Document Type

Essay

Publication Date

12-5-2024

Abstract

After times of intense conflict, both ancient Athens and the United States were left to rebuild their states. Athenians and European settlers had the opportunity to reestablish their government and unify their people by building key monuments. Athenians were recovering from around 50 years of fighting in the Persian Wars, and the United States was recovering from wars with Great Britain. Visual rhetoric, the use of visual elements to communicate meaning, was employed in Athens and America for two purposes: 1) to eulogize their impressive victories over their foes and 2) to establish a common enemy. For ancient Athens, their opponents in wars in the 5th century BCE were the Persians, so the Persians remained the common enemy. After the war, although metics, anyone relocated from a foreign country, were welcomed into Athens for economic purposes, they were isolated and barred from gaining political influence. This exclusion created a division of Athenians vs. foreigners. In the United States, because European settlers did not have a common ethnic identity and they wanted to settle and then expand their territory, the North American indigenous peoples became the common enemy. Eventually in Athens and the United States, non-citizens were effectively “othered.” This “othering” elevated the value of citizenship because without the state legally recognizing a person, the government can quickly become exclusive. Further, this creates inequalities among inhabitants of certain territories. Citizenship may create unity among citizens, but alternatively, it establishes social and political divisions, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and “othering.”

Comments

Completed as part of Professor Rebecca Schindler's FYS "The Archeology of Democracy."

Winner of Best Essay Award

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