🏛️ LA POLIS GRECA: Acropoli, Asty e Chora 🏠👨🏻‍🌾🐑 Chi erano i CITTADINI della POLIS? #greciaantica

The Hellenes never formed a unified state, but created many poleis, independent city-states that often fought among themselves. ⚠️Before continuing with the explanation, remember that polis is singular and means the city, while poleis is plural and refers to the cities. Each polis consisted of a residential center and the surrounding fields. Specifically, it consisted of the upper city, called the acropolis, the lower city called asty, and the surrounding territory known as chora. The acropolis stood on a hill, was protected by walls, and housed the seat of government, the temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, and various sanctuaries. It was the place designated for the performance of sacred rites in honor of the gods, and the population took refuge here in times of danger. Often, the upper part of the city provided a connection to the port, facilitating transportation and trade. At the foot of the acropolis stood the theater, where comedies and tragedies were performed. The lower city, on the other hand, contained the common people's homes. At its center was the agora, the square where the main economic activities, such as the market, took place. Many shops and some artisan workshops also overlooked the agora. Political activities also took place in the square: here, citizens gathered to discuss the city's problems. The square was usually adorned with statues and fountains. Beyond the city walls lay woods, farms, fields, and pastures where farmers cultivated the land and raised animals, providing food for all the inhabitants of the polis, which was therefore self-sufficient in food. In the Greek city-state, there was no king who ruled over the entire population; decisions were made by citizens gathered in assemblies. However, not all inhabitants of the polis were considered citizens: only free males who were 18 years of age and belonged to citizen families born within the polis' territory were. Therefore, women, slaves, and foreigners, called metics, were not considered citizens and could not participate in the city's government. Furthermore, since citizens also formed the army and had to pay for their own armor, they necessarily belonged to the wealthiest families, generally large landowners, also called aristocrats. The rest of the population formed the demos, or the common people: farmers, shepherds, artisans, and merchants who, despite being free, did not possess wealth and were therefore not considered citizens and could not participate in the city's government. 🎂🍰 Follow us on Facebook!   / pasticciotti.it   and on Instagram: i_pasticciotti_it