In this article focuses on the socials stratification and political system between the two cities. Social stratification describes the social position of an individual in a given society. Individuals are categorized depending on the size of their income or wealth, how much power and influence an individual posse and their occupation (Chall 64). A political system is mostly concerned with how who hold the government power and how to use that power.
Hellenic Athens social stratification was divided into four main classes by the Law of Solon. The Athens was the highest class. For one to join this class, they had to be born in Athen by Athen parents. The metrics or the middle class who were mostly foreigners who had migrated to Athens. Their rights were below the Athens (Chall 128). The freemen and lastly the slaves. The rights to a level were hereditary. Ming Peking social stratification had four main classes. The Shi who initially were warriors but with time reduced their aristocracy and became more bueriatic. An educated person was highly respected since books were very scarse. The Nong who were mostly farmers who sustained the empire by providing food and payment of taxes. The Gong who were skilled artisans and craftsmen. Lastly, The Shang-merchanded and traded
Unlike the previous dynasties, Ming had an Emperor who oversees everything. Below the Emperor was The Censorate who had direct access to the empire and had the authority to impeach official if they failed to perform their duties as expected (Chall 24). The Secretariat that controlled six different ministries, each headed by a minister. Hellenic Athens practiced democracy where every male was allowed to contribute. It had polises or city-states which had their army, rules and laws custom and taboos.
Both cities had well defined political structures which were used to maintain law and order (Chall 59). The social stratification helped an individual to belong and helped them understand what their responsibilities were.
Work Cited
Chall, Leo P. Sociological Abstracts. San Diego, etc.: Sociological Abstracts, 1953. Print.
