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Life in Ancient Athens varied from fairly easy to quite tough depending on social classes. Most citizens had a pretty easy and simple life. However, there were several expectations that citizens needed to uphold. “Wealthy citizens were expected to provide for the community” (Source B). Life as a Metic was a fairly simple life. Although some political and social rights were denied, generally Metics had rights of freedom. However, slaves lived very brutal lives. Always being under the watch of their master, slaves were working hard all the time. To be a woman in Ancient Athens would also have been quite difficult, not being able to leave the house without a male and having no freedom. Generally, life in Athens was a quite relaxed lifestyle with a few restrictions. \

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Pericles was the main leader of Ancient Athens. Pericles grew up into a wealthy family during the time of the Persian War, which later led him to invest his money into a play ‘The Persians’. This made him quite popular with the people of Athens. Along with some other men Pericles was able to strip the Areopagus of all its power. This led him to becoming the leader of Athenian Politics. Pericles also then became a General in the Army. Pericles was continuously trying to develop new laws and ideas. He put large amounts of time and money into building ‘The Long Wall’ around Athens for protection. Pericles also built the Parthenon to honour Goddess Athena on top of the Acropolis. After the Peloponnesian War Pericles made a famous speech to honour all fallen soldiers. “Pericles tried to reform the democracy many times” (Source D). Pericles was a very powerful figure in Ancient Athens and helped create democracy.

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In Ancient Athens there was democracy for citizens. The ‘Ekklesia’ (a board of 35,000 citizens) met every fortnight to discuss decisions about who would go to fight at war and other important choices. Experienced and skilled men were chosen to lead the assembly however, jobs such as tax collectors and police chiefs were chosen by lot. Citizens would represent themselves at court rather than a lawyer. “Citizens would represent themselves at court and would need to defend themselves from heavy punishment” (Source A). Athenians had a well ran government with democracy rather than one ruling body.

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Greeks had great faith in their Gods and would never dishonour a God. Different Gods were worshipped according to one’s occupation- for example farmers would worship Demeter, the Goddess of Harvest and the sailors would worship Poseidon, the God of the Sea. It was believed there was a family of Gods living on Mount Olympus.  It was thought the Gods were capable of punishing any Athenian who offended them. If Athenians were curious about the future or had an issue with something they would ask their Gods, who would respond through an ‘oracle’. Oracles were performed by priests falling into a trance and speaking the words of the God. Athena was the Patron Goddess of Athens and protected the city of Athens. “Greeks feared their Gods rather than loved them because it was believed they controlled people and could punish them if they were speaking disrespectfully of the Gods” (Source C). Athenians were always very respectful and loyal to their Gods in order to gain protection.

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The economy of Athens relied greatly on trade and importation. When the government required money, special taxes were collected only from wealthy citizens. The Agora was a market place where men often went to in order to buy, sell and trade goods. Greeks planted only enough crops to feed their family and to sell locally to provide healthy, fresh crops. Soil was imported from other nearby states for harvest in return for olive oil, pottery, wine, silver and animal hides. Meat was very expensive and was only eaten rarely, however seafood was very popular. Common foods eaten were olives, beans, cabbages, fruits, nuts and dates. “Agriculture formed most of the economic basis in the 5th century BCE” (Source F). Athenians depended a lot on agriculture and the health of crops in order to feed their families and make an income.

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Men were very important in Ancient Athens society. When a boy was born an olive wreath was placed on the front door. Men named their sons after the boy’s grandfather. Boys started school at age seven and were taught musical, physical and academic skills. Wealthy families sent their sons to secondary school at age 14 to learn public speaking, math, astronomy and drawing. Men made money by selling wine, pottery, being craftsmen, farmers and more. Men were the ruling class of all Athenians because they were the family provider and earning the main source of income (Source B). Athens was a very male dominated society.

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Women were considered to be socially and politically low within Ancient Athens society. When a girl was born the father placed a strip of wool on the front door to signify the birth of a baby girl. From a young age women were educated in household tasks by mothers. At approximately age 14 an arranged marriage was set with an older man possibly in their 30’s. A women’s father paid the husband a ‘dowry’ (large amount of money) when she married him. Women looked after houses and slaves and were not allowed to leave the house without being with a male relative. ‘It was said by an Athenian citizen once, “We have wives to give us children and look after our houses”’(Source B). Women highly lacked in independence and freedom, due to the very few rights they had. This was how women spent their daily lives in Ancient Athens (Source A and E).

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The lowest social class in Athens were the slaves. Slaves were people either brought back from war zones or slaves bought from other cities/states. Slaves either worked for the state in places such as mines or in shops or as household tutors. Slaves populated the majority of Athens as there was an equal amount of slaves as freed Athenians. “There were over 100,000 slaves populating Athens during 450 BCE” (Source B). Slaves lived all of their lives under the watch of their master and were generally treated quite brutally.

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. The middle social class were metics. In order to be classed as a metic you would have to be either a foreigner refuged to Athens or a slave who was able to buy freedom. Metics had a reasonable amount of rights such as being able to serve in the military but also could not do things such as own land. Metics had most traits of freedom and independence throughout their lives (Source A).

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The ruling class were the citizens of Athens. To be a citizen you had to have a free Athenian mother and father, it was also required to be male. Citizens had equal rights but financial situations varied. “Citizens were politically equal but not socially or financially” (Source A). Citizens lived a fairly simple life but were highly expected to contribute to the society.