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Who was excluded from citizenship and voting in ancient Athenian democracy?
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Athens
The Acropolis and surrounding area, Athens.
In ancient Athenian democracy, political participation was restricted to a small portion of the population, specifically adult male citizens. Citizenship was a hereditary privilege, and by the mid-5th century BCE, it was further limited to those born to Athenian parents on both sides.123
The following groups were excluded from citizenship and voting:
- Women: Despite their roles in religious life, women were excluded from the political sphere and possessed limited property rights.4
- Slaves: Enslaved people were considered property and had no political rights or status within the dēmos.15
- Metics: These were resident aliens who lived in Athens but were barred from citizenship and voting, despite being a recognized part of the community and contributing to the economy.156
- Freedmen: Formerly enslaved people were also excluded from citizenship, as it remained a hereditary privilege.7
Consequently, the dēmos—the body of eligible voters—is estimated to have comprised only about 10 to 15 percent of the total population.12