What Are The Three Definitions Of 'Demos'?
What are the three definitions of "demos"?
The word “demos” had three different definitions during the archaic period. They were used to define either 1) the division of land into smaller sections 2) a classification of Athenian citizens, and 3) a group of troublesome individuals.
1) In 570 BC, Cleisthene developed a reformation of politics and social standings in Athens by dividing Athens and areas of the Attic peninsula into ten smaller sections of land which was referred to as “demos”. This was done to break up three hostile faction groups known as “men of the plains”, “men of the coast" and “men of the Hill”, that were preventing Athens from reaching general censuses among men in political matters.
The word “demos” had three different definitions during the archaic period. They were used to define either 1) the division of land into smaller sections 2) a classification of Athenian citizens, and 3) a group of troublesome individuals.
1) In 570 BC, Cleisthene developed a reformation of politics and social standings in Athens by dividing Athens and areas of the Attic peninsula into ten smaller sections of land which was referred to as “demos”. This was done to break up three hostile faction groups known as “men of the plains”, “men of the coast" and “men of the Hill”, that were preventing Athens from reaching general censuses among men in political matters.