What was Cleisthene's background growing up?

Cleisthenes was an ancient Athenian lawmaker credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 508/507 BC. He was a member of the Alcmaeonidae family, which was a powerful noble family in Athens. Cleisthenes' background as he was growing up would have been influenced by his family's wealth and political connections, as well as by the political turmoil of the period.

The Alcmaeonidae claimed descent from the mythological figure Alcmaeon and had a long history of political involvement in Athens. His family was involved in a power struggle against the Peisistratids, who had established a tyranny in Athens. The family's opposition to tyranny and their eventual triumph in overthrowing it played a significant role in Athenian politics, and this background of conflict and the strive for political power would have shaped Cleisthenes' upbringing and worldview.

As a member of the aristocracy, Cleisthenes would have received an education appropriate to his class, which would have included training in rhetoric, philosophy, athletics, and military skills. His family’s political engagement could have also provided him with experiences and knowledge about the workings of government and political strategizing from an early age.