He thus attained to power; it is true, with the approbation of the people, but nevertheless by armed force. … We have almost to stretch a point in order to call Peisistratus a tyrant—a word which carries with it the invidious sense of a selfish exercise of power. No authority could have been more rightly placed than his; it combined Athenian with Panhellenist tendencies. But for him Athens would not have been what she afterwards became to the world. … Nevertheless, it must be admitted that Peisistratus governed Athens absolutely, and even took steps to establish a permanent tyranny. He did, in fact, succeed in leaving the power he possessed to his sons, Hippias and Hipparchus. … Of the two brothers it was the one who had rendered most service to culture, Hipparchus, who was murdered at the festival of the Panathenæa. It was an act of revenge for a personal insult. … In his dread lest he should be visited by a similar doom, Hippias actually became an odious tyrant and excited universal discontent. One effect, however, of the loss of stability which the authority of the dominant family experienced was that the leading exiles ejected by Peisistratus combined in the enterprise which was a necessary condition of their return, the overthrow of Hippias. The Alcmæonidæ took the principal part. … The revolution to which this opened the way could, it might seem, have but one result, the establishment of an oligarchical government. … But the matter had a very different issue," resulting in the constitution of Cleisthenes and the establishment of democracy at Athens, despite the hostile opposition and interference of Sparta. _L. von Ranke, Universal History: The oldest Historical Group of Nations and the Greeks, chapter 5._ See, also, ATHENS: B. C. 510-507, and 509-506. GREECE: B. C. 752. The Archonship at Athens thrown open to the whole body of the people. See ATHENS: FROM THE DORIAN MIGRATION TO B. C. 683. GREECE: B. C. 624. The Draconian legislation at Athens. See ATHENS: B. C. 624. GREECE: B. C. 610-600. War of Athens and Megara for Salamis. Spartan Arbitration. See ATHENS: B. C. 610-586. GREECE: B. C. 595-586. The Cirrhæan or first Sacred War. See ATHENS: B.C. 610-586; and DELPHI. GREECE: B. C. 500-493. Rising of the Ionians of Asia Minor against the Persians. Aid rendered to them by the Athenians. Provocation to Darius.