C. to five hundred ten B.C. His brother was murdered which resulted in him being a harsh ruler and becoming mean to his people. Eventually he was expelled from Athens-ostracized. In revenge, began working with the Persian king Darius I. He helped them invade Marathon. Next in line with Hippias is Isagoras and Cleisthenes, both of whom are aristocrats meaning they were engaged in a power struggle. In review, to be an aristocrat you must be a landowning male who is a citizen of the city-state. Isagoras had support of most of the aristocrats and Sparta. Cleisthenes had support of the majority of Athenians. Isagoras turns out to win and become ruler but not for long. Isagoras becomes Archon eponymous, meaning tyrant. He ostracizes Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes' supporters and the ordinary citizens of Athens revolted against Isagoras' tyranny marking the first time in history that any people had revolted against their government. They trap Isagoras atop the Acropolis for two days. On the third day, he fled and was banished. 

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