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Social classes differed from city to city. The most known social division was the one of the Athenian democracy type cities and was mainly between Greek citizens and others (free or slaves).

1. Greek citizens (polites)
They had the right to elect and to be elected and they were equal as to their political duties and rights. They were the only to own land property. They should either have been born by both parents Greek citizens or although foreigners to have been delivered the greek citizenship as honour.

2. Others

2.1. Metikoi
Free Greek citizens-non Athenians- or foreigners who lived in Athens or in Attica for a period of time. We have to specify that for Athenians, foreigners were considered Greek citizens of other cities or those that had lost their Athenian citizenship due to a bad action (see ostracism). They had not the right to get married with an Athenian citizen. Should they go to the court they had to be represented by an Athenian lawyer (prostatis). They used to be merchants or Bankers. They had no political rights.

2.b.Slaves
They were not free but belonged to the citizen who owned them. They were protected by law as to what concerns the good treatment.No political rights.

We would refer this type of division as a social division not related to social classes because the social status of a person could change under certain circumstances.
A greek citizen could become a slave due to his debts to the state or to be arrested as slave during a battle.
A slave could become a free citizen should this was requested by the Athenian citizen to whom he belonged.

Women and children were a different category. Women had not political rights.

For further study on this subject you may have a look at the book :
M.M.Austin-P.Vidal-Naquet ''Economie et societe en Grece ancienne'', Armand Collin, Paris
I have read it in Greek transaltion so I assume it must have been translated in English.

2006-10-01 21:00:45 · answer #1 · answered by elmamelenia 3 · 1 0

it sucked ur terrible

2014-04-07 19:50:13 · answer #2 · answered by ChantalS 1 · 0 0

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