The Golden Age is touted as the birth of democracy and the flowering of philosophy and arts in Athens. Athenian citizenship, however, excluded many individuals such as women and slaves. In addition, many cultures outside of Athens (such as their fellow Greek Spartans or the enemy Persians) held markedly different values. There were also "outsider" cults such as those participating in the Eleusinian Mysteries.

• Select a group that was excluded, distrusted, disdained, or warred against by the [male] Athenian citizens.
• Using at least two primary sources from ancient historians, learn what you can about the life of an "outsider," such as a Spartan soldier, an Athenian wife, or a member of the cult of Aphrodite, a sailor or merchant from another city-state, a slave owned by an Athenian, etc.

Write a narrative from the point of view of a person living in or near ancient Athens who was excluded from citizenship.

Write this in the first person with the intent of showing that you (the student) have a good understanding of the limits of democracy in ancient Athens.

You might write a series of diary entries, as though you (the person in ancient Greece) were describing your daily routine. Or perhaps you are reporting on a special event or experience. The main thing is that you show what kind of knowledge, beliefs, activities, practices, and values you would have if you were a person from ancient Greece who was an "outsider" to democracy.