Ancient Athens socio-economic structure

Athenian Political Regime: Democracy

• Democracy is a political regime where there is freedom of expression for the population and all people are equal before the law
• The people participate in the decisions of the government
• Athenian democracy had some contradictions:
  • Only citizens could participate in political life which excluded slaves
  • Not all people were really equal
  • Ostracism: someone who spoke out against the government could be expelled from the city for 10 years, or even face the death penalty
• Athens had a direct democracy because political decisions were made by voting citizens in public squares
• To vote, Athenians would raise their arms if they favored a certain idea and they were counted

Greek Religion

• Greek religion was polytheistic, with a belief in many gods
• It was also anthropomorphic
• Gods had human forms, defects, feelings, and qualities, but were set apart by their supernatural powers such as metamorphosis, immortality, and invisibility
• Stories involving these gods and supernatural figures are known as Greek mythology

Greek Civilization

Geographic Location

• Greece is located southwest of Europe on the Balkan Peninsula
• It is surrounded by 3 seas: The Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south

Climate and Relief

• The climate is very hot and dry, with hot summers and dry winters with little rain
• There are few plains and many mountains
• The coastline is very jagged, with natural ports and few rivers with weak flows
• Ancient Greek civilization was created due to many mountains, which made it difficult to trade

Polis

• Polis were independent cities with their own laws, chiefs, armies, customs, and gods
• There were about 2,000 polis in Greece
• Athens was the most important due to having a large population, naval fleet, and wealth
• Acropolis: the place where the polis originated and the highest part of the mountain which separated the polis
  • Important temples and palatial buildings were located there
• Agora: a public square with gardens and shops where most of the population lived
• Rural Zone: the lowest part of the city where farmland, woods and livestock were located

Cults

• Cults were ceremonies to honor the gods
• They consisted of offerings of food, flowers, songs, and animal sacrifices

Types of Cults

• Domestic cult: practiced at home and dedicated to ancestors and the gods of the polis
• Civic cult: held in the temples of cities and dedicated to the gods of the polis
• Pan-Hellenic cult: held in sanctuaries in honor of a god, bringing people from across the country and even Greeks living abroad

Athens

• Was the most significant polis in ancient Greece
• Had a maritime economy as trade was conducted by sea
• Monetary system where they used coins (drachma) to pay for products, and commercial activity was the main economic activity

Main Agricultural Products:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Olives
• Olive oil
• Grapes
• Wine
• Figs
• Livestock

Main Traded Products:

• Imports:

  • Grains
  • Metals
  • Slaves

• Exports:

  • Wine
  • Olive oil
  • Weapons
  • Ceramic vases

• Other Activities: fishing, extraction of silver from the mines of Lório, and crafts: metallurgy, ceramics, and naval construction

Social Classes in Athens

• Citizens: men over 18 with military service and children of Athenian father and mother
  • Only they could own land and had political rights
• Metecos: foreigners who lived in Athens without any political rights
  • Paid taxes
  • Dedicated themselves to crafts and trade
  • Could not own land
• Enslaved: the most populous social group, prisoners of war, or citizens who did not pay their debts
  • Had no freedom or political rights
  • Were treated as objects, performing the most difficult and heavy tasks
• Women and Young Children: did not make up a social group
  • Had no rights
  • Did not participate in the public or cultural life of the city
  • Were dependent on their closest male relative
  • Could not leave the house without permission and stayed in the gynaeceum (a kitchen-like area) where they looked after their children