What were the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in the early Essay

What were the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in the early Greek polisHow did the idea of citizenship arise - Essay Example The citizens consisted of tribes which were further divided into phratries and gentes. Foreigners and slaves were considered to be outside the scope of citizenship. Descent was the criteria which determined the citizenship of individuals (Grant 56, 1990). The citizens were divided into three types. The first types of citizens were those with political rights. The second of type of citizens was those without any political rights. The third type consisted of foreigners and slaves who were not considered as citizens. Ancient Greece made many strides in the creation of organized and centralized nation. It was initially composed of warring states which fought against each other. These city states lacked any central administration or government. Athens would give birth to the concept of political participation and democracy. Solon was the first aristocrat who gave a comprehensive set of political rules and regulations. These reforms gave power and responsibility to moderately well off non aristocrats. It also protected the citizens from much of the repressive measures of governments. By 508 BC, an exile named Cleisthenes was instrumental in removing the Athenian tyrant Hippias from power. He offered a package of reforms to the Athenian citizens which would give them political power and representation in the government (Starr 91, 1986). The Archaic Greek period divided society on the basis of three economic groups. The aristocrats acquired power which was inherited from their fathers. They made significant profits by ruthlessly exploiting the poor farmers (Starr 100, 1977). The poor people represented the bottom of the three groups. They could be indebted or reduced as slaves by the powerful elite. A middle class was also present which had the largest degree of social and economic differences. Some of them had acquired prosperity while others were barely above the lower classes. The lower class had little