Who Were Citizens in Ancient Athens?

Citizens of Athens - Those whose parents were born in Athens.

Metics - Those who lived in Athens, but were born outside of the city-state.

Slaves

The people who were owned by citizens of Athens or the city-state.

Many were those taken as prisoners while their city-state was under attack by the Athenians.

Slaves could never become citizens.

Athenian citizenship was only for one class or group in their society -- citizens. Generally, people were not able to change social classes and rarely would you have a metic or slave become a citizen. Social classes are not apparent today, as our democratic ways have helped to get rid of this unfair evaluation of others.

Why do you think we do not have this inequality today, in Canada?

Have you heard of other countries where this is not the case? If so, where?

As a class, we are going to come up with similarities and differences between democratic rights between Canada and Athens.

As a class complete the Venn Diagram together on the board using the information you have already learned.

3.3: Was Fairness Part of Ancient Athens?