Citizenship in Greek Polis - Essay Example

Running Head: Citizenship in Greek Polis Citizenship in Greek Polis of Citizenship in Greek Polis Introduction Polis was a Greek term which was used to describe the independent city states of Ancient Greece. Greek poleis were unique in the sense that they were not dominated by a single monarch or a group of elite but were ruled by citizens. The concept of polis evolved rapidly with the history of ancient Greece. Initially it meant a state which consisted of smaller villages but gradually it began to encompass an entire group of citizens. Citadels surrounded the polis as they defined its boundaries. Some citizens lived outside the boundaries of the citadel while the polis was considered to be based on religion and politics. The citizens consisted of tribes which were further divided into phratries and gentes. Foreigners and slaves were considered to be outside the scope of citizenship. Descent was the criteria which determined the citizenship of individuals (Grant 56, 1990). The citizens were divided into three types. The first types of citizens were those with political rights. The second of type of citizens was those without any political rights. The third type consisted of foreigners and slaves who were not considered as citizens. Ancient Greece made many strides in the creation of organized and centralized nation. It was initially composed of warring states which fought against each other. These city states lacked any central administration or government. Athens would give birth to the concept of political participation and democracy. Solon was the first aristocrat who gave a comprehensive set of political rules and regulations. Reforms These reforms gave power and responsibility to moderately well off non aristocrats. It also protected the citizens from much of the repressive measures of governments. By 508 BC, an exile named Cleisthenes was instrumental in removing the Athenian tyrant Hippias from power. He offered a package of reforms to the Athenian citizens which would give them political power and representation in the government (Starr 91, 1986). The Archaic Greek period divided society on the basis of three economic groups. The aristocrats acquired power which was inherited from their fathers. They made significant profits by ruthlessly exploiting the poor farmers (Starr 100, 1977). The poor people represented the bottom of the three groups. They could be indebted or reduced as slaves by the powerful elite. A middle class was also present which had the largest degree of social and economic differences. Some of them had acquired prosperity while others were barely above the lower classes. The lower class had little chances of moving up their social and economic status. Ancient Greece defined the political and social rights of the various social groups. But citizenship was fixed according to the social and economic condition of the person. Female citizens had important roles in the religious worship of the community but could not participate in the political, judicial, and military affairs of the state. Adult male citizens over the age of eighteen had representation and influence in the political, judicial, and military affairs of the state. Men had the right to vote and express their views in the assembly. They could hold positions in the public office and courts. They also could serve in the army as generals and soldiers. Rights of citizens In the early archaic period, citizens who did not belong to the aristocracy did not have access to political and military participation. Poor citizens were denied the right to vote in the assembly. This would change in the democratic city states. Wars had a drastic influence as it enhanced the rights of citizens to those who could provide their own weapons and armor. However while political power was extended to the common citizens, it was still denied to women and immigrants. Citizens had political rights as they could participate in political issues (Murray 216, 1991). It gave a sense of freedom and harmony to the citizens. Citizenship was excluded for children, foreigners, and slaves. The citizens had many rights like the right to vote, own property, and contract legal marriage. The city states were different in many regions of ancient Greece. The governments of the polis were very different as Sparta became a war like polis while Athens became a democratic polis. Sparta had created a militant city state which emphasized social differences. The government of Sparta represented all the citizens. Spartans had negative feelings about tyranny which was deemed as the cause of political chaos and instability (Andrews 241, 1967). Oligarchy was the political system for the ruling elite of Sparta. Military expansion was the official policy of the city state was evidence from the Messenian War. The Spartan army divided the land among themselves. The local population worked on these lands while the Spartans focused on military service. Athens and Sparta Athens was the largest polis which consisted of several regions of Greece. The social system was based on wealth rather than aristocratic birth. The power of the monarch was reduced while the Areopagus became the ruling council of the city state. Direct participation was the key to the success of the Athenian democratic system. Every male citizen could attend