Solon was an ancient Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet who lived around 638-558 BCE. He is best known for his efforts to reform the political and economic structure of Athens. His reforms aimed to alleviate the suffering of the poor and reduce the power of the aristocracy, laying the groundwork for the development of democracy in Greece. One of Solon's most significant contributions was the introduction of the Seisachtheia, which canceled debts and freed those who had fallen into slavery due to debt. He also established a new legal code and restructured the political system, allowing more citizens to participate in governance, thus promoting greater civic engagement in Athenian society.