Page:The City-State of the Greeks and Romans.djvu/184

160 paramount, and adopted a new division into a much larger number of departments, on which the whole political system was to be based without fear of local aristocratic influence. Cleisthenes struck out a plan of much the same kind. Attica had been divided into four tribes, twelve phratries, and three hundred and sixty clans, each clan having as its nucleus an aristocratic family. Cleisthenes was too reasonable actually to abolish these; but he saw that if Athens was to enjoy repose, now that the people were familiar with the idea that they had a direct interest in the State, these old aristocratic groups must practically cease to have political importance. He re-divided the Athenians into ten new tribes, each comprising, as administrative units, ten demes or townships; the demes in each tribe not being contiguous, but situated in different parts of Attica, so as to be wholly free from the old local traditions and influences. In these new tribes and demes he included every free Athenian, together with many residents in Attica and enfranchised slaves, who had never been inscribed on the registers of the old divisions. On the basis of this new local system the constitution was henceforward to be worked; for example, the Council was increased to 500, so that fifty were elected to it yearly from each of the ten new tribes. If this new system were adhered to, oligarchy could never rear its head again, and tyranny would have but a poor chance. And surely we may see, in the loyal submission of the oligarchical party to this sweeping change, one more proof of the