The Greek polis could not survive without the notion of citizenship. Through the years, the Greeks moved away from authoritarian systems of governing to a model that allowed active participation from its citizens. Citizenship was viewed as a very important duty for people and even came to define individuals and the state alike. Greeks citizens were expected to vote on all issues and stay informed about the important events of the day.
Citizenship and the right to vote was very limited in most Greek city-states. Only adult males that owned land were considered citizens. Ancestry played a key role as well. To be considered a citizen, you were required to be descended from another citizen. The participation of such a limited group meant that the city-state reflected their viewpoints and agenda. Citizenship also came with the responsibility of defending the city by taking up arms as a soldier. In many respects, the Greeks invented the concept of citizenship and popular sovereignty.
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