The city-state of Athens
I can describe what life was like in the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens.
- Year 4
The city-state of Athens
I can describe what life was like in the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The land around Athens was hard to farm. Athenians imported lots of food and built a seafaring trading society.
- By 431 BCE the important city state of Athens was a democracy; Athenians debated and voted on laws in the Assembly.
- Men had duties; they had to obey the laws, serve in the army, help run the city, pay taxes and serve on juries.
- Women were expected to stay at home and do housework; they cleaned, cooked and wove cloth.
- About 100,000 enslaved people made up about a third of the population and almost every home had at least one.
Keywords
Athens - Athens was one of the largest city-cities in Ancient Greece
Democracy - democracy is a form of government where the people hold power
Assembly - the Assembly was a gathering of Ancient Greek men who made decisions in Athens
Enslaved person - an enslaved person is someone owned by someone else who forces them to work without pay
Common misconception
That a country having a democratic government involves all the people in the country having a say.
In Ancient Greece, only men were allowed to be part of the Assembly and take part in votes. Women were not allowed to vote, the men made the decisions and the women had to abide by them.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these was the most important city-state in Ancient Greece?
Q2.Why were there so many city-states in Ancient Greece?
Q3.What word describes places that were ruled by city-states but were far away from them?
Q4.Complete the sentence. Ancient Greece ended when the Empire started growing.
Q5.Match the words to the definitions
a body of water around part of the Greek coast
a city-state in Ancient Greece
the highest mountain in Greece
a country where Ancient Greece had colonies
Q6.Put these civilisations in the order they existed, starting with the earliest.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these best describes the location of Athens?
Q2.How did the city-state of Athens make most of its money?
Q3.Match the words to the definitions.
a form of government where the people hold power
a gathering of men who made decisions in Athens
to discuss an issue and consider its good and bad points
to show your choice on something