The city-state of Athens

The land around Athens was hard to farm. Athenians imported lots of food and built a seafaring trading society. By 431 BCE the important city state of Athens was a democracy; Athenians debated and voted on laws in the Assembly. Men had duties; they had to obey the laws, serve in the army, help run the city, pay taxes and serve on juries. Women were expected to stay at home and do housework; they cleaned, cooked and wove cloth. About 100,000 enslaved people made up about a third of the population and almost every home had at least one.