The History of Ancient Greece 011 From Oikos to Polis
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Jun 13, 2016 Exploring the shift from small Greek settlements to larger communities, labor roles of women in cloth production, and the significance of the Greek polis in shaping social structures and political dynamics throughout history.
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Early Greek Settlements
- Early Greek settlements were small, containing only a few dozen families, with a few major settlements like Argos, Athens, Corinth, and Sparta holding several hundred or more.
- These settlements were mostly self-sufficient, with life centering on the village and social relationships based on kinship and interdependence within the Demos.
The Oikos
- The Oikos, or household, was the fundamental social unit in ancient Greece, encompassing family, land, livestock, and all property.
- The preservation, economic independence, and social standing of the Oikos were the primary concerns of every family member.
Patriarchal Society
- Greek society was patriarchal, with the father having supreme authority in the household and inheritance passing through the male line.
- Daughters received dowries but did not inherit directly, and the Oikos aimed to maximize its fighting and labor force through various strategies.