Table of Contents
How did Athenians view citizenship?
Athenian citizenship was based on obligations of citizens towards the community rather than rights given to its members. This was not a problem because people had a strong affinity with the polis; their personal destiny and the destiny of the entire community were strongly linked.
What did citizenship mean in ancient Greece?
Citizenship Rights Being recognized as a citizen meant that you were a true inhabitant of the polis, that you legally belonged. It also meant that you had certain political rights. This was very important to the Greeks from early on.
What were Athenian values?
Athens Values While Spartans valued military strength, Athenians placed a higher value on education and culture. Their main goal was building a democracy. Athenians believed that the only way to build a strong democracy was to create well informed citizens. Boys were educated.
What did Athenians consider citizenship?
Citizens of Athens had many rights, including the right to stand trial and the right (when Athens was a direct democracy) to vote. But not all people in ancient Athens were citizens. Originally, a free male would be a citizen if his father was a citizen. But Pericles changed that rule in 450 BCE .
What was the responsibility of an Athenian citizen?
One of the most profound responsibilities of Athenian citizens was their duty to participate in the military. This duty was so important because Athens did not have a full-time military; rather it consisted of citizens who were called upon in time of war.
What was Athenian religion?
The religion of Ancient Greece was classified as polytheistic, which means that they believed in multiple deities. In fact, the gods and goddesses that we know as the Olympian Gods were something that many religious experts accept as being at the core of their belief system.
Why was citizenship important in ancient Athens?
To the ancient Greeks, citizenship meant talking and debating on how to improve the welfare of the community. Male citizens in Athens could vote on all the decisions that affected the city and serve on juries.