Class Struggle in Classical Athens

The rise of Athens is a good example of the Marxist belief that the struggle between rich and poor is the motor force that drives history. The rise of a republican form of government in Athens is a consequence of the struggle for political power between the aristocracy and the common citizens. The process of Athens becoming a republic was slow; it took hundreds of years of change before Athens became a republic which, helped to alleviate some of the tension between the rich and poor citizens. Although the struggle between rich and poor never truly ends, there is lessening of the tension between the two classes when Athens finally becomes a republic which, allows both rich and poor citizens to participate in government.
One of the most important factors in turning Athens into a republic was the Hoplite Revolution. During the Archaic Age (750-479 BCE) in Greece, there formed a new style of community called the polis. Greece was divided into many different poleis that were self-go...