athenian political and social culture Flashcards
pericles law 451
reform of citizenship, both parents were athenian citizens so their children could become athenians as well. promote athenian lineage, but also limit population growth
males 18+
participate in assembly, vote, hold public office, filled by lot, serve in military, say in governance
women
limited legal rights, excluded from governance,
metics
resident foreigners, slaves, required to pay taxes and serve in the military but couldn’t own property/land or have a say in politics, or be a citizen, tradesmen, craftsmen and intellectuals, contributed quite significantly to athenian economy
slaves
labour intensive tasks, not property or political say
stratagoi
military general
the elite (eupatridae)
highest offices, wealthy landowners, informal power, pericles himself was one of the elites,
middle class
zeugitai: landowners, hoplites: had land but wealthy enough
thetes
lowest class citizens, still had a lot of political rights, not quite the same as slaves, poor, naval rowers
slaves
no rights, essential labour force, households and workshops, 80,000 - 100,000 slaves, worked in the silvermines, state owned slaves; a police force made of slaves, “scythian archers”, treatment varied, some slaves earned wages and bought themselves freedom,
differences between athenian democracy and spartan oligarchy
government: A: direct democracy S: dual monarchy, oligarchic council
who ruled: A: S:
military: A: S:
social structure: A: S:
laws and justice: A: S:
thucydides
didn’t like democracy,
aristotle
lot of concerns about democracy, gave too much power to poor people, who might vote for policies that gave them short term gain, ochloracy: “mob rule”, believed mixed government (oligarchy and democracy) was best, balance of rich and poor,
demagogues
whip up a frenzy to get their way, the democratic system was vulnerable to manipulation by skilled orators and demagogues who could sway the masses with emotional appeals.
