• Hippias was a tyrant who ruled from 527 to 510 bc
• his brother was murdered, and his rule became harsh
• he was then ostracized from Athens
• He was angry, so he collaborated with the Persian king, Darius I, helping him invade Marathon
• with Hippias gone, Isagoras and Cleithenes (aristocrats) engaged in a power struggle 
• Isagoras had support from aristocrats and Sparta
• Cleithenes had support from the middle class
• Isagoras wins
• Isagoras becomes archon eponymous (tyrant)
• he ostracized Cleisthenes
• Middle class aid Cleithenes
• They Trap Isagoras on the acropolis for two days, and on the third day, he fled and was banished
• 508 BC
• Cleithenes
• Member of the elite
• very rich
• insulated by the "hoi polloi"
• a crafty politician
• Citizen (one fifth of Athenians) could participate in democracy
• Direct democracy
• where the state is ruled by citizens
• rule is based on citizenship
• majority decides vote