Book 1, Chapter 1 Aristotle outlines the relationship between rulers and ruled in the ancient world, noting, "Every state is a community of some kind." He defines a city as a community that seeks some sort of good. Rulers should aim to direct as many citizens as possible toward good, whether in the form of societal order, greater wisdom, or other positive goals. Every city consists of households. Those who rule over a household have different responsibilities from those who rule over a city, but it is important to study all relationships in a city to understand how power works. Aristotle will explore these main ideas throughout the book.
Book 1, Chapter 2 Aristotle says, "When several villages are united in a single complete community, large enough to be nearly or quite self-sufficing, the state comes into existence." A state necessitates the relationship of the ruling and the ruled. By the same token, Aristotle believes some should be slaves and others should be masters. This is why the Greeks should control aliens or barbarians—that is, non-Greek people. In the households that make up cities, power is distributed for the needs of daily life. In these early Greek households, the leader was always the eldest male. The first communities formed when several households joined together as a village. Several villages joined together to become a city. Cities help people live well; they offer increased efficiency and access to resources. Aristotle believes humans are political beings by nature because they need one another to survive and thrive: "For as man is the best of all animals when he has reached his full development, so he is worst of all when divorced from law and justice." For this reason, Aristotle says cities must focus on encouraging moral behavior.
Goods traded between the Arab world and Europe included slaves, spices, perfumes, gold, jewels, leather goods, animal skins, and luxury textiles, especially silk.
The senetors were mainly patriarchs who were part of the nobility later on the plebs middle xlass and low class citizens were given rights to join the goverment creating the plebeian council. They were allowed to be Tribunes who could veto any bill that could be passed by the Senate and could become a consul who had military power and control of romes armies until their 1 year term ended.
