Athens bustled. Its marketplace, where odors of rare perfumes mingled with those of the day's catch of fish, swarmed with people. Its streets were full of little shops. The largest factory in the Greek world was probably Cephalus' arsenal, with 120 slaves, though there were mines which used more. But the average business was likely to employ not more than a half-dozen slaves, and in these shops free men and slaves worked together. Athenians of Pericles' day saw nothing despicable in work, providing that it did not demean the human spirit by limiting a man's freedom. The great Solon had required fathers to teach their sons a trade, and skilled artisans gloried in the name "lord of the hand"; monotonous toil, however, they considered fit only for the lower orders. Athenian craftsmen of course left their benches to attend the Assembly. But they were just as ready to stop whenever they were tired or bored.
A MERCHANT, assisted by two boys (above), adds a little weight to bring his scales into balance. Besides his commodities the trader overseas peddled an invisible export—Greece's language and culture.
THE GREEK PLOWMAN was badly served by his simple plow (above). Despite its iron share and his own hard work, it scarcely turned the earth. To finish up he had to put his back into swinging a pick.
MERCHANT SHIPS had capacious hulls for cargo, steering oars and loading ladders (right). These vessels sailed only in favoring winds. But roads were so few and so bad that ships offered the easiest travel.
World History
