Citizenship in Greco-Roman Antiquity
Source Citizenship
Citizenship is defined as the status of a person recognized under the custom or law as being a legal member of a sovereign state or belonging to a nation. Key features include:
- Membership in a political community within a defined territory.
- Enjoyment of rights, including the ability to participate in the government.
Citizenship in Greco-Roman Antiquity
Citizenship in Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, a citizen was typically a freeborn adult male, born to Roman parents. Non-citizens had fewer rights. Citizenship was a legal recognition of full membership in the republic and empire.
Citizenship in Ancient Greece
The Greek citizen shared similar requirements but could participate in the government of the polis through democracy. Each city was a small, independent state striving for economic self-sufficiency. Citizens had the responsibility to attend meetings and participate in public debates. Meetings were held approximately 40 times a year in the agora. Public offices were assigned by lot and held for a year. Economic incentives, such as attendance and performance fees, were established. The minimum age for participation was 30. Being a citizen meant actively engaging in public issues through deliberation.
Three principles governed participation in the assembly:
- Isonomy: Every citizen had the same basic rights and duties.
- Isegoria: The right to speak and express views in the assembly.
- Koinonia: Cooperating to achieve the public good.
Limitations: Citizenship was not inclusive; the majority of the population lacked citizenship. Only certain individuals were considered free and equal citizens. Individual rights were not always protected against potential abuses by authorities.
The Nature of Power
Power is the ability to do something or to impose one’s will on others. Mechanisms of power include:
- Punishment: Fear of pain, abandonment, or dismissal.
- Reward: Pleasure, acceptance, or praise (often the basis of economic power).
- Altering beliefs, feelings, and desires: Through seduction, persuasion, or deception (used by political and religious leaders and the media).
- Limiting the scope of action of others: For example, a company lowering prices, forcing competitors to do the same.
We can also differentiate between personal power (derived from individual capabilities) and positional power (derived from one’s position in a power structure).
Functions of Political Power
To avoid disputes in the pursuit of collective goals, societies use rules to reach solutions and make decisions. An authority or power is needed to enforce these rules. This is the function of political power. Common objectives include ensuring physical safety and material well-being.