From left to right: Ancient Greek socialism, Ancient Greek women, and Ancient Greek men.
As mentioned before, Greek social organisation and power distribution was based on socialism, or classes. There were four classes, the topmost being Athens, or the Upper Class.
The Upper Class
Citizens of the Upper Class possessed the utmost power and position in the Ancient Greek society. One had to be born in Athens to be a part of the class, and rights for the class could only be inherited genetically. People believed that being a part of the upper class symbolized a good, civil character, good artistic taste, and highly socialised people. People of the Athens class handled all important government work, literature, philosophy, and war. Athens people always ordered slaves to do their materialistic work so they could save their valuable time to work on more important things. They kept their time for important activities related to the administration of the kingdom.
The Middle Class
Next in the Greek Hierarchy, was the Metics, or Middle Class. These people were not natives of Athens, but came to the city to settle down. They came to Athens to earn their livelihood. These people could not vote, own land, or marry into the family of someone in the Upper Class. They were free men, but had very little rights compared to the people of Athens. The middle class consisted of “professional men” who were merchants, contractors, tradesmen, craftsmen, and artists.
The Lower Class
Freedmen were the next class in the Ancient Greek Social Hierarchy. These people were once slaves, but were freed by their owners. These people would never be granted citizenship into Athens, no matter how much money they earn. These people possessed the least amount of privileges, but still had some, compared to the Slaves, who had none. Most of the time, the people of the lower class were non Greek citizens, so the best they ever could’ve done is made it into the middle class. The lower class population was much higher than that of the upper class. Lower Class men were not allowed to vote, and were ordered around by Upper Class men. Women of the Lower Class had to work for a living, selling cloth that they had made, or perhaps were retailers of food.
The Slaves
The bottom class, the slaves, had no legal rights whatsoever. They were owned by other people and used as labourers and servants. Some were prisoners of war, or else brought over to Greece by foreign slave traders. A slave could be owned by a family, or a city. The publicly owned slaves had a lot more independence than those who worked in individual households. Public slaves were trained to do many things, such as look out for counterfeit coinage ( fake models of real coins), work in temples, and also act as a police force. Slaves that belonged to a household were more commonly women than men, and performed varying tasks depending on the home they belonged to. They might have been involved in domestic work, such as spinning and weaving, cooking, cleaning, or looking after a child. Others were employed as dancers, waitresses, even prostitutes.
There are many different ways that a slave can gain their freedom. If a friend or relative pays off their ransom, they will be set free. If a slave ever earns enough money they can pay their own ransom, although this would be difficult, because slaves weren’t paid for their services and so they would have to get a second job. If the slave’s master dies, he will be set free, or if the master feels the job the slave was bought for is complete. If a slave was bought to tutor a child through school, when the child graduates, the slave will be released.
Most of the power in Ancient Greece belonged to the government and Upper Class.
Men and Women’s rights
Men and women had different roles, rights, and responsibilities in Ancient Greece. Men had the dominant role in public life, they were engaged in public events and politics, while women stayed at home. The man in a family was in charge of the family and the house. Usually, men worked as farmers or business men or farmers. When at home, men were treated with immense respect. During dinner, the man would lie on the couch and be waited on by the servants, whilst the women and children ate in another room. Women were not allowed to go to many public events, including the famed Olympic Games. Men often had drinking parties, which entertained their male friends. Women and children were not allowed to attend. A husband’s word was law. Women were not allowed to leave the house without the husband’s permission. Men were given the most responsibility, and therefore thought of as the most important people in Ancient Greece.
Ancient Greece cultivated a demeaning role of women. Women did not have nearly as many privileges as men. They did not choose who they would marry, and were forced to untie with strangers and people they didn’t love. The romanticised idea of “marriage” was not the same as we know it today. It was called ekdosis or “loan” and so was seen as a transaction from the woman’s father to her spouse. Women were seen as objects and were ordered around by men. Additionally, women could not inherit any land or property, all would go to her husband. Further demonstrating the inequality of Ancient Greek society, women were restricted from participating in events outside of the home. Exceptions to this rule were visiting their nearest female neighbours and attending weddings and funerals. A women’s role in ancient Greece was mainly to bear children (preferably male), and run the household. Pale complexion was desired as it indicated that women were rich enough to stay inside, rather than working the land as a peasant woman did.
