<P> Not long afterwards , the nascent democracy was overthrown by the tyrant Peisistratos , but was reinstated after the expulsion of his son , Hippias , in 510 . This sort of aristocratic takeover `` was ended by the appeal by one contender , Cleisthenes , for the support of the populace . '' The reforms of Cleisthenes in 508 / 7 undermined the domination of the aristocratic families and connected every Athenian to the city 's rule . `` Cleisthenes fixed the boundaries of the polis as a political rather than a geographical entity -- boundaries which Solon had left permeable -- by formally identifying the free inhabitants of Attica at that time as Athenian citizens . '' He did this by making the traditional tribes politically irrelevant and instituting ten new tribes , each made up of about three treaties , each consisting of several demes . `` Every male citizen on reaching the age of 18 was now to be registered in his deme . It was this registration which confirmed his citizenship . '' </P>
<P> Not long afterwards , the nascent democracy was overthrown by the tyrant Peisistratos , but was reinstated after the expulsion of his son , Hippias , in 510 . This sort of aristocratic takeover `` was ended by the appeal by one contender , Cleisthenes , for the support of the populace . '' The reforms of Cleisthenes in 508 / 7 undermined the domination of the aristocratic families and connected every Athenian to the city 's rule . `` Cleisthenes fixed the boundaries of the polis as a political rather than a geographical entity -- boundaries which Solon had left permeable -- by formally identifying the free inhabitants of Attica at that time as Athenian citizens . '' He did this by making the traditional tribes politically irrelevant and instituting ten new tribes , each made up of about three treaties , each consisting of several demes . `` Every male citizen on reaching the age of 18 was now to be registered in his deme . It was this registration which confirmed his citizenship . '' </P>
why in 508 bc did athens turn to a democratic form of government
why in 508 bc did athens turn to a democratic form of government
The reforms of Cleisthenes
The reforms of Cleisthenes