Daily Life in Athens

Democracy- Government where citizens govern themselves The first democracy developed in Athens Solon was given power by the aristocrats He created an constitution: a set of rules for government As leader, he created laws giving more rights to citizens and less to aristocrats. He also changed how people were taxed making it more fair Citizens could have a say in creating laws However, only males born in Athens who were not slaves were citizens.

Daily Life in Athens

I. Men Met in the agora, the public marketplace Discussed politics, religion, philosophy, community events Vendors- sold wares like, wool, pottery, tools, cloth, books, food Went to government buildings and temple in the agora Ate simple meals of bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables Lived in simple mud brick homes

Daily Life in Athens

II. Women Led secluded lives Men thought women had to be protected from the world Had little freedom In charge of the homes and families Rich women spun and wove cloth, looked after supplies of food and wine, cared for children and kept track of family finances Poor women did the same and worked outside the homelike making pottery, spinning and weaviong cloth, or tending sheep

Daily Life in Athens

III. Children Rich boys went to school After lessons, they had athletic training Poor boys and all girls did not go to school All children learned to do the same job as their parent

Daily Life in Athens IV. Slaves Slavery- the condition of being owned and forced to work by another person One third of the people in Athens were slaves Slaves were often Greeks from other city-states Had no rights or freedoms Slaves could become free if their master freed them or they bought their freedom Worked on farms, worked in mines, in construction, making tools, cooking, cleaning, caring for children and many other jobs

Golden Age of Athens 479BC-431BC Rich from silver mining and trade Tributes paid to Athens by other city- states for protection Made contributions in art, philosophy, government, and literature Pericles, an Athenian leader, strengthened democracy by paying officials Built the Parthenon