... 600 B.C. did not give the lower class thetes who comprised the majority the right to hold office, they could participate in ecclesia, the Assembly, and have their grievances and suggestions known. Aristotle in his Politics, agrees with this decision, and comments that Solon "gave people only the necessary minimum of power" (41). The thetes are later needed to row for the Athenian naval forces ... excluded the majority of the actual inhabitants of ancient Athens from any access to political power and influence. Only male citizens over the age of eighteen could participate in government, ...

• Word Count: 1562
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate