Solon Biography

Solon was an Athenian politician, lawmaker and poet and is considered the person who laid the foundation of democracy in Athens, through his constitutional reforms. He was the social reformer who brought in moderation into the social, economic and political system of Athens by dividing the citizens into four income groups according to their annual income, which also ensured their respective privileges in the political system. Before Solon, Athens was suffering with bonded labor and slavery, the first reform that he brought was to relive the enslaved citizens off their debts. He also introduced new forms of livelihood like export of olive oil and circulation of new coinage. His poetry was a medium for him to spread his messages and warnings to the citizens. Not a lot of information is available on his personal life except for that fact that he belonged to an influential family and was a merchant, who travelled a lot, for a big part of his early life. Before the end of the 5th century the Greeks made a list of the ‘Seven Wise Men’ who prominently influenced the intellectual and political growth of their nation and Solon’s name is held in high regard in that list.