What term describes the practice of exiling an individual in Athens for ten years due to being a political threat?

The term that describes the practice of exiling an individual in Athens for ten years due to being perceived as a political threat is ostracism. This practice was a distinctive feature of Athenian democracy, designed to protect the city-state from potential tyrants or influential individuals deemed dangerous to the political order.

Ostracism involved a voting process in which citizens would write the name of the person they considered a threat on potsherds or pieces of pottery. If a sufficient majority voted in favor of the exile, the individual would be banished from Athens for ten years. This process was intended as a measure of self-defense for the democracy, allowing the populace to eliminate individuals who might accumulate too much power or influence.

This practice underscores the unique aspects of Athenian political life and highlights the active participation of its citizens in maintaining their democratic system. It emphasizes not just the role of governance but also the public's capability to influence significant political decisions, reflecting the principles of direct democracy that Athens was known for.