Why were Solon's reforms important to the development of Athenian life?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Solon is seen as one of the initiators of the Greek Classical Age by bringing Athens out of a period of crises demonstrated in the Age of Tyrants. Athens, as well as many other polis, had been in an economic decline, political tumult, social unrest with an increasing population, shortage of resources, diminished trade, lack of social mobility, and restricted citizenship, which all contributed to a sense of dissatisfaction. Attempting to solve these problems without losing their own authority, aristocrats empowered the Tyrant Draco to overhaul the legal code, but his favoritism of the elite created more resentment. Aristocrats then appointed Solon to deal with social and economic problems. Solon initiated The Lifting of Burdens, which alleviated a lot of the conditions causing social unrest. He eliminated debt slavery, extended citizenship to those who could contribute to the Athenian economy, limited exportation of resources that were needed in Athens, created a system of weights and measures to facilitate trade, and reformed the constitution that set the groundwork for democratic reforms.