The social stratifications for both societies had a few similarities, but overall were very different. The social stratification in both societies was mostly determined by birth, similar to the caste system, with almost no social mobility. The ancient greeks had 4 social classes; the Athens, which were the highest class, they had all political power and were the wealthiest, to be part of this social class you would need to be born in Athens, because the rights for the class could only be inherited hereditarily. There were the Metics, the middle class, which were people who weren’t from Athens, but came there to settle down, they weren’t slaves and had little rights compared to the upper class. There were the Freemen, which were a bit higher than the lowest class, but weren’t part of the middle class either. These people were slaves but were freed somehow by their owners, they weren’t from Athens, and they didn’t have the right to citizenship, no matter how much money they earned, and they could never be part of the middle class. Lastly, there were the slaves, the lowest class of all, or level, since the Greeks didn’t consider it a "class". They were people who were rescued from war, claimed as a slave as a child sold into slavery by their parents (usually women) or were kidnapped into slavery. Even lower class people had one or two slaves. They had practically no rights, but could gain his freedom through a number of different means, such as being paid for by a friend or relative, paying for his or her freedom, being released by his or her master, etc. On the other hand the Roman Republic social stratification was divided into two classes, which were then divided into other smaller classes. The upper class was the Patricians. The Patricians were born in Rome, had Roman blood and had wealth, they all came from old Roman Families. Inside the Patrician class there were two classes, the Senators and the equites. The Senators were the noble class, and all the political and royal families came under this category. The Equites were the economic class, they were below the Senatorial class and did task the senatorial class couldn’t, they were mostly knights. Under the Patricians there were the Plebians, the Plebians were the poor class, it was made up of artisans, shopkeepers and owners of small farms, the plebians couldn’t marry the patricians.
Abstract: Texts, such as Oeconomicus, reveal that while men in Archaic Greek society had authority over their wives, they were too confident of their control, and once they taught women how to act and behave they granted women authority over the household or private sphere. This segregation of the public and private spheres allowed women control not only over the private sphere, but also some control over her own life.
Social Classes Throughout History The gap between different classes has always been very prominent in
Ancient Greece has gone through many changes throughout history. The most notorious age was the Hellenistic Age but had many different ages leading up to it. The Bronze Age (3300-1150 B.C) was a period where the world saw major advances in social, economical, and technology that made Greece the hub of activity in the Mediterranean area. The Archaic Age (700-480 B.C.E) was a period when the Greeks repopulated and became more organized politically. This age was followed by the Classical Age (480-323 B.C.E) a period when Athens and Sparta dominated the Hellenic world with their cultural and historical achievements. The final Greek Age was the Hellenistic Age (323-30 B.C.E). This period was the transformation from localized city-states to an open, exuberant culture that stretched out across the entire Mediterranean, and southwest Asia. Alexander III of Macedon, also known as Alexander the Great, was primarily responsible for the expansion of Greece. Greece’s Hellenistic Age, during and after the death of Alexander the Great, contributed greatly to the expansion of Greek cultures and Greece.
In the Greek society women were treated very differently than they are today. Women in ancient Greece were not allowed to own property, participate in politics, and they were under control of the man in their lives. The goddess Aphrodite did not adhere to these social norms and thus the reason the earthly women must comply with the societal structure that was set before them. Aphrodite did not have a father figure according to Hesiod, and therefore did not have a man in her life to tell her what to do. She was a serial adulteress and has many children with many men other than her husband. She was not the only goddess from the ancient Greek myths to cause doubt in the minds of men. Gaia and the Titan Rhea rise up against their husbands in order to protect their children. Pandora, another woman in the Greek myths, shows that all evil comes from woman. Aphrodite, Gaia, Rhea, and Pandora cause the ancient Greek men to be suspicious of women because of her mischievous and wild behavior.
Women in classical Athens could not have had an extremely enjoyable experience, if we rely on literary sources concerning the roles of women within the Greek polis. The so-called Athenian democracy only benefited a fraction of the entire population. At least half of this population was female, yet women seem to have had very little influence and few official civic rights. `The position of women...is a subject which has provoked much controversy.'
In “Stereotype and Reversal in Euripides’ Medea,” Shirley A. Barlow asserts that Medea is a foreign woman who does not want to accept to adapt to the labels that are placed on women of Greek society, unless it allows her to gain favor for her to accomplish her revenge on those who have ruined her life.
