Solon: Athenian Statesman and Poet

A leader for the people, Solon would go down in history as the lawmaker who set the stage for Athens to become the first democratic state. Solon's incorruptible spirit, along with his oratorical skills and poetry, were a refreshing break from the tyrants of his time, whom the people of Greek city-states feared as they rose to power. Readers will benefit from an understanding of how an environment of political turmoil bred a new, more inclusive system of law when what existed wasn't working for the people, while eye-catching call-outs offer insights that position historical background in the present.