What did the word citizen mean in most city-state of ancient Greece?

Answer 1

• Sometimes Athenian citizens would show their dislike of a politician by writing his name into ostraka, which was pieces of broken pottery.

• The men who were citizens of Athens each had a say in making its laws and were allowed to vote for whatever politician they wanted in regular elections.

• Citizens had simple houses unless they were rich. Also the Greeks had many gods who were wilfull and hard to please. A man had to always be careful not to offend them. Some things they had to be careful of were pruning or trimming vines or crossing rivers, because the Greeks believed these things could offend the gods.

• Men in Athens wore short tunics in battles and at work. For more special events they would wear a long loose robe, which usually left their right shoulder bare. Women would wear a loose dress that was called a chiton. They were either in the Dorian or Inoian style. The Inoian style was the most commonly worn in Athens. The Dorian dress was basically just a large piece of cloth folded over at the top and fastened on each shoulder. The Ionian dress had no fold at the top but instead it was pinned or sewn.

Answer 2

Citizens in Ancient Greece were similar to the upper class status on the social ladder of today. Citizens were looked highly upon, particularly in Sparta because they were said to be the decedents of the Dorians, and ancient people that at one time occupied the island of Crete. Citizens believed themselves to be the "chosen" people, and anyone else was seen as a barbarian.

Answer 3

A citizen was part of a family which were citizens. To be accepted as such they had to prove their descent to the council of their tribe.

As a citizen they had the right to participate politically, benefit from the city's profits and protections, have legal rights and the obligation to serve in the government when required and in the army when called out.

Answer 4

"Citizen" in ancient Rome meant that you were a man who owned land. These people were the only ones who could vote in Ancient Rome while the civilization was still a republic.