Athenian Recruitment

• At what age would an Athenian soldier be exempt from military service?

  Athenian men aged 60 and above would be exempt from the army.
• Who was expected to serve in the Athenian military?

  Adult citizens and metics had to serve in the military.
• How many years of training did Athenians have to go through?

  Young men had to go through two years of basic military training before they were considered to be fully adult and could enter the assembly as full citezens.
• How did Athens lessen the impact of lost wages?


  The state would pay a basic wage to soldiers during the campaign to make up for them not working.
• Why was the overall quality of Athenians soldiers less than Sparta?

  There were no strict entry requirements for Athenian soldiers and they had to work, unlike Spartan soldiers, so Athenians had less time to train.
• What type of army was the Athenian army?

  The Athenian army was a citizen army. Serving in the military was seen as a civic duty the same way attending the assembly was.
• Why did Athenians fight for themselves and their communities?

  Each Athenian had a stake in the city as they wee each members of the democratic Assembly.
• How many regiments was the Athenian army split into?

  The army was split into ten regiments, one for each tribe. This helped to promote a sense of community.
• How did wealth impact recruitment into the Athenian army?

  Soldiers had to provide their own equipment; rich men were recruited into the calvary, middle-class men would be hoplites and

  poorer men would either serve as lightly-armoured infantry, or

  act as rowers in the navy.
• Why would poorer men often choose to be rowers?

  The navy paid a decent wage and rowers didn't need special equipment.
• What other types of people would row in the Athenian navy?

  The navy made use of slaves and paid mercenaries fro other states to row in the navy.
• What was a trierarch?

  Trierarchs were wealthy citizens who had to pay for a trireme, an Athenian warship, as a type of tax. This was seen as an honour, as it was a duty to Athens.
• How was Athens able to pay their soldier wages?

  Through taxation and spoils of war.