Citizenship and Individual Identity in Greco-Roman Society

Citizenship as a Social Category

In the Greco-Roman world, individuals found meaning and purpose in life through their relationship to society and its norms. The class system that defined this society helped establish the existence, meaning, and purpose of people within certain social positions. Religion also played a significant role in providing meaning and purpose. Being a citizen in classical Athens and republican Rome carried specific requirements and restrictions. Citizenship was limited to males and excluded women entirely. It also required that a person not be enslaved. In some instances, being a citizen further meant that one was a property owner. In return for this privileged status, the state extended legal protections and the possibility of civic influence.

Rights, Responsibilities, and State Protection

Citizenship granted individuals significant protections under law. If citizens had disputes with one another, courts and laws existed to address the situation. The state gave citizens a stake in society and responsibility for its wellbeing through participation in government affairs. Various city-states in Greece employed democracy, in which citizens could voice their opinions and address matters of concern. During Rome's republican phase, plebian citizens could help influence tribunals, while patricians could influence the senate.

In exchange for these rights and opportunities, citizens bore corresponding responsibilities. They were required to follow the laws of the state and could not act in a lawless fashion. Citizens were expected to abide by the rule of the state in their interactions with one another. In return, the state was supposed to protect citizens from other states or nations that might attack or invade. This reciprocal relationship between citizen and state created a binding social contract.

Class, Intellect, and Moral Standing

Greco-Roman society viewed the individual and his or her intellectual and moral capabilities largely in relation to the class that such a person occupied. This classification had profound consequences for participation and authority. Regardless of how intelligent a woman was, she would never be a citizen or involved in civic affairs and had little recourse in instances of moral disputes. Those who were wealthy landowners, by contrast, had much greater influence in the realms of intellect and morality. In practice, whatever they did was considered morally defensible, granting them authority that others could not obtain.

Law, Natural Law, and Social Codes

The concept of natural law was related to treating others the way one wanted to be treated, balanced with the sentiment that everyone was entitled to take what he or she could to the extent of one's ability to defend and keep it. This concept was important because it helped form the basis of the social mores that determined the behavior of people in ancient Western civilization.

Individuals determined the right way to behave in classical Athens and republican Rome through several different mechanisms. There were laws mandated by the state that citizens had to adhere to. There were also social codes and mores that helped govern the lives of citizens. These were not necessarily mandated by the state, but they helped individuals determine acceptable social behavior. Together, these formal laws and informal social expectations created a comprehensive framework for ethical conduct.