who thought that Sophists were destroying Greek tradition by emphasizing rationalism over a belief in superstition, however it was this rationalism that became so important to Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, both who belonged to the 5th century BCE. The Sophists high regard for rhetoric was later of great use to citizen addressing the Assembly in the developing Athenian democracy. Athenian democracy is perhaps considered the crowning achievement of the 5th century BCE. Democracy grew out of the status that poorer Athenians were gaining as rowers for the ships of the large Athenian fleet. Since these poorer Athenians now played a large part in the Athenian military, they ga8ined more say in the Athenian government. This led to a democratic government where "every male citizen over 18 years was eligible to attend and vote in the Assembly, which made all the important decisions of Athens in the 5th century BC_" (Demand 223). This democratic government is considered by some scholars to show the full enlightenment of the Athenians in the 5th century BCE. This glorious enlightenment seems somehow less enlightening, however, when one views this period from other than a male Athenian's eyes. Athenian enlightenment and democracy was by and for male citizens. The underprivileged of Athens included women, metics and slaves. The position of Athenian wives in Athenian society is clearly stated by Xenephon in his Oeconomicus. Ischomacus, a young husband, is conversing with Socrates about the duties of husband and wife. Ischomacus relates how he explained to his wife that the duties needed to support a household consisted of "indoor" and "outdoor" activities. He then explains to his wife, "And since labor and diligence are required both indoors and outdoors_it seems to me that the god prepared the woman's nature especially for indoor jobs and cares and the man's nature for outdoor jobs and concerns." (Spyridakis 206). T...