During the Archaic Age of Ancient Greece, circa 776-500 B.C.E., the population growth in Ancient Greece called a need for more food supplies, and this demand was met by trade, establishing colonies, and by warfare to seize more land (Making Europe 71). According to Kidner, the Archaic Age “brought a revival of culture, the economy, and political significance to Greece” (71). As Greece began to overpopulate, methods for dealing with the overpopulation had to be found, once of these methods was to import food, which caused an expansion of Greek commerce and production of trade goods (Making Europe 71). Another solution to the overpopulation of Greece was to find new land somewhere else, and during the colonization that lasted from 750-550 B.C.E., Greeks colonized coastal cities because they wanted access to trade routes across the sea (Making Europe 71). The revival of Greek trade also brought Near Eastern culture into Greece, including new styles or art. According to Kidner, “Greek sculpture assumed a very Egyptian look, and Greek pottery depicted many eastern designs…and Greek potters and sculptors soon used designs from their own myths and legents”
The role of women in society is often debated. In many ancient cultures, women were not granted the same rights that men had. When it comes to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, women had very similar roles yet vastly different influences on society. The myths of these cultures helps us to see exactly what those differences are. This paper will examine the role and perceptions of women in Greek society and Roman society as exemplified by the mythology that guided these societies.
In society today, Going Greek is a controversial topic. One of the main questions on every freshman's mind when he or she first arrives at school is "Should I rush a fraternity or a sorority?” This is a particularly tough decision for most people, and there are many determining factors to consider. While evaluating the Greek system as a whole, one must consider the reasons that make becoming part of the Greek system so worthwhile. Joining the Greek system is a unparalleled experience because it gives individuals a second family that helps to make a home away from home, it gives students an easy way to become a major part of campus life, and it provides young adults with a a good foundation as an individuals entering alumni status.
Greek life in most people’s eyes is considered to be joining a sisterhood or brotherhood such as a sorority or a fraternity. Greek life is an extremely large part in numerous universities. More than half of the students are actually members of a Greek organization. Some may say that Greek life is not for them, but they truly do not know all of the advantages that come from being a member of a Greek organization. Do they realize how several of our nation’s leaders were members of Greek life probably not, since most of them were? One should join Greek life, not only for abundant friendships gained, but because of advantages, for example leadership skills and along with the countless networking
While these countries did not thrive in the same era they have similarities, but more importantly they have differences. Their governments were set up differently America as a democracy, and Rome a republic. They both had a rich class, middle class, and a slave class. However, it was how they treated each class which made these governments so different. While in America the wealthy class ran the government, in Rome both high and middle classes were part of government. Rome’s citizens had more legal rights, higher social mobility, and treated their slaves better. Rather than in America which gave its citizens fewer rights by excluding members who do not own the required property, had lower social mobility, and treated slaves much worse than the Romans.
Ancient Athens and Ancient Sparta were two of the biggest city-states in Greece. Despite their geographical closeness these two city-states differed largely in many aspects, particularly the kind of roles women played in society and the amount of power women had. Whereas women in Ancient Sparta were believed to be very independent the women in Ancient Athens were not. Even the way these women dressed contrasted from one another. In this essay, I will shine light on the differences between women in Sparta, who had played a larger role in Spartan society, and the women in Athens, whose role was not considered as important as men in Athenian society and how this effected their status. I will provide examples from two of the secondary sources that were read in class as well as a primary source written by Aristophanes.
The Daily Life of Ancient Greeks Life in Greece in ancient times will remind you of your own life in many ways. There were school, family, athletic competitions, and social gatherings. Knowing that participants in their sporting events competed nude or that you rarely knew your husband/wife until the wedding day does however, make you grateful for the society that you live in today. Babies Life for the Greeks in Athens began in their home. Babies were delivered by the women of the family, and only in cases of serious complications was a mid-wife called.
The three main social classes in Ancient Rome were the Patricians, Plebeians and the slaves. The Patricians were the wealthy Romans and for wealthy Romans, life was good. They lived in beautiful houses often on the hills outside Rome, away from the noise and the smell. They enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle with luxurious furnishings, surrounded by servants and slaves to cater to their every desire. Many would hold exclusive dinner parties and serve their guests the exotic dishes of the day. Many Patricians were powerful leaders in government or the military.
Abounding similarities exist between the Mesopotamian and Greek societies. As history progresses many cultural advances occur, but societies also adopt some of the same characteristics as preceding societies, you will notice this between the Mesopotamian and Greek civilizations. After learning about the Greek civilizations I immediately began generating connections to Mesopotamian societies. I noticed similarities in all aspects of society, whether it was religion, military, architecture or any other cultural idiosyncrasies.