Higher classical studies

The boule, or council of five hundred, was an important institution in Greek democracy.

The reforms of Cleisthenes from 507BCE had rearranged the people of Athens in ten tribes, each selecting their members from different areas of Athens (city, coastal and inland) and it was these tribes that were the basis of the council or boule. The reforms had rearranged Athens (from four tribes) so that the old aristocratic families lost most of their power.

Every year each tribe chose 50 members (citizens) by lot from their demes (villages), depending on their population size. Remember that to be a citizen you had to be registered in your deme.

The boule served for one year but it would have been too unwieldy and time consuming for all the members to be represent at once. So each tribe…