The Rise and Fall of the Athenian State

Engels suggests that the Athenian state represented a significant advance in human history, as it was the first true city state. The wealthy aristocracy controlled most of the land and resources while the majority of the population lived in poverty and struggled to make a living. This led to social unrest and conflict with which eventually weakened the Athenianstate and contributed to its eventual decline. In the United States, the state and Athens created a police force which was made up of slaves as most other citizens with property considered a degrading work under them.