Citizenship in Athens and Rome

Citizenship in Athens and Rome

Basics about Athens

• Athens was a small city state.

• There were about 300,000 people in Athens - including slaves

• Participation was important. They used terms like "useless" and "beasts" to describe people who did not participate.

• Athens used a system called democracy where all citizens voted on the laws.

Basics about Rome

• Rome was a huge empire with about 45,000,000 living in it

• Roman citizens were judged on how they interacted with their neighbors

• Rome used a system called a republic where elected officials voted on laws

Multiple Choice

Which society had the larger population?

• Athens

• Rome

• Both societies were equal.

Multiple Choice

Which society had a democracy - where citizens could vote?

• Athens

• Rome

Multiple Choice

What is it called when all citizens vote on issues.

• A republic

• A democracy

• A direct democracy

Multiple Choice

Which society had a republic?

• Rome

• Athens

• Both societies were republics

The Athenian Assembly

The Athenian Assembly met about 40 times per year. Quorum was required for meeting. A quorum is the minimum # required for meetings. Quorum was 6,000 in a total citizen population of 40,000. Membership in the Council of 500 was chosen by lot. This meant any citizen could have a say in their government.

The Roman Senate

The Roman Senate was manned by about 300 people who came from old families where they inherited their seats. They were responsible for making treaties with other countries and creating alliances.

Multiple Choice

Which society gave more people a chance to be involved in the government

• Athens

• Rome

Multiple Choice

Election by lot means

• electing some by writing down their name a lot

• picking someone at random

Multiple Choice

What is the minimum # of people required to meet?

• election by lot

• the Athenian Assembly

• quorum

Who gets to be a citizen?

• Athens: Men, whose parents were citizens after they had completed an education and served in the military.

• Rome: Men, women and children if their parents were married and lived in certain parts of the empire.

Isn't that everyone?

• NO! Both Athens and Rome had slaves. Who were these slaves?

• Most slaves in Rome were foreigners who had been conquered in war.

• In Athens most slaves were those conquered in war or sold by pirates

Multiple Choice

Which society practiced slavery?

• Athens

• Rome

• Both

Multiple Choice

Which society let women and children become citizens?

• Rome

• Athens

Getting into the weeds - Athens

• ostracism - citizens could kick out those people that were dangerous to the country

• election by lot - system used by Athenians to ensure that all citizens were represented and participated in the government

• Athens is famous for using its slaves to hold a rope dipped in paint to round up people for assembly. Not going to assembly would result in literally having a mark against you!

Getting into the weeds - Rome

• Rome was huge. They took a census every 5 years. In this census they ranked people based on their wealth, physical and moral fitness, marital status and administrative competence.

• A citizens standing was always changing between different levels of citizenship

• Rome also (perhaps idealized) allowed many foreigners who they conquered to become citizens.

Summing it up

• There were many more citizens in Rome.

• Athens wanted you to participate in making laws. In Rome that was strictly for the Senate.

• Rome may have let you become a citizen, but your ability to impact the government was tiny.

• Even with their elections by lot and Assembly meeting 40x per year, it still was tough for Athens to get over 15% of people to show up for meetings.

Multiple Choice

Which society allowed for its citizens to make new laws?

• Athens

• Rome

Multiple Choice

_____________ was practiced in __________.

• The census; Athens

• The census; Rome

• Election by lot; Rome

Multiple Choice

_____________ was practiced in __________.

• Ostracism; Rome

• Ostracism; Athens

• Quorum; Rome