In Our Time

Solon the Lawgiver

Apr 20, 2023

Melissa Lane, a Princeton politics professor, Hans van Wees, an ancient history expert at UCL, and William Allan, a Latin literature professor at Oxford, dive into Solon's revolutionary impact on Athenian society. They discuss the chaotic backdrop of 6th century Athens, marked by economic strife and class struggles. Solon's reforms abolished debt slavery, fostered wider citizen engagement, and laid the groundwork for democracy. His innovative use of poetry helped bridge divides, making laws accessible and encouraging political dialogue during a time of turmoil.

51:20

Creator website

Episode guests

William Allan

Hans van Wees

Melissa Lane

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Exploring Solon's Archaic Roots and Political Engagement

2min

Athens: A Divided Society on the Brink

6min

Solon: Catalyst for Change in Ancient Athens

6min

Solon's Revolutionary Reforms

12min

The Poetic Mediator of Athens

4min

Solon: Architect of Athenian Democracy

16min

Rulership and Responsibility in Ancient Law

4min

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Solon, who was elected archon or chief magistrate of Athens in 594 BC: some see him as the father of Athenian democracy.

In the first years of the 6th century BC, the city state of Athens was in crisis. The lower orders of society were ravaged by debt, to the point where some were being forced into slavery. An oppressive law code mandated the death penalty for everything from murder to petty theft. There was a real danger that the city could fall into either tyranny or civil war.

Solon instituted a programme of reforms that transformed Athens’ political and legal systems, its society and economy, so that later generations referred to him as Solon the Lawgiver.

With

Melissa Lane Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton University

Hans van Wees Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College London

and William Allan Professor of Greek and McConnell Laing Tutorial Fellow in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature at University College, University of Oxford

Producer Luke Mulhall