Athens Essay

One of the most prosperous city-states in all of Ancient Greece was Athens. Foreigners are welcome to reside in Athens alongside citizens, who are also encouraged to do so. Metic, a section of the ancient Athenians, makes up about half of the city’s inhabitants. (Cody 150). Metics’ presence in Athens has both good and negative effects on the city and the country as a whole, but the unfavorable effects outweigh the positive ones.

The country would be harmed by granting political and citizenship rights to the Athens-based Métis because they are aware of their roots and place of origin and value it more than Athens. (Sinclair 99). Therefore, granting citizenship and political rights can subject the nation into separation because metics came to Athens to make money, unlike the natives who are interested in building the economy and establishing unity among the citizens. It can lead to separation considering the reason that metics have been claiming the government is oppressing them; hence it is likely that granting political rights and citizenship to metics can cause some conflict in Athens.

The conflict between the natives and the metics can be triggered by the granting of citizenship and the political rights to the metics (Cody 202). Using the United States as an example, the Native Americans and African Americans are conflicting. Racism is high in the United States because slaves were given political rights and citizenship and so Athens will follow the same suit is the nation will embrace absorption of the large number foreigners.

Natives are facing unemployment because most employers prefer metics cheap labor (Cody 215). Therefore, most of the metics are employed while the natives are not employed due to the reason that most organization refer cheap labor as a way of reducing production expenses. Therefore, Athens should consider employing the natives. The national assembly should consider setting and passing bills that favor the employment of the natives.

Works Cited

Heslep, Cody L. The Metics and Their Social Position: Foreign Residents in Athens During the Classical Period. , 2012. Internet resource.

Sinclair, R K. Democracy and Participation in Athens. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Print.