Citizenship In The Roman Republic

Citizenship in Athens and Rome has similarities and differences. Being a citizen is being a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government. Being a citizen meant different things in each empire. The relationship between the citizen and their nation varied from their system of citizenship. Rome had a better system of citizenship because they were more open to who they allowed citizenship, they gave people they conquered citizenship, and personal grudges, judgements about others/topics would not affect the Empire.

In Athens and Rome, citizenship was to be honored and protected. There were many requirements to become a citizen, so not everyone could have it. The Roman Republic allowed free men, women, and children to have citizenship, but the Athens only gave citizenship to free, native-born adult males. Although it might seem like the citizenship system was better in Rome, the system in Athens was better because citizens were given equal rights, Athenians ostracized citizens so there is no dictator, and every citizen could become officials.

The first reason why Rome’s citizenship system was better than Athens’ is because they accepted more people as citizens. In document A it shows who could be allowed to become a citizen in both Athens and Rome. Rome allowed all people except slaves to become citizens while Athens only allowed free native born adult males to become citizens. Rome was a lot more lenient when giving citizenship which is probably one reason they boasted a population of 45,000,000.

Citizenship in ancient Greece and Rome were both examples of historically important normative theories. Citizenship in ancient Greece was primarily based off of the writing of Aristotle. In Athens, gender, race, and class defined citizenship completely. Because of this, a large amount of people was excluded. This included children, immigrants, women, and most of all slaves. Citizenship was only given to a minority of people, which presented citizens with high expectations and responsibilities. Most citizens held public office at some point in their life. With short terms and many positions, citizens had an almost equal chance of exercising political power. Aristotle believed citizens must know each other, share values, and have common interest.

The most distinctive feature of Greek political culture lay in the extent of popular participation in political life that occurred within the city-states. This participation was based on the unique ideas of “citizenship,” of free people running the affairs of state, and of equality for all citizens before the law. Political participation in Greek city-states was much wider than in Persia, but it varied considerably between city-states and over time. Early in Greek history, only the wealthy and wellborn had the rights of full citizenship, but middle- and lower-class men gradually obtained these rights in some city-states.

Athenian citizen makes more contribution to government rather than Spartans. The Athenian government allows citizen to be a member of the government except for the military position, as its stated on an article that ” each citizen can be voted for each legislation”(Echos in the past, page, print). Which signify that being in the government position means having the capability and not the wealth. In the athenian

Some policies and institutions of the Roman Republic were useful to help them succeed in conquering first Italy and then the Mediterranean world. Before of the institution of the republic, the romans were a monarchy since their beginning and they were basically a pastoral people. Rome suffer several changes and improvements under the control of the Etruscan kings. The Etruscan were civilization settled north of Rome in Etruria, and they once had control over almost all the Italic peninsula. The Etruscans influences in Rome were profound, they transformed Rome from a pastoral community to a city (91). The Etruscan built the street and roads that help the development of temples, markets, shops, streets, and houses. They basically brought urbanization to Rome. It is fairly to say that the Rome republic was a fusion between the elements of the Etruscan civilization and the Rome elements. The combination of the different political institutions and policies made the Romans succeed in their conquest territories.

Since ; Athens was a democracy I feel that this better benefitted the citizens living their because it allowed citizens to vote for what they agreed with and what they opposed. For example in Document E it stated that there was an Athenian assembly and they had the power to pass laws, set budgets, and declare war. Whilst in Rome all of the decision making was in the hands of the Senates. All of this could not happen unless the Citizens came to vote. In Athens all forty thousand citizens were allowed to attend, however for some reason there was a shortage of citizens able attend at least six thousand have to be present to make important decisions . Voters had to make the treacherous trip to a hillside called the Pnyx near the Acroplois. Document B The Old oligarch was comparing Rome an Athens for instance it said "It is the poor man's fleet and

One reason that the system of citizenship in Rome was better was because they care for foreigners. In Doc. F it states, "The Senate had primary responsibilities for foreigners." In Doc. F it states, "The Senate had primary responsibilities for foreigners.

Compared to Athens, a population of 140,000, Rome with a population of 56.8 million is like a giant. What is special about Roman democracy is that their distribution of citizenship is wide and far-reaching, even to the regions that they invaded. Comprised of information from various sources, a neutral chart written for scholars and enthusiasts of Athenian and Roman government shows that Rome grants citizenship to all people except for slaves, while Athens granted citizenship to only native-born males (Doc A). Children and women of Rome can become citizens with limited rights, but also with slight power in society and the right to own land. While Rome gives out citizenship to almost all, Athens has trouble with giving power to the poor or the minority, even when, as an Athenian Oligarch claimed in 424 BCE, “it is the poor which mans the fleet and has brought her state to power” (Doc B).

Rome or Athens, who do you think had a better system of citizenship? In a comparison between Athens in 400 BCE and Rome in 1 CE, I believe Rome had a better system of citizenship. While both occupied the area that is modern day Italy and had thriving cultures, Rome had a better system of citizenship for three reasons: first, people with knowledge of how to run a government were members of the senate; second, Roman cities were willing to grant partial citizenship; and third, Roman citizens had rights. Because people with knowledge of how to run a government were members of the senate, the administration ran smoothly.

The freedom which we enjoy in our government extends also to our ordinary life” (Pericles’ Funeral Oration, Thucydides). In other words, it doesn’t matter what your social rank is, if you are a citizen of Athens, you have a right (and duty) to serve in the government. This is known as a direct democracy today, and it is where we, citizens of the United States, took inspiration for our current system of government. Pericles is right to praise the city-state in this regard, as its legacy still has effect on the world millenniums after its time.

The Roman Republic was a “democratic” republic, which allowed first citizens to vote, and to choose their governors in the senate (Hence, their consuls). However, it was a nation ruled by its aristocracy, and, consequently, the entire Republic`s power was concentrated in a few individuals. Furthermore, the Senate was controlled by Patricians, which directed the government by using wealth to buy control and power over the decisions of the senate and the consuls. This situation aroused the inconformity of the people; as result, a civil war took place in the Republic (destroying it), and then the Roman Empire was born.

Ancient Rome feared that if they didn’t give people rights, those people would revolt in a vicious way. By giving the Plebeians rights, they felt like they played a part. Did Ancient Greece give everyone citizenship? As Ancient Greece conquered more, they didn’t give everyone citizenship.

Ancient Athens was a highly polarized society in which citizenship meant everything. Citizenship permitted individuals to not only participate in the democratic