Why were slaves important in athenian life?

Answer 1

Slaves in Athenian society held many responsibilities in various aspects of life. By approximately 430BC, Athens had 115,000 slaves in a total population of 315,000 people, statistically meaning that nearly half the population had one slave. They were used both domestically and publically for labour in workshops and factories. Domestically slaves had a variety of positions and given various titles according to their jobs, such as a titthe, a wet nurse and a trophos, anyone involved in child-rearing. "Children spent much of their time, especially in their early years under the tutelage and supervision of slaves", a trophos had a general wide-ranging, unspecialized responsibility for a child's welfare. Duties could include; carrying child, singing to child, answering their cries at night, providing food and water, telling stories, wiping nose, toilet training, pre-chewing food, accompanying child to religious rite and so on. Publically, slaves also held responsible and skilled positions as clerks in the treasury office as well as policemen. The "Scythian bowmen who formed the force could not act on their own initiative… (and) were dependant on the orders of a magistrate". As most domestic jobs and labours were carried out by slaves, citizens were left with time that enabled them to focus on governmental offices and indirectly played a crucial part in flourishing democracy. Aristophanes' portrayal of slaves we see the importance of slaves within Athenian society and emphasises their crucial influence as, "Having slaves to carry on the business was important since there were no large industrial firms in Athens."

Answer 2

In Athens, Politics and Government were viewed as more important for citizens than the activities required for farming or other such things. As such, the slaves were a necessity for the citizens to participate in government.