Cleisthenes was an Greek politician that is credited with creating the ancient Athenian democratic system around the year 508 BCE. After a combined Athenian-Spartan force overthrew the Athenian tyrant Hippias, Cleisthenes soon rose to power. He promoted a wide series of reforms that transformed the Athenian government. He proclaimed a system that he called <em>isonomia</em>, where every Athenian citizen would be equal before the law and they would all have a voice in a popular assembly. The citizens were empowered by their participation in this assembly, were laws and public issues were discussed and approved or rejected. Another reform instaurated a lottery system were Athenian citizens would be appointed at random to administrative posts in the citizen council, which would run the daily affairs of the city. Finally, in order to better rule Athens, he dissolved the familiar traditional clans and people now were loyal to their demos, or area of residence. However, his reforms made no mention of any educational system, as they were concerned with administrative and political issues. Cleisthenes is still remembered and celebrated as "the father of democracy".
