Why Is Cleisthenes Considered Tyranny

Although Athens was ruled by tyrants for many years, Cleisthenes was able to break that chain through his unique way of thinking. Cleisthenes believed that relief of oppression by the government, prevention of tyranny, and people’s participation and contribution to the community were essential in the process of turning a corrupted Greek government system into a democratic society.

Cleisthenes was raised to be an aristocrat, but he did not think like the rest. Athenian people suffered under the rule of tyrant leaders, people’s economic conditions dropped constantly. During Hippias’ ruling period, Cleisthenes observed how the Athenian government used its power unjustly and oppressively against its own people. After his brother’s murder, Hippias turned into an uncontrollable ruler, he killed anyone that he found suspicious or simply stood against his ruling with no consciousness or understanding of the situation. Cleisthenes disliked cruelty with or without …show more content…
Tyranny came after tyranny, it was a cycle which it could never be broken. Cleisthenes disliked tyranny, this was the reason why he was never chosen to be a ruler in the first place. Isagoras, raised to be an aristocrat as well, was chosen by the aristocrats over Cleisthenes when competing for power to rule Athens. Cleisthenes understood that he would not win because he did not have the mentality of a tyrant. He then later came to realize that people like him, with a different concept of how to rule would never have the chance to come to power because they would never fit in in the tyrant cycle, whereas, Isagoras, as a tyrant, was able to keep the cycle going. Therefore, in his new government system he established the idea of prevention of tyranny in which tyrants could not ever come to power easily and good people like Cleisthenes, himself, could have the chance to