• The ecclesia met in open air on hill known as Pnyx
  • Discussion of serious problems was attended by around six thousand
• During first half of fifth century, boys with one Athenian parent were citizens
• In 451, Pericles persuaded to limit citizenship to having two Athenian parents
  • Citizenship was now important for women for their kids to be citizens
• People attending assembly were not members of political parties as known today
• The Greek polis comprised of oikos, households with a male head
• Other than eldest child raised regardless of sex, up to 20% of Athenian girls were abandoned
  • Girls lacked earning power and children belonged to a different family
• Poor children probably began helping work the land at early age
• Children of both sexes participated in religious activities of family
• In a family that had no sons, obligation to maintain oikos fell on daughter, called epikleros
  • Was required to marry closest of father’s male relatives capable of having children
• Economy relied on slaves, similar to economies of other places in Greece