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Question 8

Hi Bettany, I note that the democratic and legislative models of Athens involved many people (up to 1500 in a litigation!!). Now while the citizens were doing their bit they were not being productive elsewhere. How could the economy survive the loss of such numbers for long periods? Could it be that the democratic and legislative systems were only possible due to the productivity of the slave class? It would be ironic that the first system entitling many to have a say was the result of the lack of freedom by the human resource of a slave economy. What is your view?

(From Gary, Cefn Y Bedd)

Bettany Hughes: Well spotted Gary. Yes, the Athenian democratic system only worked because the Athenians had such a vigorous slave economy to support the city-state. It was considered pretty poor form for a well-born Athenian citizen to have to do any work at all (not so for his wife; the women were still expected to pull their weight within the household!) One in three, possibly one in two of the Athenian population were slaves.

For the Greeks, 'personal liberty' didn't by any means imply freedom to do what you wanted. Instead it referred to the fact that you were fortunate enough not to be enslaved. You may know a book by James Davidson called 'Courtesans and Fishcakes.' I recommend a trip to the library to get it if you want an inciteful, general view of the social milieu of Athens in the fifth century BC.

Mind you, we shouldn't let the issue of slavery in Athens belittle their achievement. Of course, from our perspective slavery is despicable, shocking (Aristotle calls a slave 'a living tool') and unforgivable, but enslavement was a constant throughout the known world at this time. Athenians were not unusual in keeping slaves. And of all societies the Athenians seemed to have treated their slaves relatively well…at least they didn't goad and humiliate them as a matter of course as some Romans did. Listen to this (admittedly reactionary) Athenian commentator on Athenian slaves: "Now as for the slaves and metics [foreigners] in Athens, they live a most undisciplined life; one is not permitted to strike them there, and a slave will not stand out of the way for you […] As far as clothing is concerned…the common people look just the same as slaves and metics." That comes from Pseudo-Xenophon, On Athens 1.10. Still, the fact of a sub-species in Athens of 'man-footed things' (slaves) tarnishes the golden glow of the Athenian achievement a little doesn't it!

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