' Male citizens in Athens could vote on all the decisions that affected the city and serve on juries. ... Citizen women and children were not allowed to vote. Slaves and foreigners living in Athens (known as metics) were banned from participating in government.

Who could vote in Athens?

Only adult male Athenian citizens who had completed their military training as ephebes had the right to vote in Athens. The percentage of the population that actually participated in the government was 10% to 20% of the total number of inhabitants, but this varied from the fifth to the fourth century BC.

Who could and could not vote 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.

Could non citizens become citizens in Athens?

Regardless of how many generations of the family had lived in the city, metics did not become citizens unless the city chose to bestow citizenship on them as a gift. ... Citizenship at Athens brought eligibility for numerous state payments such as jury and assembly pay, which could be significant to working people.

What rights did non citizens have in Athens?

While having no citizen rights, of which Athenians were very jealous, they did have access to the courts; but they were unable to own property, so were always lodgers, had to serve in the military, pay a metic tax and, if they became wealthy, were liable for taxes on the rich.

What did democracy really mean in Athens? - Melissa Schwartzberg

25 related questions found

What did Athenians think of foreigners?

Athenians Welcomed Strangers as Workers and Mythic Protectors, but Walled off Dangerous “Barbarians”

Did Sparta welcome foreigners?

Nothing was more likely to retain their respect, which meant that we never needed a foreign general. There were other foreigners whom Sparta was happy to welcome without fear of violating the intentions of its lawmaker.

Was Athens open to foreigners?

Athens also welcomed foreigners themselves. They lived in profoundly insecure times, but rather than walling themselves off from the outside world like the Spartans, the Athenians allowed outsiders to roam the city freely even during wartime, often to the city's benefit.

Could slaves in Athens buy their freedom?

Next in status were domestic slaves who, under certain circumstances, might be allowed to buy their own freedom. Often looked upon as 'one of the family', during certain festivals they would be waited upon by their masters.

What was Sparta's focus as a city state?

Sparta's focus as a city-state was military. They trained young men to become soldiers. They were like the Hikkos and the Assyrians and Unlike the Phoenicians or the Mionaons.

Who could vote in Sparta?

Every male citizen of age≥30 could participate in the Appella at any time. They did the electing. Also indicated their will on questions of the day (the agenda of those questions was prepared by the Gerontes by a deliberative process; they then were supposed to "stand aloof" to receive the judgment of the people).

Why is Athens not a democracy?

Athens was not a full democracy because most people were not considered citizens and, therefore, could not vote.

Who was not allowed to vote in early Greece?

Male citizens in Athens could vote on all the decisions that affected the city and serve on juries. However, democracy was not open to everyone. Citizen women and children were not allowed to vote. Slaves and foreigners living in Athens (known as metics) were banned from participating in government.

Is Senate Athens or Rome?

Roman Senate

A political institution in the ancient Roman Republic. It was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors.

How did Sparta differ from Athens?

The main difference between Athens and Sparta is that Athens was a form of democracy, whereas Sparta was a form of oligarchy. ... Moreover, Athens' economy was mainly based on trade, whereas Sparta's economy was based on agriculture and conquering.

Who had no democracy Athens or Sparta?

The Athenian form of electing a government was called Limited Democracy while the Spartan form was called oligarchy" (rule by a few), but it had elements of monarchy (rule by kings), democracy (through the election of council/senators), and aristocracy (rule by the upper class or land owning class).

Why was Athens government better than Spartans?

Athens focused more on culture, while Sparta focused more on war. The oligarchy structure in Sparta enabled it to keep war as a top priority. The Athenian democratic government gave the citizens in Greece more freedom.

What was Sparta's population?

At its peak around 500 BCE, Sparta had some 20,000–35,000 citizens, plus numerous helots and perioikoi. The likely total of 40,000–50,000 made Sparta one of the larger Greek city-states; however, according to Thucydides, the population of Athens in 431 BCE was 360,000–610,000, making it much larger.

How did Sparta treat foreigners?

Sparta: In Sparta non-citizens were women, slaves (called the helots), and Perioikoi (free men, usually foreigners). ... Because the helots outnumbered the Spartans 20 to one, the Spartans feared the helots would revolt against them one day. Because of this, the Spartans treated the helots harshly.

Why did Sparta decide not to destroy Athens?

As Thebes grew richer, Sparta grew more wary of accidentally creating a new powerful rival. Given Athens' generations-old enmity towards Thebes, it would be safer for Sparta to preserve Athens as a buffer, absorbing Theban aggression and allowing for shrewd alliance politics if the need arose.

Can Metics serve in the military?

Metics were foreigners living in Athens. They were expected to perform military service, and they could send their sons to school. But they could not own property without permission, and they could not vote or hold government positions.

What did Athens do with foreigners?

In Athens, where they were most numerous, they occupied an intermediate position between visiting foreigners and citizens, having both privileges and duties. They were a recognized part of the community and specially protected by law, although subject to restrictions on marriage and property ownership.

What was Sparta's opinion of outsiders?

Spartans were suspicious of outsiders. What was the role of the Assembly of the Athenian government?

Did Athens encourage travel?

Its location encouraged Athenians to look outward toward the world beyond the city. ... Athens love to travel and spread their ideas to others. established friendships and made them rich.