WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Greek women had virtually no political rights of any kind and were controlled by men at nearly every stage of their lives. The most important duties for a city-dwelling woman were to bear children–preferably male–and to run the household.

Detailed explanation-2: -Not everyone in Athens was considered a citizen. Only free, adult men enjoyed the rights and responsibility of citizenship. Only about 20 percent of the population of Athens were citizens. Women were not citizens and therefore could not vote or have any say in the political process.

Detailed explanation-3: -Women in Athens had few rights because they were not considered citizens, which can be viewed as ironic since Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy. Women who were married and daughters of citizens had fewer rights than freed male slaves.

Detailed explanation-4: -Unlike other Greek women, Spartan women had equal rights with men, except for voting rights. Since men were in the military and often away from home, the women had full authority over their households. In 404 B.C. the Spartan army was able to conquer Athens during the Peloponnesian War.

Detailed explanation-5: -It used to be said that the ancient Greek polis was composed of male-citizens, and women did not have any franchise so that they were similar to slaves. However, in contemporary texts women were called also citizens like men.