the assembly and express his opinion. Males also had the right to vote on proposals and recommend changes in the legislature. The citizens could persuade the power groups to work for their interests in the assembly. The Athenian assembly was said to have six thousand citizens in attendance. An estimated fifty thousand Athenians were eligible for citizenship and had exclusive political rights (Manville 201, 1997). They formed less than twenty percent of the population while the rest consisted of women, children, foreigners, and slaves. While citizens had extensive rights in both city states, there were some important differences. In Athens, people of each social class enjoyed political participation and representation. The Spartan oligarchy allowed women to participate in government, judiciary, and military. Their goals of military expansionism and conquest held to solve the problem of overpopulation. The concept of polis allowed Greeks to participate in the political process (Hansen 102, 1998). Both Sparta and Athens evolved into the greatest Greek states of the ancient world. They became the first states in the world to introduce the concept of democracy, political representation, and rule by citizens. Concept of citizenship The concept of citizenship was based on descent in ancient Greece. The members of city states had strong notions of kinship and tribal affiliations. Citizens were required to provide proofs that they were descended from citizens. In some cases, the city states granted citizenship to people who could not prove their descent. This concept of naturalization was a unique one in the ancient world. The idea of citizenship developed in the city states. Since the polis or city state had national and local aims, it provided an environment where citizens were required to know each other’s character (Ehrenberg 59, 1973). The governments also developed the concept that citizens were men who had the right to participate and hold public positions and serve in the army. Political activity was considered to be the right of the citizens. It was believed that political activity enlightened and boosted the intellect of human beings (Lacey 39, 1968). Without political participation and representation, the polis could not function as a stable and viable unit. In return citizens were given the rights of freedom, security, and defending the community. Citizens who did not fulfill their duties were deemed as outcasts. Citizenship was a responsibility which was considered vital for the stability and functioning of the polis or city state. Any citizen who did not participate in the administrative, military, political, and judicial activities could result in a loss of membership in the polis (Garner 69, 1987). Citizenship was based on the concept of responsibility rather than being a right of the people. Conclusion Ancient Greece was one of the most advanced and sophisticated civilizations of the ancient world. It displayed a remarkable coherence and unity while making great strides in politics, medicine, science, astronomy, and technology. The concept of citizenship developed in ancient Greece because it was believed that only political participation and representation could enable the polis or city state to flourish. Citizenship was granted by descent to people. Citizenship was available only to men who were above the age of eighteen. They could serve in the army and hold public positions. They comprised less than twenty percent of the population. Citizenship was considered to be beneficial for expanding and increasing the potential and intellect of human beings. It was vital that citizens participate in the political process. Men had the right to vote and express their views in the assembly. They could also influence groups to think on a particular way. They also could own property and contract marriage on their free will. Women, foreigners, children, and slaves were not given the power to vote. Another unique concept of ancient Greece was naturalization which meant that some people were given citizenship by the city state. Athens and Sparta became the greatest city states because of the rights they extended to their citizens. Athens was a democracy while Sparta was a military polis. Each of these states contributed to the ideas of political representation, citizenship, democracy, and freedom in the Western world. References: C.G. Starr (1986). Individual and Community: the rise of the polis 800-500 BC . New York: Oxford University Press. 91-94. Chester G. Starr (1977). The Economic and Social Growth of Early Greece, 800-500 B.C.: 800-500 B.C. New York: Oxford University Press. 100-112 Philip Brook Manville (1997). The Origins of Citizenship in Ancient Athens. New York: Princeton University Press. 201-204 Hansen (1998). Polis and City-state: An Ancient Concept and Its Modern Equivalent. Copenhagen: Munksgaard. 100-105 Oswyn Murray (1991). The Greek City From Homer to Alexander. New York: Oxford University Press. 215-217. Grant, Neil. The Greeks: How They Lived: New York: Brian Trodd Pub. House Ltd. l990. Andrews, Antony, The Greeks (NY: Norton 1967). Ehrenberg, Viktor, From Solon to Socrates 2nd ed. (NY: University Paperbacks (Methuen). 1973). Garner, Richard, Law and Society in Classical Athens (NY: St Martins 1987). Lacey, W. K., The Family in Classical Greece (Ithaca: Cornell 1968). Read More