Final answer:
The Athenian leader Solon is credited with reconstructing Athens' political and social system in 594 BC by enacting a series of reforms including the cancellation of debts, the abolition of debt-slavery, and the public display of laws to reduce aristocratic abuses of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual credited with reconstructing Athens' political and social system in 594 BC was Solon, an aristocratic and regarded politician. He was given the powers of a tyrant, not to rule as a despot but to reform and stabilize Athens. To alleviate civil strife, Solon canceled existing debts, abolished debt-slavery, and used public funds to retrieve Athenian slaves from abroad. He also enacted legal reforms that undermined the authority of the aristocracy. In an effort to democratize the knowledge of laws and reduce the abuse of power, he commanded that laws be inscribed on wooden panels and displayed publicly. These reforms, while significant, did not fully quell civil unrest. However, they laid the foundational principles for the eventual development of democracy in Athens.