The Upper Class
Citizens of the Upper Class possessed the utmost power and position in the Ancient Greek society. One had to be born in Athens to be a part of the class, and rights for the class could only be inherited genetically. People believed that being a part of the upper class symbolized a good, civil character, good artistic taste, and highly socialised people. People of the Athens class handled all important government work, literature, philosophy, and war. Athens people always ordered slaves to do their materialistic work so they could save their valuable time to work on more important things. They kept their time for important activities related to the administration of the kingdom.
The Middle Class
Next in the Greek Hierarchy, was the Metics, or Middle Class. These people were not natives of Athens, but came to the city to settle down. They came to Athens to earn their livelihood. These people could not vote, own land, or marry into the family of someone in the Upper Class. They were free men, but had very little rights compared to the people of Athens. The middle class consisted of “professional men” who were merchants, contractors, tradesmen, craftsmen, and artists.
The Lower Class
Freedmen were the next class in the Ancient Greek Social Hierarchy. These people were once slaves, but were freed by their owners. These people would never be granted citizenship into Athens, no matter how much money they earn. These people possessed the least amount of privileges, but still had some, compared to the Slaves, who had none. Most of the time, the people of the lower class were non Greek citizens, so the best they ever could’ve done is made it into the middle class. The lower class population was much higher than that of the upper class. Lower Class men were not allowed to vote, and were ordered around by Upper Class men. Women of the Lower Class had to work for a living, selling cloth that they had made, or perhaps were retailers of food.
The Slaves
The bottom class, the slaves, had no legal rights whatsoever. They were owned by other people and used as labourers and servants. Some were prisoners of war, or else brought over to Greece by foreign slave traders. A slave could be owned by a family, or a city. The publicly owned slaves had a lot more independence than those who worked in individual households. Public slaves were trained to do many things, such as look out for counterfeit coinage ( fake models of real coins), work in temples, and also act as a police force. Slaves that belonged to a household were more commonly women than men, and performed varying tasks depending on the home they belonged to. They might have been involved in domestic work, such as spinning and weaving, cooking, cleaning, or looking after a child. Others were employed as dancers, waitresses, even prostitutes.
There are many different ways that a slave can gain their freedom. If a friend or relative pays off their ransom, they will be set free. If a slave ever earns enough money they can pay their own ransom, although this would be difficult, because slaves weren’t paid for their services and so they would have to get a second job. If the slave’s master dies, he will be set free, or if the master feels the job the slave was bought for is complete. If a slave was bought to tutor a child through school, when the child graduates, the slave will be released.
Most of the power in Ancient Greece belonged to the government and Upper Class.
Men and Women’s rights
Men and women had different roles, rights, and responsibilities in Ancient Greece. Men had the dominant role in public life, they were engaged in public events and politics, while women stayed at home. The man in a family was in charge of the family and the house. Usually, men worked as farmers or business men or farmers. When at home, men were treated with immense respect. During dinner, the man would lie on the couch and be waited on by the servants, whilst the women and children ate in another room. Women were not allowed to go to many public events, including the famed Olympic Games. Men often had drinking parties, which entertained their male friends. Women and children were not allowed to attend. A husband’s word was law. Women were not allowed to leave the house without the husband’s permission. Men were given the most responsibility, and therefore thought of as the most important people in Ancient Greece.
Ancient Greece cultivated a demeaning role of women. Women did not have nearly as many privileges as men. They did not choose who they would marry, and were forced to untie with strangers and people they didn’t love. The romanticised idea of “marriage” was not the same as we know it today. It was called ekdosis or “loan” and so was seen as a transaction from the woman’s father to her spouse. Women were seen as objects and were ordered around by men. Additionally, women could not inherit any land or property, all would go to her husband. Further demonstrating the inequality of Ancient Greek society, women were restricted from participating in events outside of the home. Exceptions to this rule were visiting their nearest female neighbours and attending weddings and funerals. A women’s role in ancient Greece was mainly to bear children (preferably male), and run the household. Pale complexion was desired as it indicated that women were rich enough to stay inside, rather than working the land as a peasant woman did.