Social Classes
In the social classes there are two groups the free people and the slaves. Slaves were used a servents. Free men were split up into 2 groups, the citizen and the metics. The metics are the people that moved to Athens, where as the citizens are born into the country. The metics never get a say in the government and they never become citizens of Athens. Men and women have very different roles in society. The only similar part of their jobs was that they both had to teach their children how to succeed in life as a Greek. Men’s role was to have a job and to buy the food for the family. Men had a lot of rights and freedoms in ancient Greece. They could stroll around the market place talking with friends, discuss politics, or business. Men were supposed to teach their son (if they had one) how to do the father’s job, which would be passed on to him. Women, however, had no rights and was not considered a citizen. Women stayed home and was only allowed to leave the house for a short period of time. She was not allowed to open the front door just in case a man was standing there. Women had to clean, cook, (if she had slaves) watch the slaves, take care of her children and teach her girls how to be a good wife and mother. Rich boys could go to school to learn reading, writing, arithmetic, literature and music. While poor boys followed their in trade and the fathers job to learn how to do the job. Girls, rich or poor were taught how to read, write, spin wool, store supplies, prepare meals and play music by their mother or slave.
Free men--------------------------
Metics(people who are not citizens and do not have a say in the government, who were born outside of Athens and moved to Athens for a specific reason such as work.) Athens(people who are citizens and are born in Athens) |
---------------------------Slaves
Slaves(People who do not have rights either because they owe the government. They have to serve a wealthy family for a long period of time.) |