Pebble Power Slides Power of the Pebble
Democracy and Exclusion in Ancient Athens
The Essential Question
"If only a small fraction of people can vote, can you really call it a democracy?"
Demos (People) + Kratos (Power) = Democracy
Who Had the "VIP" Pass?
To be a Citizen in Athens, you had to check all four boxes:
Male
18 Years or Older
Both parents must be Athenian
Completed military service
The Result?
Only ~10-15%
of the total population actually had the right to vote in the Assembly.
The Silent Majority: Women
No Political Voice
Women were not allowed to attend the Assembly, vote, or hold any public office.
Under Guardianship
By law, women were always under the control of a male relative (father, husband, or son).
Religious Roles
The only place they held public influence was in religious festivals as priestesses.
The "Metics" (Foreigners)
Metics were free people who moved to Athens from other city-states or countries.
• Paid special taxes
• Served in the army
• Often successful merchants/craftsmen
• BUT: No right to vote or own land
"Athens needs our labor and our taxes, but doesn't want our opinions."
The Foundation: Enslaved People
Democracy in Athens actually relied on slavery. Because enslaved people did the hard labor, wealthy citizens had the "leisure time" to sit in the Assembly all day.
Crucial Fact:
Enslaved people made up about one-third of the population. They had zero rights, zero voice, and no path to citizenship.
Only the orange square represents the voting population.
The Power of the Pebble
White Pebble
A vote of "Yes" or "Support."
Black Pebble
A vote of "No" or "Oppose."
This is where we get the term "Blackballed."
Voting in the Assembly
Citizens didn't just vote for leaders; they voted directly on laws, wars, and taxes. This is Direct Democracy.
Your Task
You will receive profile cards for residents of Athens. Your mission is to determine who gets a pebble and who is left in the Agora.
CITIZEN
EXCLUDED
Citizen Status Worksheet Power of the Pebble
Democracy and Social Hierarchy in Ancient Athens
NAME:
DATE:
The Birth of Democracy
Around 508 BCE, the city-state of Athens introduced a revolutionary system called Democracy , from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (power). Unlike modern representative democracies where we elect officials to make laws for us, Athens practiced direct democracy . Every person with political rights was expected to show up at the Pnyx, a rocky hill near the Acropolis, to debate, speak, and vote on every major decision facing the city.
The Golden Ticket: Citizenship
Not everyone who lived in Athens was a "citizen." Citizenship was a prestigious status passed down through bloodlines and protected by law. To be a citizen, a person had to be a free male, at least 18 years old, and born to two Athenian parents. Furthermore, he had to have completed his military service. These men formed the Ekklesia (the Assembly). They used black and white pebbles to cast their votes: white for "yes" and black for "no."
The Excluded: Metics and Slaves
The thriving economy of Athens relied on Metics —foreigners who lived in the city but were not born there. Metics were often wealthy merchants or artists. Though they paid taxes and served in the military, they could never vote or own property. Below them were enslaved people , who made up roughly 30% of the population. They were treated as property and had no legal rights, despite their labor making the "leisure time" of the voting citizens possible.
The Shadowed Half: Women
Athenian women, though born to Athenian parents, were entirely excluded from political life. They could not own land, enter into legal contracts, or even leave their homes without a male guardian (a kyrios ). Their primary role was to manage the household and raise future citizens. While their domestic work was respected, their public voice was non-existent. In the eyes of the law, an Athenian woman remained a permanent minor, moving from the control of her father to the control of her husband.
Analysis & Argument
1. Define "Direct Democracy" and explain one way it is different from modern voting.
2. How did the presence of enslaved people affect the political life of citizens?
CER Writing Prompt
"Should Ancient Athens be considered a 'true' democracy?"
CLAIM (Your clear answer):
EVIDENCE (Facts from the text):
REASONING (Explain your thinking):
Agora Sorting Pack Agora Sorting Station
Activity Instructions
Read the profile cards on the next page. Determine who holds the "Power of the Pebble." Place the cards into the correct category below. Be ready to defend your choice with evidence from the text!
CITIZEN (VOTES)
EXCLUDED (NO VOTE)
STATION REFLECTION:
Identify the single most common reason people were excluded from voting based on your cards:
LYKOS
#1
45 yr male, Athenian parents, military veteran.
Owns olive groves and fought in the Persian wars. He is free and wealthy.
ELENI
#2
32 yr female, Athenian parents.
Manages a large household and oversees several skilled weaving trades.
NIKOS
#3
40 yr male, Corinthian parents (Metic).
A successful merchant who has lived in Athens for 10 years and pays taxes.
THERON
#4
28 yr male, Enslaved status.
Captured during a previous war; now works in the silver mines of Laurium.
XENON
#5
16 yr male, Athenian parents.
A free-born student studying philosophy and rhetoric for his future.
KALLIAS
#6
30 yr male, Athenian parents, veteran.
A very poor farmer struggling to feed his family on a small plot of land.
PHILIPPA
#7
50 yr female, priestess of Athena.
Highly respected leader of religious festivals and ceremonies.
ARISTON
#8
24 yr male, one Athenian parent.
A cavalry soldier; his father was a Metic foreigner from Corinth.
Citizen Status Key Teacher Resource
Power of the Pebble
Answer Key & Teacher Guide
Agora Sorting Pack Key
Citizens (Can Vote)
#1 Lykos: Male, 45, Athenian parents, military veteran. Meets all criteria.#6 Kallias: Male, 30, Athenian parents, military veteran. Wealth was not a requirement for citizenship in radical democracy.
Excluded (Cannot Vote)
#2 Eleni: Excluded due to gender (Female).#3 Nikos: Excluded due to parentage (Metic/Foreigner).#4 Theron: Excluded due to legal status (Enslaved).#5 Xenon: Excluded due to age (16 years old; must be 18+).#7 Philippa: Excluded due to gender (Female), despite high religious status.#8 Ariston: Excluded due to parentage (Only one Athenian parent; Pericles' Law of 451 BCE required both).
CER Scoring Rubric
Element Proficient (3 pts) Developing (2 pts) Claim Directly answers if Athens was a "true" democracy based on a clear definition. Answer is vague or doesn't address the "true democracy" aspect. Evidence Cites specific numbers or groups (e.g., "only 10-15%", "women/slaves excluded"). Uses general statements without specific data or groups mentioned in text. Reasoning Connects evidence to the definition of "democracy" (power of the people). Restates evidence without explaining the logical connection.
Teacher Tip: The "Ariston" Nuance
Profile #8 (Ariston) is the "trick" question. Before 451 BCE, he might have been a citizen. However, Pericles passed a law requiring both parents to be Athenian to limit the number of citizens. This demonstrates how Athenian democracy actually became more exclusive over time. Use this to spark a discussion about why a group might want to limit its own membership.
