4.7.1 The very different lives of Athenian men and women By the ýfth century BCE, Athens was one of the richest and most beautiful cities, known for its temples and love of the arts. Plays were often performed in theatres, and people valued learning. In Athenian life, men were very important. They decided things like their daughters’ marriages and whether babies would live. Most girls married in their early teens to much older men (see SOURCE1 ). After marriage, men spent time away from home on government duties or socialising with friends. Women mostly stayed at home, focusing on raising children, especially sons. They managed the household with help from slaves and older daughters. Marriage feasts were one of the few times women could celebrate withmen. Education Only boys went to school in Athens. Some wealthy girls might have a tutor at home to teach them reading or the lyre. Boys started school at around seven and studied from dawn to dusk. Housing Most Athenian houses were two storeys but fairly small. Wealthy Greeks didn’t build big mansions because they spent money on athletic and religious events. A rich family’s home might have a central courtyard, a bathroom and a stone þoor. Athenian houses were made of sun-dried bricks, with rooms facing inward. They were often dark, smoky and airless because windows were small and high. Open ýres were common indoors, and furniture was limited, with items stored on the þoor or hung on walls. Men and women had separate living areas. The women’s area was far from the entrance and often dark, keeping it away from strangers. 4.7.2 Public life, death and burial Only men could be citizens in Athens. Women had few rights; they couldn’t hold public ofýce or go shopping, but they could join some religious festivals. Men often held banquets, as shown in SOURCE3 . Slaves took off guests’ sandals and washed their feet. The men relaxed on low couches, eating foods like fried ýsh, boiled vegetables, goat cheese, bread, ýgs, dates and grapes. In the ýfth century BCE, Athens was very wealthy, with a strong democracy, good trade, a rich culture and a sense of pride.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Identify one of the few reasons that women could leave their homes. 2. What was the name for the place where water was collected? 3. Discuss what a gathering
SOURCE2 One of the few trips women could make outside the home was to collect water from public fountains near the agora. They carried the water in an amphora, a large clay jar.
at the water fountains might have been like.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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