The rise of the polis in Ancient Greece: autonomy of the peasantry, subordination of the villages

Abstract

The article studies the development of the Greek polis and its social bases originated in a village context. Firstly, it begins with an analysis of the concepts of peasant and of farmer in order to decide which category is most appropriate to examine ancient smallholders. Then, it reviews Hesiod’s Works and Days to consider if the poem testifies the existence of a way of peasant dependence. Finally, it reflects on the changes caused by the subordination of villages to the city, regarding the political participation of peasants and the role of the village as a civic subdivision of the polis