History: Ancient Rome and Athens Essay

Submitted By bulma2013
Words: 301
Pages: 2

Honors History Citizenship in Athens and Rome: Which was the better system?

Did you know that in 500 BCE, individuals were generally regarded as subjects not citizens? But by the sixth century BCE ordinary people began playing more significant roles in the life of Athenians and romans. Both Athens and Rome had a good system of citizenship, but Rome had a better system. Rome had a better citizenship than Athens because they had less requirements, they were more organized, and they gave their citizens more fair rights.

Rome had less requirements for someone to become a citizen than Athens. In Athens you had to have a complete education, and two years of military training to become a citizen. To become a Roman citizen your parents had to be a citizen or married in the Roman Empire.(Doc A). the process to become a citizen in Rome was more simplistic then becoming a citizen in Athens.

The Romans were also more organized than the Athens. At an Athenian Assembly, all of Athens 40,000 citizens were there. While the romans only had 300 members in their senate, for life.( Doc E,F). Athens were not as organized as the Romans.

Rome gave its citizens more fair rights, than the Athens, they even gave people who they conqured a chance to become a citizen, but only to certain limits. Rome also let people from outside of Rome be a citizen. In Athens once you become a citizen, you have the same rights as everyone else. I believe everyone don't deserve same rights, it