Daily Life in AthensDaily Life in Athens

Public LifePublic Life

• Boys who lived in Athens in ancient Boys who lived in Athens in ancient Greece understood that they were Greece understood that they were the ones who would be active in the ones who would be active in government one day. Men held the government one day. Men held the most important titles in Greece.most important titles in Greece.

MarketplaceMarketplace

• On the way to school, boys passed On the way to school, boys passed through the Agora of Athens. The through the Agora of Athens. The Agora was the center of public life as Agora was the center of public life as the Acropolis was the center of the Acropolis was the center of religious life.religious life.

• AgoraAgora – public market and meeting – public market and meeting place. The Agora was held outside place. The Agora was held outside because of the mild climate in Greece.because of the mild climate in Greece.

Agora of AthensAgora of Athens

Agora of Athens Agora of Athens (drawing)(drawing)

Business of MenBusiness of Men

• Early in the morning, many Athenian Early in the morning, many Athenian men made their way to the Agora. men made their way to the Agora. Once there, they talked politics, Once there, they talked politics, philosophy, or current events.philosophy, or current events.

• As they talked, they would hear the As they talked, they would hear the shouts from shouts from vendorsvendors – sellers of goods – sellers of goods in the marketplace. Buyers and sellers in the marketplace. Buyers and sellers often debated the price of goods.often debated the price of goods.

Private LifePrivate Life

• Throughout ancient Greece, homes were plain. Throughout ancient Greece, homes were plain. They were constructed of mud brick rooms set They were constructed of mud brick rooms set around an open courtyard in the middle.around an open courtyard in the middle.

• Rooms included a kitchen, storeroom, dining Rooms included a kitchen, storeroom, dining room, bedrooms, and the occasional bathroom.room, bedrooms, and the occasional bathroom.

• The Greeks ate simple foods: The Greeks ate simple foods: 1.1.Breakfast Breakfast – Usually just bread.– Usually just bread.2.2.LunchLunch – olives with bread. – olives with bread.3.3.DinnerDinner – Served hot and included fish and – Served hot and included fish and

vegetables. Meat was hardly ever eaten.vegetables. Meat was hardly ever eaten.

Women in AthensWomen in Athens

• Most women stayed at home and away Most women stayed at home and away from the Agora. Greek men thought that from the Agora. Greek men thought that women needed to be at home for women needed to be at home for protection. protection.

• Women could not participate in politics, Women could not participate in politics, vote, or own land.vote, or own land.

• A woman’s primary job was to run the A woman’s primary job was to run the household. In some wealthy households, household. In some wealthy households, women had completely separate women had completely separate quarters (their own area of the house).quarters (their own area of the house).

Women in Athens, cont.Women in Athens, cont.

• Women organized the spinning and Women organized the spinning and weaving of yarn, looked after the food weaving of yarn, looked after the food and wine, and cared for the children. and wine, and cared for the children.

• Women also looked after the family Women also looked after the family finances, and if the family owned slaves finances, and if the family owned slaves were responsible for them as well.were responsible for them as well.

• If a woman belonged to a If a woman belonged to a poorpoor family, family, she would make pottery or tend sheep she would make pottery or tend sheep to help make money for the family.to help make money for the family.

Slavery in Ancient Slavery in Ancient GreeceGreece

• Slavery was very important in Athens Slavery was very important in Athens because it gave the men time to because it gave the men time to participate in government and politics at participate in government and politics at the Agora.the Agora.

• SlaverySlavery – condition of being owned by – condition of being owned by someone else.someone else.

• History estimates that perhaps 100,000 History estimates that perhaps 100,000 slaves lived in Athens. (The population of slaves lived in Athens. (The population of Athens at the time was only around Athens at the time was only around 310,000 including the slaves.)310,000 including the slaves.)

Who Were the Slaves?Who Were the Slaves?

• People became slaves either because People became slaves either because they were conquered in battle or they were conquered in battle or because they were taken by pirates because they were taken by pirates on the seas. Children born to slaves on the seas. Children born to slaves were automatically slaves were automatically slaves themselves.themselves.

Lives of SlavesLives of Slaves

• Slaves had no privileges and were the Slaves had no privileges and were the lowest class in Greek society. They lowest class in Greek society. They received no education and held no received no education and held no political rights.political rights.

• Some slaves worked on farms, some Some slaves worked on farms, some worked in silver mines, and some worked in silver mines, and some worked with artisans to make pottery or worked with artisans to make pottery or other goods. Other slave tasks included other goods. Other slave tasks included constructing buildings, and making constructing buildings, and making weapons.weapons.