Why was citizenship so important in Athens?

In many cities, like Athens, citizenship came with substantial political rights, since all citizens were legally considered to be equals. The desire to respect the rights of citizens is what led Athens to develop the world’s first democracy, as a way for people to have a say in their own government.

Who was eligible for citizenship in the Greek city state of Athens?

Not everyone in Athens was considered a citizen. Only free, adult men enjoyed the rights and responsibility of citizenship. Only about 20 percent of the population of Athens were citizens. Women were not citizens and therefore could not vote or have any say in the political process.

Who were denied citizenship in Athens?

Citizenship in Athens This excluded a majority of the population: slaves, freed slaves, children, women and metics (foreign residents in Athens).

What was the Athenian concept of citizenship?

Classical Athens defined the membership of its citizen body, and thereby its. civic space, rigorously in terms of descent. Citizens were those who were male; were sons of a citizen father; were born from a woman who was the daughter.

Who were citizens in Athens?

The Athenian definition of “citizens” was also different from modern-day citizens: only free men were considered citizens in Athens. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote. Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens.

What rights and responsibilities did citizens have in Athens?

Citizens were expected to serve in government positions, to vote and to perform military service. Citizens could send their sons to school and own property. Metics were foreigners living in Athens. They were expected to perform military service, and they could send their sons to school.

Why was Athens important to ancient Greece?

Athens was the largest and most influential of the Greek city-states. It had many fine buildings and was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The Athenians invented democracy, a new type of government where every citizen could vote on important issues, such as whether or not to declare war.

Why did the city states in the Delian League revolt against Athens?

Why did city-states in the Delian League revolt against Athens? They feared that Athens could not protect them from Persia. They worried that Athens would not stop an attack by Sparta.

Which scenario would most likely take place under the Athens jury system?

It was organized with separation of powers. the use of juries to decide trials. Which scenario would most likely take place under Athens’ jury system? the citizens.

How do you become a citizen of Sparta?

Only native Spartans were considered full citizens, and were obliged to undergo military training as prescribed by law, as well as participate in, and contribute financially to, one of the syssitia.

What did Greek citizens have to do?

The Greek idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy because, in Athens, all adult citizens were required to take an active part in the government. Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens. Those 500 citizens had to actively serve in the government for one year.

Did all Athenians participate in the Athenian democracy?

However, this didn’t mean all Athenians participated. Democracy in Athens was open only to male citizens over the age of 18 — a minority of the people living and working there. Except in rare circumstances, citizenship was restricted to those born in Athens whose parents also were citizens.

Did the Athenian assembly have to give citizenship to boys?

No law required it, but it made it less likely the boy’s citizenship would be challenged when he came of age and registered for the Assembly. Girls could be presented to the phratry as well, but since this had no legal bearing it was seldom done. A number of people born elsewhere lived and worked in Athens.

How many slaves did Athens have in the 4th century?

For example, in Athens in the middle of the 4th century there were about 100,000 citizens (Athenian citizenship was limited to men and women whose parents had also been Athenian citizens), about 10,000 metoikoi, or “resident foreigners,” and 150,000 slaves.

What was the power of the Ekklesia of Athens?

Ostracism, in which a citizen could be expelled from Athens for 10 years, was among the powers of the ekklesia. Athenian democracy was a direct democracy made up of three important institutions. The first was the ekklesia, or Assembly, the sovereign governing body of Athens.