The social classes of ancient Greek poleis were divided into three main categories: the citizens, the metics, and the slaves. Citizens were the elite class and had full rights and responsibilities, including the ability to participate in politics and hold public office. Metics were foreigners living in the city-state who had certain rights but were not full citizens. Slaves were at the lowest rung of society and had no rights or freedom, serving as property of their owners.
In ancient Greek poleis, the social classes were structured hierarchically. At the top were the aristocrats or nobles, known as the Eupatrids, who held political power and owned vast land estates. Below them were the middle class, also referred to as the Demiourgoi, who were skilled craftsmen, merchants, and small landowners. Lastly, at the bottom were the lower class, comprising the peasants, laborers, and slaves, who had no political rights and were economically dependent on the upper classes. These social classes were differentiated by their wealth, education, and political power, with limited mobility between them.
To examine the social classes of the ancient Greek poleis, you can start by researching primary sources like Aristotle's "Politics" or Plato's "Republic". These texts provide insights into the social structure of the city-states (poleis) like Athens and Sparta. The ancient Greek social classes typically comprised the aristocracy, who were the wealthy land-owning elite; the middle class, consisting of farmers, artisans, and merchants; and the lower class, which included slaves and laborers. The aristocracy held political power, the middle class had limited political influence, while the lower class, including slaves, had no political rights and were considered property. Further research and analysis of primary sources will provide more specific details about the distinct roles, rights, and privileges of each social class in ancient Greek poleis.
