Social
The Athens these people of this class possessed the uppermost power and position in the society. One has to be born in Athens to be a part of the Upper Class as the rights for this class could only be inherited on the hereditary basis. The people from this class handled all the government work, philosophy as well as the literature department, and also the war. Athens people always got slaves so as to perform their materialistic works so as to save their precious time which they had to use for administrative purposes.
The Metics, were the next class in Ancient Greece Social Hierarchy. These people were not the natives of Athens, but came to Athens to settle down. They came to Athens for earning their livelihood. Such people were apt for the Middle Class. They were free men,l they were not slaves but they possessed very little rights as compared to the Upper Class. They were majorly involved in the trading and manufacturing related jobs.
Freedmen were the next class in the Ancient Greek Social Hierarchy and it incorporates those people who were once slaves but somehow were freed by their owner by any mode. This was the lower class people category but did not belong to Athens, i.e. these were neither Athens nor were granted citizenship in their life what so ever money they earned. These were the people who possessed least amount of privileges, but still got few, as compared to salves who had zero privileges.
Slaves were the lowest most class, actually a level because Greeks never considered it as a class. These people were either rescued from war, some criminals or even bought upon people. These people possessed zero rights or authority. They did not even possess right of their own life. Very little number of Greeks were slaves otherwise the majority of slaves were non-Greeks. They had to pay a ransom amount to buy their freedom and get themselves free.
The Metics, were the next class in Ancient Greece Social Hierarchy. These people were not the natives of Athens, but came to Athens to settle down. They came to Athens for earning their livelihood. Such people were apt for the Middle Class. They were free men,l they were not slaves but they possessed very little rights as compared to the Upper Class. They were majorly involved in the trading and manufacturing related jobs.
Freedmen were the next class in the Ancient Greek Social Hierarchy and it incorporates those people who were once slaves but somehow were freed by their owner by any mode. This was the lower class people category but did not belong to Athens, i.e. these were neither Athens nor were granted citizenship in their life what so ever money they earned. These were the people who possessed least amount of privileges, but still got few, as compared to salves who had zero privileges.
Slaves were the lowest most class, actually a level because Greeks never considered it as a class. These people were either rescued from war, some criminals or even bought upon people. These people possessed zero rights or authority. They did not even possess right of their own life. Very little number of Greeks were slaves otherwise the majority of slaves were non-Greeks. They had to pay a ransom amount to buy their freedom and get themselves free.
Political
Ancient Greece was made up of city-states. A city-state was a major city and the surrounding areas. Each city-state had its own rule and government. Sometimes the city-states fought each other. Athens and Sparta were the two largest city-states and they had many wars and battles.Over time some city-states, like Athens would change governments. Sometimes they were ruled by Tyrants and, at other times, they were a democracy.
Athenian Democracy
Democracy in Ancient Greece was very direct. What this means is that all the citizens voted on all the laws. Rather than vote for representatives, like we do, each citizen was expected to vote for every law.
They did have officials to run the government, however. Most of these officials were chosen by a lottery. So every citizen had a chance, regardless of their popularity or wealth, to become an official. A few key positions were voted on, such as the treasurer and the 10 generals who ran the army (also called the strategoi).
Terms to know
Democracy - A government ruled by the people, or assembly. Officials and leaders were elected and all citizens had a say.
Monarchy - A single ruler like a king. In Athens this ruler was called a Tyrant.
Oligarchy - When the government is ruled by a small group.
Athenian Democracy
Democracy in Ancient Greece was very direct. What this means is that all the citizens voted on all the laws. Rather than vote for representatives, like we do, each citizen was expected to vote for every law.
They did have officials to run the government, however. Most of these officials were chosen by a lottery. So every citizen had a chance, regardless of their popularity or wealth, to become an official. A few key positions were voted on, such as the treasurer and the 10 generals who ran the army (also called the strategoi).
Terms to know
Democracy - A government ruled by the people, or assembly. Officials and leaders were elected and all citizens had a say.
Monarchy - A single ruler like a king. In Athens this ruler was called a Tyrant.
Oligarchy - When the government is ruled by a small group.
Religious
The ancient Greeks were a deeply religious people. They worshipped many gods whom they believed appeared in human form and yet were endowed with superhuman strength and ageless beauty. Elsewhere in the arts, various painted scenes on vases, and stone, terracotta and bronze sculptures portray the major gods and goddesses. The deities are depicted either by themselves or in traditional mythological situations in which they interact with humans and a broad range of minor deities, demi-gods and legendary characters.
Innovations
The Greeks were fascinated with numbers and how they applied to the real world. Unlike most earlier civilizations, they studied mathematics for its own sake and developed complex mathematical theories and proofs.
The Greeks applied their skills in math to help describe the stars and the planets. They theorized that the Earth may orbit the Sun and came up with a fairly accurate estimate for the circumference of the Earth.
The Greeks loved to study the world around them and this included living organisms. Aristotle studied animals in great detail and wrote down his observations in a book called the History of Animals.
The Greeks applied their skills in math to help describe the stars and the planets. They theorized that the Earth may orbit the Sun and came up with a fairly accurate estimate for the circumference of the Earth.
The Greeks loved to study the world around them and this included living organisms. Aristotle studied animals in great detail and wrote down his observations in a book called the History of Animals.
Technology
A mill for grinding grain that is powered by water. The Greeks invented the waterwheel used to power the mill and the toothed gears used to transfer the power to the mill.
The Greek philosopher Plato may have invented the first alarm clock in history. He used a water clock to trigger a sound like an organ at a certain time.
The Greeks invented a type of central heating where they would transfer hot air from fires to empty spaces under the floors of temples.
The Greeks invented the crane to help lift heavy items such as blocks for constructing buildings.
The Greek philosopher Plato may have invented the first alarm clock in history. He used a water clock to trigger a sound like an organ at a certain time.
The Greeks invented a type of central heating where they would transfer hot air from fires to empty spaces under the floors of temples.
The Greeks invented the crane to help lift heavy items such as blocks for constructing buildings.
Environment
The geography of ancient Greece was divided into three regions: the coast, the lowlands, and the mountains. The rocky and uneven soil on the peninsula of Greece allowed for less than 20 percent of the land to be farmed, so the Greeks relied heavily on imports of grains and other foods from other regions around the Mediterranean. With no rivers that could be used for boats (because rivers would dry up in the hot summer and be overflowing during the winter), transportation on the sea was very important to the Greeks. The mountainous terrain made land travel difficult and contributed to the formation of independent city-states throughout the region.
Sources
http://www.hierarchystructure.com/ancient-greek-social-hierarchy/
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greek_government.php
http://www.penn.museum/sites/greek_world/religion.html
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_greece/science_and_technology.php
http://historylink101.com/2/greece3/climate-geography.htm
Photo Credits
http://www.hierarchystructure.com/ancient-greek-social-hierarchy/
http://www.hierarchystructure.com/ancient-greece-political-hierarchy/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_religion
http://www.storyofmathematics.com/greek.html
https://greekachievements.wikispaces.com/MathematicsresponseToken=857be2a1270c2063bafcb4d177239ef5
http://kotsanas.com/gb/
http://travelblog.viator.com/athens-controlled-chaos/
http://www.hierarchystructure.com/ancient-greece-political-hierarchy/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_religion
http://www.storyofmathematics.com/greek.html
https://greekachievements.wikispaces.com/MathematicsresponseToken=857be2a1270c2063bafcb4d177239ef5
http://kotsanas.com/gb/
http://travelblog.viator.com/athens-controlled-chaos/