Based on what you have read, which group do you think needed to have a say in trade policies in order for a city-state to have a strong economy? Pls help Background Information
In ancient Greece, trade was important to the economies of the city-states. The economy of each city-state was affected by whether trade developed. Some city-state governments offered citizenship and rights to their people. Other city-states denied many rights to their people. These different policies affected the ability of people to work, trade, and earn money.
Ancient Sparta and Athens are two examples of very different approaches to trade that led to different economies.
Sparta:
There were three classes of people living in Sparta and the area surrounding the city-state. The highest class was made up of land-owning citizens who lived in the city. A second class was called “dwellers-round.” They were tradesmen and mechanics. They were free, but they had no political rights to influence economic policy. Then there were the helots, or slaves.
Sparta had restrictions on daily life that discouraged trade. People in Sparta, for example, could not travel outside the city-state. Foreign visitors were discouraged from visiting Sparta. These restrictions limited the development of trade. Simple metal coins for use in trading were never developed in Sparta. Instead Spartan traders had to continue to use heavy iron bars for money. Trade, business, and the standard of living grew in other city-states. Sparta remained a poor farming society.
Athens:
The city-state of Athens developed an active trading economy. As a direct democracy, all adult males were eligible to participate in the assembly. This meant that traders and merchants could influence economic policies.
Overall, trade was encouraged in Athens. Representatives from Athens were sent to other city-states to establish good business relationships. Coinage was created to make trading easier. Trade helped Athens build a stronger economy than Sparta. Athenians also had a higher standard of living than Spartans.